Jump Start Your Scuba Diving Adventure Today eLearning - The Way To Go
Sandia Snorkel and Scuba  
http://www.SandiaSnorkel.com  
2430 Alamo Ave. SE - Suite 101, Albuquerque, NM    87106
Monday thru Friday 10 AM to 6:30 PM - Sat/Sun. Please call Ahead
  Phone:  (505)  AIR-TODAY  or  247-8632
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  20 Frequently Asked Questions  
What Kind
of Questions
Should I Ask 		What is PADI?
Is There A Minimum Age?
Who Will Be My Instructor? and What´s Their Background?
Where are the Academic Reviews Held?
Where are the Pool Dives Held?
Swimming, Do I Have To?
Where are the Open Water Training Dives Conducted?
What about Safety?
What about a Medical Exam?
What About Contact Lenses or Dentures?
What does "Performance Based" mean?
What Options Do I Have?
VCR-DVD/Book or CD-ROM, Which should I Choose?
Why so much lead?
What is the Difference "PADI Scuba Diver" vs. "Open Water Diver"?
What is the Total Price?
Do I Have To Purchase the Equipment?
When do I get my "C-Card" and For How Long Is It Valid?
Will I Ever Need a Refresher Course?
Why should I choose Sandia Snorkel and Scuba, Inc.?

  Our Answers to Your Questions  
What is PADI

PADI Dive Center - Member Since 1997
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) The largest Diver Certification Agency in the world with approximately 70% of the market share worldwide. Many PADI courses can give you college credits through ACE     Sandia Snorkel and Scuba is a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center
There are other Recreational Scuba Certification Agencies
CMAS Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques (World Underwater Federation)
IDEA International Diving Educators Association
LA County Los Angeles County
NASDS National Association of Scuba Diving Schools
NASE National Association of Scuba Educators
NAUI National Association of Underwater Instructors
PDIC Professional Diving Instructors Corporation
SSI Scuba Schools International
YMCA Young Men´s Christian Association
and the list goes on So What Should I Look For
Is There A Minimum Age Bubble Maker at the age of eight
Open Water Diver at the age of ten
Who Will Be My Instructor
and
What´s Their Background 		Bert U. Eriksson is the owner of Sandia Snorkel and Scuba, Inc. and a PADI Course Director
He taught flying for Cutter Flying Service in Albuquerque starting 1964
Taught computers for UNM and as a local business owner.
Became a Full Time Scuba Diving Instructor with PADI in 1996
Maria C. Eriksson is a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. She conducts some of the courses. In the past, she has been an instructor in university level courses
Academic Reviews, Where Our Multimedia Equipped Classroom facility at
2430 Alamo Ave. SE - Suite 101 in Albuquerque, NM
Where Are the Pool Dives Held We utilize the fine facilities of Highland Pool. We have used all of the public swimming pools around town. We consider Highland Pool to be the facility best suited for Scuba Dive Instruction. When we use the pool, there are no recreational swimmers around. Our Scuba Divers have the exclusive use of the facilities.
Swimming, Do I Have To YES. To complete the course, you have to demonstrate that you can swim 200 yards (8 lengths in the pool.) Any style, no time limit. OR 300 yards with fins. If you need to learn, consider YMCAs or private health clubs. They have excellent swimming programs. There is also a 10 minute survival swim/float requirement. Just remember that this is a recreational course.
This is New Mexico,... so
Where are the
Open Water Training Dives
Conducted 		Santa Rosa, NM 120 miles east of Albuquerque. Santa Rosa is known as the City of Natural Lakes Blue Hole is a primary inland diver training location in the Southwest. Divers come here from all the nearby states on a regular basis. Perch Lake is just around the corner from Blue Hole. There is a training platform suspended at 20 foot depth and a Beech 18 airplane that was placed there for the delight of scuba divers some 15 years ago. From time to time, we go to Balmorhea, TX or San Carlos, Mexico for our Training Dives.

What about Safety Safety Is Our Job One. Our Open Water Diver course encompass 35 hours of instruction. Safety is incorporated in every facet of the learning process in order to make your safety our top priority.
What about a Medical Exam If you are under 45 years of age, then answer a few simple questions on a questionnaire. If you are 45 or older, and a smoker - Yes, You Need To See a Doctor. He will ask you a few more questions and you are on your way to become a Scuba Diver Medical Form  
What about Contact Lenses or Dentures Contact Lenses - No Problem. When looking for equipment to buy, you may want to consider corrctive lenses or a purge valve mask
Dentures - Problem. You do want to consider a mouthpiece molded for your specific situation
What does
"Performance Based" mean 		All PADI courses apply the concept of performance based learning, which means that you progress based on meeting specific performance requirements under your instructor´s guidance. If you have difficulty, you don´t "fail" - you just keep working until you meet them - but likewise, you don´t get certified just because you show up. Your PADI instructor is a trained professional committed to helping you attain your goal of becoming a scuba diver by guiding you in meeting the course performance requirements
What Options Do I Have Very Flexible Schedule - Talk To Us. Although most students take the course on two consecutive weekends, that is not a must. You can schedule the Classroom-Pool Weekend and the Open Water Weekend apart. If you have an up-coming trip to warmer tropical waters, why not look at the "Referral Program"
VCR/Book or CD-ROM
Which should I Choose 		Try out either or both in our Self-Study Center. We have the CD-ROM package loaded on one of our computers. The VCR is ready for you to be used. Help is available over the phone or in the office during all normal business hours.
Why so much lead Diving with no wet suit in fresh water you may not need any. In the warm ocean you may need 4 - 6 lbs. due to the more buoyant salt water
What is the Difference
"PADI Scuba Diver" vs.
"Open Water Diver"		 "PADI Scuba Diver" pre entry level certification, is primarily for enjoying scuba diving during an upcoming vacation trip. It´s valid for a year. It also has a few other restrictions.
"Open Water Diver" certification is the full course, which brings you a lifetime of Scuba Diving enjoyment
What is the Total Price

$50.00 PLATE  or  $275.00 PLATE
Each course has a price plate associated with that particular course.
That Is Our Price - There Are No Hidden Charges
Weekends lend themselves best for Open Water Diver Training.
We ask for a fair down payment when you sign up for the course and pick up the study material
When we say that everything is included - we mean that
Everything is Included "Air, Equipment and Instruction"
Do I Have To
Purchase any Equipment 		NO! You don´t have to. If you do, we will give you a great discount on the equipment, Scuba divers find that although rental equipment is adequate, they can get a more comfortable fit for themselves with their own equipment. So why not look at a package of fins & booties, mask & snorkel. There are also very price worthy packages with regulators and buoyancy compensators. Remember that standard size tanks and lead are always available on most dive boats

When do I get my "C-Card"
and
For How Long Is It Valid 		YES. As soon as you have met all the course requirements, your instructor will issue a temporary certificate. The Permanent Laminated Plastic Card takes approximately two weeks. The temporary card is perfectly acceptable worldwide in the interim. If Your Situations Warrants, we can have PADI Pre-position the Permanent Card with us.
The Scuba Diver certification is valid for a year.
The Open Water Diver Certification is valid for a lifetime worth of diving enjoyment.
Will I ever need a refresher If you are wondering, then you need a refresher. A refresher can greatly enhance the safety and enjoyment of your diving, so make some time and keep your self up to date.
Why should I choose
Sandia Snorkel
and Scuba, Inc.
    At Sandia Snorkel and Scuba, Inc.
  1. Your Safety, Education and Enjoyment is Our Job One
  2. We Adapt to Your Needs
  3. All of Our Courses are Performance Based
  4. Many of Our Courses are Eligible for College Credit through ACE
  5. We are a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center. One of its kind in New Mexico
  6. You get a DAN Diver Accident Insurance at no charge
  7. We use food grade oil in our compressor
  8. We test our air and certify it to "Oxygen Compatible CGA Grade E"
  9. We bring shade from the sun and a breaker for the wind to Santa Rosa
  10. Tailgate get-togethers Saturday evenings in Santa Rosa
  11. We offer an Adventure Dive after your certification.
    It´s time for you to start your lifetime of Underwater Enjoyment.
  12. You Get More Value for Your Money
All scuba training facilities are affiliated with a certification agency. Because all agencies must comply with standards set by the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC), they all have approximately the same requirements, and the same set of skills that are taught. The real difference lies in the methods for teaching these skills. The people who actually do the teaching, and the training facility that you go to, that matters the most. The materials, instructors, and dive facilities must all work together to provide you with great scuba training.
    When picking a training "package" look for:
  • Quality Courses And Training Materials: - Look for a program with thorough coverage of required skills. Materials that are easy to learn from, and drive home the concepts and key skills you need to remember.
  • Quality Diver Training Facilities and Instructors: - Look for a quality facility that offers everything you are looking for.
    You want a facility that cares about you, your diving abilities, and your business.
    You need to feel comfortable with the staff, and most importantly, with the Instructor who will be teaching you how to dive. Good Instruction, and customer service are extremely important to your dive training!
  • Comfort Through Repetition: - You want to feel comfortable with all the skills you will be using when you are diving. In order to learn, you need practice!
    The more times you actually use each skill, the easier it will be for you to perform.
  • Worldwide Network: - Make sure that the agency you choose is internationally recognized, with locations all over the world. This will ensure that no matter where you are, your card will be accepted, and you will be able to go diving!

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