My Experience: Padi e learning/ Dive Provo Turks and Caicos Dive Certifiation

Today I joined the diving world: I got my PADI Open Water Dive certification through Dive Provo in the Turks and Caicos islands.

I completed the PADI e learning before coming to Turks and Caicos and then did the pool work and four dives in three days to complete the class on the island.

Naturally, I didn't start the e class (that took about 7 hours in total) until two or three days before we were scheduled to start pool work. It turned out to be about three days of moderately intense e learning plus three very intense days of training: almost a full week to get my dive card.

It's not ideal, I have to say. By the time our instructor signed the cards, I was completely worn out - exhausted, really. I lived and breathed diving for an entire week, and right now I don't even want to think about going underwater.

I would suggest spreading the course out a little bit. I would advise doing the class and then waiting a few weeks, then doing the pool work locally and more slowly. Then, once you get to your PADI resort, you only have to do your four dives.

The course was fun, don't get me wrong, but I felt like we were sprinting to the finish. We had x amount to do and just three days to do it, and it's never a good idea to be in a rush when your life is at stake.