Learn to Scuba Dive – Understand Your Options
There are a number of different options for those who want to learn to scuba dive. Here they are for you to help you understand.
For some people scuba diving for the first time is a very scary or intimidating experience. It is important to have an experienced and understanding instructor for your first underwater encounter.
If this is your first time underwater you are in for a real adventure. You are about to experience a new world, everything changes, you are light, agile and free like you have never experienced before. Once you have tried it you will never be the same
If you have never been scuba diving before and you want to learn the there are a few different options. The first is the PADI Discover Scuba Diving, PADI Scuba Diver and the PADI Open Water Course.
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving is the best and cheapest way to experience scuba diving for the first time. It is a one-day activity and a chance to explore a whole new world. This will be under the supervision of a trained PADI professional. Here in Phuket it is usually done on a large boat out to the near by islands of Racha Yai or Racha Noi.
Most people start with the PADI Discover Scuba Diving. This is not officially a course rather it is considered as an experience. Before you go scuba diving there will need to be a couple things you will need to do. There will be some paperwork and medical review.
Exploring the underwater world is fun but it has a serious side. You will get a briefing or watch a DVD explaining the dangers of scuba diving, about the marine life you will see. Also an overview of the equipment you will use and how to communicate underwater with hand signals.
Free Pool Session
Prior to exploring the underwater world there are a few underwater skills you need to master. You will need to know what to do if the regulator (breathing device) accidently comes out of you mouth. Another is how to get water out of you mask underwater. They have to be done in a pool or pool like conditions. In most cases these are done in a nice shallow area of the dive site that you are intending to scuba dive. However some people prefer to do it in a swimming pool first. At Aussie Divers Phuket we are one the few companies on the island that will do this absolutely free of charge. Once you have mastered these skills then you are free go deeper with your PADI professional. These skills also credit you towards your PADI Open Water certification.
You will go on two open water dives with a PADI professional. This what you have been waiting for, it is time to go diving. Typically in Phuket it is done on a large day trip boat for two dives. Dive times on the big dive boats are typically between 40 -50 minutes. At the end of you dives you will receive a lovely certificate of completion.
After the PADI Discover Scuba Diving
Chances are you will love scuba diving so much you will continue on to the PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water courses. Your PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience can credit to those courses, which are your other options to learn to scuba dive.
The difference in the two is in the certification level and the course time frame. Effectively the PADI Scuba Diver Course is half the PADI Open Water Course and takes less time. Typically the PADI Scuba Dive Course is completed in two days where as the PADI Open Water Course is done over three days.
PADI Scuba Diver Course
At the end of the PADI Scuba Diver Course you will have a certification that will allow you do scuba diving under the supervision of a PADI Divemaster or Instructor to a depth of no more than 12 metres. The PADI Open Water Certification allows you do dive with and other licensed scuba divers and to a depth of 18 metres. The PADI Open Water Course is by far the more popular and effective of the two courses.
The first day of the two courses involves a theory component and a pool or confined water component. The PADI Open Water Course in respect to the theory and pool in divided into five components For the PADI Open Water Course you will do all five and for the PADI Scuba Diver Course you will do the first three. These will usually be completed on day one. Whilst in the pool you will learn 24 skills that will help you become a better scuba diver.
PADI Open Water Course
For the PADI Open Water Course you will need to complete four open water dives in the sea that will be done over two days. For the PADI Scuba Diver Course you only need to do two open water dives and they can be completed in one day. Whilst in the open water you will practice some of the skills that you learnt in pool, how to improve your neutral buoyancy and become a good scuba diver.
At the end of the PADI Scuba Diver Course or PADI Open Water Course your will receive a certification card as proof of completion.
Phuket is one of the places in the world to learn to scuba dive. She has clear and warm waters, warm weather and a relaxed atmosphere. The best instructors to teach you is at the most profession dive centre in Phuket, Aussie Divers Phuket.
Learn to Scuba Dive With Aussie Divers Phuket Today – Book Here
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