Scuba certification class has students diving in the Rec Pool

If bubbles are rising from the bottom of the Cal Poly Recreation Center pool, it likely means students are working toward their scuba certification.

For years, ASI Aquatics has partnered with local dive shop SLO Ocean Currents to offer Cal Poly students the opportunity to begin their scuba training on campus. The course starts in the classroom before moving to hands-on instruction in the pool, where participants learn how to use their equipment and practice essential safety skills.

Students begin in the shallow end, familiarizing themselves with breathing techniques and gear adjustments. As training progresses, they move into deeper water to complete more advanced exercises designed to prepare them for open-water dives.

Certification requires demonstrating mastery of key skills in the controlled pool environment before advancing to the ocean. Once students meet those requirements, they are eligible to complete the final phase of training in open water.

Participants enroll for a variety of reasons. Some hope certification will support future careers in fields like marine biology or environmental research. Others see the class as an opportunity to try something new or challenge personal fears.

Regardless of motivation, the course emphasizes safety, teamwork and confidence underwater. Students train alongside peers, building trust as they prepare to take their skills beyond the campus pool.