Becoming an Open Water Diver is an incredible achievement. It opens the door to a world that most people will never experience. But here’s something many new divers don’t realize: Open Water certification isn’t the finish line, it’s the starting line.

When people start researching scuba certification, they often focus on the wrong question. They compare agencies, they compare prices, they compare certification cards. But the most important factor in your scuba training experience isn’t the logo on the card you’ll receive when you’re done. It’s the instructor standing next to you in the water.

Ask a group of new divers what makes someone a great scuba diver and you’ll hear a lot of different answers.