【Experience Reports】 Challenge for diving C card license! Even beginners can understand the content and difficulty of a safe lesson?

This time is the first step of diver debut! We will deliver an enlarged version of the acquisition of a diving license (C card). In the first place, many people may ask, "What is a diving license?" In fact, Japanese law does not require a qualification to enjoy diving for leisure purposes. You cannot be punished just because you are not licensed like a car license.

A diving license is issued by a "private" guidance organization, and refers to proof that you have acquired knowledge and skills (guidance standards) regarding diving in accordance with the regulations of each organization. That is the "Certification Card" that you often hear. Once you get this, you can enjoy diving in the oceans around the world.

Strictly speaking, in order to receive diving-related services including equipment rental at a dive shop, it is almost always necessary to show a C card. In other words, you cannot dive without a C card. In addition, there are about 30 license issuing organizations in Japan alone, among which PADI, NAUI, SSI, CMAS, etc. are famous. Since the characteristics and history of each are described on the group website, it is a good idea to refer to it when deciding which group to acquire.

By the way, this time I am indebted to "M's Diving Adventure", an urban shop in Fukagawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo. The store manager, Mr. Yabe, holds a qualification as a course director who can train instructors, and is also an excellent course director in 2015. The course is PADI's open water diver course! It consists of "Department course x Pool course x Ocean course", and the schedule is to complete the course course by e-learning, and take a total of 3 days, 1 day for the pool course and 2 days for the marine course.

① Reception and registration on the PADI site. You can go home and receive e-learning on the PADI site. This is the start for the license.
② Pool class on the first day. First of all, the instructor will teach you how to explain and use the equipment.
③ The dry suit can be worn over clothes and adheres firmly so you can enjoy diving without getting wet at all.
④ Equipment setting is complete! It's time to start a fun pool class!
⑤ Underwater communication is done with hand signals and underwater notebooks.

Start from the department. Here, you will acquire basic knowledge such as the role and usage of equipment, buoyancy and water pressure, and general knowledge such as how to make a diving plan. Since all practical training is based on what you learn in this department, you may struggle with terms that you are not familiar with at first, but study silently here. I struggled with more volume than I expected, and I almost cried several times, but I passed the test safely!

The first day of practical skill is a pool class. Normally, it seems that the indoor heated pool is used in the winter season, but the location schedule does not match and it is forced to use the outdoor pool. Mr. Yabe had previously said, "The outdoor pool in winter is colder than the sea, but is it okay?", But it was a colder pool than expected.

The first is how to set and use the equipment. After that, in shallow water, you will learn basic skills such as how to breathe underwater and how to put on and take off a mask. At first, I'm confused by the unfamiliar breathing in the water, but as soon as I try to "slowly and big breath", I get used to it. It was the hardest part of the practical training because I learned all the basic skills such as how to use the equipment, diving, and how to respond to emergencies in the pool training.

Now, the marine training is finally over. In the early morning when the dawn is not yet dawn, we gather at the shop and leave. The location of the first day was decided by looking at the wind and wave information of the day, and decided to be Shishihama in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Although the temperature is low, the weather is fine and it is a superb view point while looking at Mt. Fuji. After all, the tension rises in front of the sea. The content of the training is basically the content of the pool training repeated at sea. Hit it into your body and head.

You may be wondering "Why diving in winter?", But winter diving is highly recommended. First of all, the transparency of seawater is very beautiful. And there are few hands-on diving and sea bathers, so you can have the instructor teach you carefully. Also, the seawater is not as cold as the temperature and I wear a dry suit, so there is no problem at all.

⑥ During practice to maintain neutral buoyancy. It uses the air and breathing of the equipment to maintain a state where it does not float or sink.
⑦ After practicing, take good care of the equipment. Work carefully as it can be life-threatening.
⑧ The second day of marine training is at Shishihama in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is a place where you can see Mt. Fuji clearly and have a superb view.
⑨ Briefing before diving. Think about the time to dive, points to watch out for, purpose, etc. with the instructor.
⑩ As I dive, I feel pain because the tissue around the eardrum is pushed by water pressure. In order to solve it, ear removal skill is indispensable in diving.
⑪ I was caught by the railing on the bottom of the water and saw the example of Mr. Yanai, an instructor.

⑫ Practice the skill to deal calmly so as not to panic when the equipment comes off. This is also one of the important programs for obtaining a license.
⑬ Underwater, talk with a hand signal. There are various types such as "floating", "out of air", and "what is the residual pressure?" I have to remember it well!
⑭ Look back on the course while enjoying delicious seafood. I recorded the temperature, the depth of the water, the fish I saw, etc. in a notebook.
⑮ The second day is over! Forgetting tiredness, a big smile on the first underwater experience.