For many, the thought of scuba diving evokes visions of crystal blue water, tropical fish and coral reefs. While these are not found in our state, students are eager to dive Ohio.
Ohio State offers a series of scuba courses taught by instructor Marty Bailey from which students can earn scuba certifications from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Students start by diving in the pool at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. For open-water courses, Bailey takes students to dive in quarries around the state.
In the first course of the series, Physical Activity and Educational Services 179 Skin and Scuba Diving, students learn the fundamentals of scuba diving equipment, techniques and safety procedures in a classroom setting then implement them in the pool, Bailey said.
“I like how we are just thrown in the pool and learn first hand how it works,” said Stephan Waring, a sophomore in business. Waring said he always wanted to scuba dive and saw Bailey’s class as an excellent opportunity.
Amanda McDade, a senior in health and wellness said she felt the same way.
“If I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it,” she said. “I know Marty and I trust him to give me a good scuba education.”
Some students have diving ambitions beyond the borders of Ohio.
Andrea Kress, a senior in human development and family science, said she is earning her certification because her parents take scuba vacations. Kress said she would like to dive in Mexico or the Caribbean after she becomes certified.
“To become a certified diver, you have to do your academics and work in a pool. Then you have to do four open water dives, which is the 139.01”
If students successfully complete PAES 139.01 Freshwater Scuba Diving, they will earn their PADI open water diver certifications. While certification is a benefit of the course, it is not required to pass.
Bailey said diving in open water is different from diving in the pool. If a student feels uncomfortable after their first open water dive they are not required to complete the other three dives to pass, they just have to write about the experience.
For the first open water dive, Bailey said he usually takes students to Circleville where the 22-foot-deep quarry is not intimidating for beginners. Once students get a feel for the water Bailey said he takes them to quarries that are a little more intriguing.
The Lakeview Quarry in Lancaster has an average depth of 24 feet, but features a trench nearly two times that depth Bailey said.
“That trench is usually pretty dark and nasty,” Bailey said. “That’s what I want people to experience, because not all diving is pretty water.”
Bailey said he also takes students to 75-foot deep White Star Quarry in Gibsonburg, Ohio and to the 140-foot deep Gilboa Quarry.
For those who want more, Bailey said advanced certifications are available through PAES 139.07 Advanced Scuba. In this course students may choose from a variety of specialty certifications including night diving, wreck diving, cavern diving, deep diving and ice diving.
“Of all the specialties, I’ve taught more ice diving than anything,” Bailey said. “A lot of people consider the dive season to be Memorial Day through Labor Day, but we dive year round here in Ohio.”
“I love it, I want to get people diving,” Bailey said.
Ethan Lindell can be reached at [email protected].
