Outdoor Recreation's new scuba classes provide skills for students to explore the deep Published July 13, 2011 By Diane Betzler Staff writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Scuba diving is a centuries-old activity; it takes specific skills and know-how to master the technique of spending long periods of time in the deep. The many mysteries of the underwater world continue to allure people, and the popularity of the sport has spread and captivated people from all regions, including some high desert dwellers here. Capt. Joseph Reno, 95th Aerospace Medical Squadron and Dan Betcovic, electrical engineer for Lockheed Martin Co. at Edwards, are the first to enroll in the newly formed Outdoor Recreation scuba class. Scuba instructor Fred Brown said the course welcomes participants to the wonderful world of diving and offers students the chance to earn the first level of certification by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Brown, who's been diving since the early 1990s, has been teaching scuba since 2004 and said his course offers five classroom modules that are taught in two days; five confined-water modules done in two separate pool sessions and five open-water dives that usually take place at or around Annacapa Island off the coast of Ventura, Calif. Brown said a portion of his class is a home study program in which students do their assignments through an interactive CD-ROM computer program. Before becoming certified, students must pass four 10-question quizzes and one 50-question final. "To pass the tests, students need to score 70 percent or higher," Brown said. Reno and Betcovic just completed their two pool sessions where they learned how to assemble their scuba gear, how to clear their mask under water and how to recover their regulators. "They had to drop their regulator while under water, learn how to find it, clear it out and put it back in their mouth," Brown explained. During the two-day pool experience, Brown also taught his students about buoyancy control and the different stages of buoyancy. "In the ocean if you're negative (staying on the bottom) you're damaging delicate aquatic life because you're either sitting on or stepping on that delicate life," Brown explained. He teaches his students to stay neutral when diving in the ocean. "Neutral is staying in the middle between the ocean floor and the surface. That way you don't damage the aquatic life and you're not fighting to prevent yourself from surfacing," Brown said. He also instructed his students about positive buoyancy, which is when the diver stays on the surface. Brown also goes over what he calls the rule of the thirds. "When diving -- always start out with 3,000 pounds of air. Use one-third of the air for the dive, allow one-third of the air to surface and always maintain a reserve of one-third of air in the event something goes wrong. You'll have air to back you up," he said. Having completed the first two phases of the scuba course, Reno and Betcovic are preparing for their upcoming ocean dives. Both beginners are looking forward to trying out their newly acquired skills in the ocean. "I'm really excited to get certified," said Reno. He added that he is looking forward to doing a boat dive. Like most sports, there is an element of danger that goes along with diving in the ocean. The cool California waters are also home to some predators such as sharks and killer whales, but Brown's students aren't concerned. "I'm not worried about sharks, the ocean is a big place and I'm in good hands here," said Reno. "You're in more danger of being attacked by a shark when splashing around on the surface," said Brown, who says sharks aren't a major threat to divers. Betcovic said he's been thinking about learning to dive for awhile. "Both my brothers scuba, so now each brother I visit I can dive with," he said. Brown's main advice to divers, new and seasoned, is to always dive with a buddy. "So that you share the experience, and if one has an issue his buddy is there to help work it out." "And always watch your gauges." Anyone considering joining a scuba class will need to have his or her own personal equipment such as mask, fins, snorkel and booties. The course covers tuition, materials, equipment and a day on a dive boat. The minimum age for joining a scuba class is 10. Anyone interested in taking a scuba course should contact Outdoor Recreation at (661) 275-2267.