Home Courses

Home News Courses Events Travel Gear Box Links About us Login Contact us Back

Interested in learning to dive?

Ever watched one of those underwater documentaries and wondered what it must be like to actually be there? Well you can. Your first step should be to have an introductory taster or 'Try-Dive' to find out what it's all about (see below).

Almost anyone can learn to dive!. Sounds unlikely I know but the PADI system has been developed over the years to make Scuba diving accessible to as many people as possible. You don't need to be super-fit and as long as you are in reasonably good health you can succeed. Unfortunately there are a few medical reasons that may prevent you from participating - the main ones being breathing and circulation problems.

How to use this site: Some of the words and phrases may be unfamiliar. Where possible we've added hints and definitions to make your life easier. Your browser will highlight TLA's and phrases like this and a fuller description will appear if you let your mouse pointer land on one.

We don't mean to be pedantic about the names, it's just that all the written material uses these words so it's a good idea for us all to be singing from the same hymnsheet.

Optional try dive

We kit you out in scuba gear, brief you then plop you in the pool under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional) so you can tell if you like it before committing to the full course.

Discover Scuba

The Discover Scuba program gets you in the water straight away under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. He or she will introduce you to the equipment, answer all your questions and take you step by step through various skills until you are weightlessly gliding around the pool (or other confined water site). This should take about an hour, two to get you really comfortable and may include some skills that can be credited towards the Open Water Diver Course.
You must be at least 10 years old, and sign (or get your guardian to sign) some forms. You will not be taken deeper than 6 Metres.

The PADI Open Water Diver course

It takes about 35 hours to complete the course, our flexible approach means we can split this up to accommodate the student's lifestyle. There are 5 confined water sessions each preceeded by a knowledge development class then 4 open water dives carried out over 2 days.
First we take your money and give you a manual to read and a DVD to watch. We ask you to complete 3 forms, a medical statement, a liability release and a statement of understanding. After you've seen the DVD and completed chapter 1 of the manual, we all get together and give you a quiz based on everything you learned so far. If anyone misunderstands a question the instructor will elaborate on the text and may even provide a demonstration.
We then kit you out in scuba gear and go poolside for a briefing before entering the water. Once in the water the instructor will give you a simple task to perform (a skill). He will demonstrate the skill then ask you to repeat it, When the instructor is confident that you have mastered the skill he will move on to evaluate the next student. Further skills are introduced and evaluated, then finally we rinse and stow the gear ready for the next session.

The Referral system

The confined water and the open water portions may be carried out independently, you could do the confined work here at home then the open water dives while on holiday. This is how it works: We put together a dossier about you and the confined water sessions you've successfully completed which you then take on holiday with you (we refer you). There, either ourselves (if we go together) or a new instructor will complete your training, finalise the paperwork and you'll become a fully fledged PADI Open Water Diver.

Our typical confined water schedule runs for 5 evenings (6:30 to 10:30pm). Gitfed students may complete in 4 or even 3 evenings. We do run intensive weekend courses - these really are what they say they are (two 10 hour days!). In either case the more home study you do beforehand, the less time we'll need to spend in the classroom. Our maximum ratio of student to instructor is 8:1, but 6:1 is more likely. When you've completed all the knowledge development modules we give you the final exam; 50 questions in 5 categories in which you must score at least 75%. Once the theory and the pool excercises are complete you are ready for the final stage.

At some point during your training we will ask you to swim 200 Metres (without stopping) and perform a survival float in which you must tread water or float for 10 minutes. These waterskills are mandatory, we cannot certify you unless you complete them.

The final open water sessions can be completed in a reservoir in the UK or whilst abroad on your holiday (we tend not to use the sea around the UK because the conditions are more variable). Here we put all the skills you learned in the confined water sessions into practice in a realistic environment. Diving in the UK during the winter months requires the use of a special exposure suit for which you need additional training.

The 'buddy' system

Never dive alone is sound advice for any diver. To reinforce this we will always pair you up with a buddy as many of the skills require 2 people. We will almost certainly split up partners during the skill sessions (one tends to rely on the other and you need to independently prove mastery).

What happens next?

When you successfully complete the course, PADI will send you a certification card which you can use all over the world to go scuba diving. It's your ticket to be able to hire compressed air and continue training.

Fed up with reading yet? I know it's a lot of boring words but we'd rather you knew what you're letting youselves in for. In reality we make every effort to ensure your enjoyment and make it fun without compromising on safety.

Other points

Equipment

We will lend you all the gear free of charge for the duration of the course. There is a page dedicated to equipment but for a really brief description:
  1. BCD. Buoyancy Control Device. A jacket or waistcoat with an inflatable liner that is used to displace water
  2. Regulator. A 2 stage device that allows you to breath normally from a high pressure source of air
  3. Weights. Most people are positively buoyant (we float) and need extra weight to help us sink
  4. Cylinder. Steel or aluminium tank filled with gas - usually compressed air
  5. Gauges. To monitor your air supply and depth
  6. Mask. Allows your eyes to focus underwater
  7. Fins. Efficient method of propulsion
  8. Exposure suit (optional) Keeps you warm

What about disabilities?

PADI are a non-discriminatory organisation and have written the standards to meet the needs of as many people as possible. Any impaired faculty will not necessarily preclude you from completing a course.

Anything I can do to prepare?

  1. Experience a try-dive.
  2. Forget any pre-conceived ideas you may have.
  3. Swim 200 Metres without stopping.
Remember: we will expect you to answer questions about basic Physics and Physiology and perform some simple mathematics.

Medical Issues

A 'yes' to any of the questions on the medical form will mean you need written authority from a doctor (preferably one who understands scuba diving).

For your own sanity

Diving & non-diving courses

Unfortunately we are unable to take bookings at the present time, if we did they would be: where * means anyone may apply and (J*) means there is a version for junior divers.

Copyright©2006 Adrian McInnes. All rights reserved.