If you’re looking for a sport that really takes you away from it all, how about taking the plunge-into scuba diving?
Scuba is the choice of thousands of women seeking an exciting yet stress-reducing sport that allows them to enjoy the natural beauty of life under the sea.
According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the world’s largest diver training organization, 31 percent of its 500,000 certified divers in 1992 were women, up from 26 percent in 1987.
Doris tePoele, 26, of Chicago, is among the new devotees. She started diving last March, recently took a diving trip to Honduras and currently is training to become an instructor at Adventures in Scuba in Chicago. She first tried scuba at a resort in the Bahamas several years ago, and fell in love with the weightless feeling of floating under water.
“Women want to be down there to commune with nature,” says Sharon Cooper, 27, who has been a diver for three years. “I’ve seen some men who are more interested in conquering the sea. Women seem to be more into the peacefulness of it; it can be so relaxing.
Another reason more women are diving is because the sport doesn’t require Olympian strength. Experts agree, however, that you should have general good health and stamina.
Some YWCAs and YMCAs offer instruction, as do dive centers affiliated with scuba shops or scuba certifying organizations such as the diving instructors association, the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools, the National Association of Underwater Instructors or Scuba Schools International. Certification is a three-part process that involves academic sessions, pool sessions and open water diving. Courses usually stretch over at least a month, but accelerated programs can be packed into two weekends.
If you want to explore scuba during a resort vacation (the Florida Keys, Cayman Islands, Cozumel and Bonaire are prime locales) check with a travel agent or hotel representative on programs; quickie courses are typically available. But be sure the program is affiliated with a recognized training organization. Also, find out whether there is a structured class, and whether your group will be supervised by more than one instructor.
Exploring the great blue under isn’t inexpensive. There’s the cost of certification classes, which usually ranges from $100-$150 and can include some equipment. Additional necessary basic equipment costs about $150, though some pieces can be rented for about $40-$60 a day at resorts.
For information on diving centers in your area, call the Professional Association of Diving Instructors in Santa Ana, Calif., at 714-540-7234.
