The proximity of Long Island Sound offers residents of southeastern Connecticut ample opportunities to enjoy all that the water has to offer. And if you've ever had the desire to explore beneath the waves, all it takes is a bit of instruction and commitment.

Sharon Teel, owner of Seaview Scuba in Uncasville, says the shop regularly hosts courses to introduce people to scuba diving. Certification requires 36 hours of instruction, which is available at a cost of about $500.

"We have a class at least once a month," says Teel. "The classes consist of four classroom sessions, two pool dives, and two ocean dives for certification."

The courses are offered by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Anyone wary of getting their feet wet can try the "Discover Scuba Diving Experience," which helps determine if the sport is right for you. This course familiarizes participants with scuba gear—including a wetsuit, air cylinder, buoyancy compensator, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel, and weight belt—and how it feels in the water.

If you decide to advance to the certification courses, this experience will count toward your completion. Classroom sessions cover the basic knowledge of diving procedures, skills, and safety. For people with busy schedules, this part of the training can be completed online.

The pool dives introduce you to the sport in a safe, confined environment. During ocean dives, participants demonstrate their skills and get a chance to explore the marine life along the coast.

"Our specialty is we only take students one or two at a time," says Teel. "It definitely offers more individualized attention."

Courses are also available to certified divers who want to hone their scuba skills. Specialized topics include wreck diving, underwater photography, and deep water diving. Participants can also take the rescue diver course or complete PADI's Divemaster program, which is a prerequisite for becoming a scuba diving instructor.

Children as young as 10 years old can be certified to scuba dive. Seaview Scuba also works with youth organizations, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to certify participants for open water diving.

Anyone looking to become certified in scuba diving should be prepared to fill out a medical history. Diving is a physically exerting task, and knowing how to swim is a must. A doctor's note is sometimes required for participation.

A full set of scuba gear can cost around $2,000. However, this equipment can also be rented for about $70 a day.

"A lot of people will choose to rent until they really get into it," says Teel.

A boat is not a requirement for diving. Seaview Scuba introduces new divers to the water right off the shore at Stonington Point, and hosts group dives here on Thursday evenings during the summer. The shop also arranges trips to bring divers to new locations.

Teel says these trips usually bring together a group of 10 to 16 divers. All travel arrangements are made by Seaview Scuba, including guides who will meet the party at the destination. Teel says these trips give divers an opportunity to see interesting new underwater environments and meet other diving enthusiasts from the region.

The trips often visit places that are relatively close to Connecticut, including scallop dives off Gloucester and explorations of the sunken wrecks in Dutch Springs, Pennsylvania. Seaview Scuba has also arranged visits to more far-flung places such as the Caribbean, with a dive in St. Eustatius scheduled for December.

Recently, the shop arranged a diving trip to Thailand. Teel says the group made three to four dives each day, observing creatures such as manta rays and whale sharks.

"That's the real draw of scuba diving, to be able to experience something like that," she says.

Even if you don't wish to travel abroad to dive, you can find some amazing experiences closer to home. Teel says tropical fish traveling with the currents are often visible in New England waters from later summer until temperatures get cooler. Diving at night allows you to observe squid, fluke, eels, and other marine life.

There are also several shipwrecks in Long Island Sound and nearby waters. One popular wreck for deep water diving is the U-853, a German submarine sunk off Block Island in 1945.

Teel says Seaview Scuba cooperates with local diving organizations to provide plenty of opportunities for scuba enthusiasts to explore the region. One partner is SECONN Skin Divers, also based in Montville, which meets on the second Tuesday of every month.

Seaview Scuba was first established by two Navy personnel and has been in business for more than 30 years. Teel's husband, Hugh, purchased the shop in 1987; the couple own the business with partner Michael Mulford. In addition to lessons and travel, Seaview Scuba repairs, rents, and sells scuba equipment.

Seaview Scuba is located at 51 Route 32 in Uncasville. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call 860-442-7279 or visit seaviewscubact.com.