Scuba diving and snorkelling
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Introduction to diving Why Dive? Miles Jackson writes...  The experience of diving unleashes new realms of possibilities in the underwater world. Once you’ve gained a qualification to dive in the open water you can see for yourself how the tropical rainforests of the sea are truly breathtaking. They support a life so diverse that you’ll only want to explore further, learning more about this new world you’ve discovered.There are many different types of diving you can get into, not just the well-known reef diving. Shipwrecks can provide a fascinating location to dive, and also diving in strong currents can be exciting (this is known as drift diving). With further development of your skills you can participate in these types of dives, which will generally require you to go deeper. How do I learn? Learning to dive can be fairly straightforward and after just a few days’ training you will be able to dive in the open water. Intensive courses over approximately 30 hours generally seem to be the best and most successful at teaching you the skills and knowledge you will need to dive with. An entry-level certification course includes participation in classroom sessions as well as practice in essential diving skills in a pool. Finally, you will test your knowledge on a written exam and apply your skills during training dives in the open water. There are many different diving qualifications you can gain within the various clubs and societies that are on offer. The most widely recognised and common course to take is a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) open water course. Other associations will have very similar courses to start you off diving; its just PADI has become the most easily accessible dive association due to its recognition and distribution throughout the world. Click here >> for PADI The PADI Structure of learning enables you to further your skills through various courses. The PADI Adventures in Diving, PADI Specialty Diver and PADI Rescue Diver programs have some great benefits. By going beyond Open Water Diver, you can: The cost of diving with PADI will vary depending on where you choose to learn. You will be charged per course and then once gaining a qualification any additional dives will be more. There are however many other diving associations you can learn to dive with. Among these the more recognised include...  BSAC (The British Sub Aqua Club)The BSAC is one of the most respected diving organisations in the world with a reputation for the excellence of its diver training programme. The costing is slightly different as you pay an annual subscription fee to BSAC instead of paying for individual courses, like PADI. Click here >> for more info NAUI (The National Association of Underwater Instructors) Courses and structure is very similar to PADI. Click here >> for more info PDIC (Professional Diving Instructors Corporation) Courses and structure is very similar to PADI. Click here >> for more info SSI (Scuba Schools International) Courses and structure is very similar to PADI. Click here >> for more info Diving Kit When learning to dive you will generally find all of the kit you need can be hired; however if you wish to take the sport further it is recommended that you purchase a few basic bits of equipment.  Wetsuit: These can vary from very thin wetsuits (about 3mm thick) up to much thicker ones (7mm+). If diving in warm tropical waters then a 3mm wetsuit should be fine; you could even get away with a ‘shorty’ (a wetsuit without covering on the arms and lower legs).Additional kit, including waterproof boots, waterproof torch and batteries, waterproof watch as well as spare straps for your mask and fins, will come in handy when diving. You can pay anything from £200 upwards for the purchase of this kit. The rest of the kit, which includes your buoyancy controller (BC jacket), regulator, tank and oxygen will be provided for within the cost of the course, or can be hired easily once you’ve gained an open-water qualification.  The Future of DivingThe chance to dive in exquisite places is becoming less achievable, with many of our coral reefs threatened, mainly by rising sea temperatures. The effect, known as coral bleaching, permanently damages coral and will often kill off large regions of the reef. Also, with increased global warming there is the possibility of a rise in the carbon level within the water column. Corals would not survive if the levels reached the reefs. Along with destruction of large parts of the reef as a result of dynamite fishing and pollution, the long-term future for coral reefs and the thousands of fish species which live there is unpromising. Many conservation projects are in place monitoring and trying to protect the loss of coral reefs. Organisations such as Greenforce and Coral Cay have programmes operating in many areas of the world, which over the period of several years aim to enhance local understanding of the reefs as well as making them designated protected areas. If you want to learn to dive and are interested in conservation the expeditions these organisations offer can be the best way to learn to dive as the cost is included within the cost of the expedition.  Click here >> for diving and conservation expeditions There are also many projects available which enable you to gain the necessary training and international qualifications needed to seek employment in dive schools worldwide. Click here >> to see these projects |
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