DIRECTIONS

Escape to a different world. Scuba takes you to a different world with new colours, shapes, textures and creatures – a world where the roles you play – husband, wife, mother, father, friend – take on a new dimension. Become a scuba diver and escape to a peaceful place to renew your energy and excite your senses.

Explore new places. Scuba diving frees you to explore the underwater world – from historic shipwrecks and pristine reefs to the mysteries of your local quarry. Become a scuba diver and explore what you’ve been missing.

Experience a connection with nature; a feeling of freedom, and a transformation. Diving connects you with nature. It immerses you in new sensations and experiences. It transforms your perception of life forever. Become a diver and transform yourself.

WHAT DO I LEARN

Learning to dive isn’t difficult, but like any activity worth doing, it requires some time and effort. While taking the PADI Open Water Diver course, you’ll enjoy three phases: Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives and Open Water Dives

The PADI Open Water Diver course is incredibly flexible and performance based, which means that your PADI Dive Centre or Resort can offer the program on a wide variety of schedules, and paced according to how fast you progress. It’s possible to complete your confined and open water dives in as few as three or four days (provided you take care of reading the manual and watching the video ahead of time).

1. Knowledge Development – This develops your familiarity with basic principles and procedures. You learn things like how pressure affects your body, how to choose the best gear and what to consider when planning dives.

You complete Knowledge Development on your own, reading each of five sections of the PADI Open Water Diver Manual and watching the corresponding section of the PADI Open Water Diver Video (which also previews skills you’ll learn). If you like learning with a personal computer, you can also get the Open Water Diver Manual and Video together as a CD-ROM. You briefly review what you studied in each section with your instructor and take a short quiz to be sure you’re getting it. At the end of the course, you take an exam that makes sure you’ve got all the key concepts and ideas down.

2. Confined Water Dives – This is what it’s all about – diving. You develop basic scuba skills in a pool or in a body of water with pool-like conditions. Here you’ll learn everything from setting up your gear to how to easily get water out of your mask without surfacing. You’ll also practice some emergency skills, like sharing air – just in case. Plus, you may play some games, make new friends and have a great time.

There are five confined water dives, with each building upon the previous. Over the course of these five dives, you attain the skills you need to dive in open water.

3. Open Water Dives – After your confined water dives, you and the new friends you’ve made continue learning during four open water dives with your PADI Instructor at a dive site. This is where you have fun putting it all together and fully experience the underwater adventure – at the beginner level, of course. You may make these dives near where you live or at a more exotic destination on holiday.

WHAT'S REQUIRED

If you have an appetite for excitement and adventure, odds are you can become an avid PADI Diver.
You'll also want to keep in mind these requirements:

Minimum Age: 10 years. Students younger than 15 who successfully complete the course qualify for the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15.

Physical: For safety, all students complete a brief questionnaire that asks about medical conditions that could be a problem while diving. If none of these apply, you sign the form and you’re ready to start. If any of these apply to you, as a safety precaution your physician must assess the condition as it relates to diving and sign a medical form that confirms that you’re fit to dive. In some areas, local laws require all scuba students to consult with a physician before entering the course.

Download the Medical Statement PDF

Water skills: Before completing the PADI Open Water Diver course, your instructor will have you demonstrate basic water skill comfort by having you swim 200 metres/yards (or 300 metres/yards in mask, fins and snorkel). There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want. You will also float and tread water for 10 minutes, again using any methods that you want.

About Physical Challenges: Any individual who can meet the performance requirements of the course qualifies for certification. There are many adaptive techniques that allow individuals with physical challenges to meet these requirements. Individuals with paraplegia, amputations and other challenges commonly earn the PADI Open Water Diver certification. Even individuals with more significant physical challenges participate in diving. Talk to one of our PADI Instructor for more information.

Learning Materials : You’ll need and use the following training materials during the PADI Open Water Diver course, and for your review and reference after the course. The PADI Open Water Diver Manual and PADI Open Water Diver Video on DVD or the PADI Open Water Diver Multimedia (combines manual and video for computer based learning). You will also need your PADI Log book and Recreational Dive Planner (Table, The Wheel TM or eRDP TM).

We will set you up with these as part of the course enrolment process.

WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED?

You will not need any equipment to start with however most people prefer to purchase their own mask, fins and snorkel when you start diving in the PADI Open Water Diver course. These have a personal fit, and our shop will help you choose ones that have the fit and features best suited to you.

We will provide the rest of your gear for all or part of your PADI Open Water Diver course as part of the enrolment fee.

It’s recommended that you invest in your equipment when you start your course because:

you’re more comfortable learning to dive using gear chosen
you’re more comfortable using gear fitted for you
divers who own their own gear dive more
having your own gear is part of the fun of diving

What kind of gear you will need depends on conditions where you dive: Tropical, Temperate, Cold, Technical

Choosing and using your gear is part of the fun of diving. Our staff will help you find the right equipment. Each piece of equipment performs a different function so that collectively, it adapts you to the underwater world.

How Do I Know What the Best Gear Is?

Easy. There is no best gear. But, there is the best gear for you. Scuba equipment comes in a wonderful variety that accommodates a broad range of needs, interests and sizes. Our staff are trained to help you find gear that best matches your preferences, fit and budget. We can get you set with the right stuff, plus they provide service and support for years of enjoyable and dependable use.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST

Compared with getting started in other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities learning to dive isn’t expensive. For example, you can expect to pay about the same as you would for:

a full day of surfing lessons
a weekend of rock climbing lessons
a weekend of kayaking lessons
a weekend of fly-fishing lessons
about three hours of private golf lessons
about three hours of private water skiing lessons
one amazing night out at the pub!

Learning to dive is a great value when you consider that your PADI Instructor is a highly trained and experienced professional. Invest in scuba diving lessons and learn something you’ll enjoy the rest of your life. From the first day, diving starts transforming your life with new experiences you share with friends. And, you can do it almost anywhere there is water

For more details on the price of courses call us on 01268 270171 or call in at our Dive Centre

If you still have questions about diving or the range of courses checkout our FAQ or give us a call.