• Guide to NON PADI Qualifications
• Guide to Diving Medicals
• Guide to Courses

Quality

SCUBA diving is taught all over the world, but it is only through associations like PADI, (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors), the largest diver-training organisation in the world, that professional standards are maintained and regulated. For all our courses we use facilities that have been sanctioned by PADI, BSAC or SSI. Experienced Divemasters and Instructors ensure your training is completed properly and safely. Many of the courses on offer use a combination of audio-visual and personal instruction methods. Instruction is based on Performance Based Learning methods, which ensure you fully understand and are able to complete a task before you move on to the next.

What skills do I need to dive?

Diving is open to most people, and age is largely irrelevant. You are required to have basic swimming skills though, and will be required to do a 200m swim and a 10 minute float. All we ask is that you are in good health and don’t have any respiratory or circulatory problems that might be affected by diving. You should also be confident of your ability to follow the few simple guidelines that are necessary for safe diving. As you move from recreational courses on to more professional courses, you will be required to demonstrate greater water-man-ship skills.

Medical Statement

When you begin your diving program, you are required to fill out a medical statement. This is a comprehensive document that serves to highlight any problems that may be affected by diving. Should the statement highlight an area of concern, you would need to refer to a medical Doctor for clearance before carrying on. Refer to our diving medical page for further information

Age Limit’s and Suitability

Our minimum age limit for our diving packages is 18 years old. There is no upper age limit, although you may be required to submit medical evidence that you are fit to dive, should the Dive Centre request it. It is your responsibility to be medically fit before you dive. If you are at all uncertain, then please obtain a medical certificate before you depart from the UK.

Evidence of Certification

You will be expected to produce evidence of Certification and proof of your last dive(s), before commencing any dive(s) or course other than the Open Water course. Proof of previous dives would be expected in the form of a logbook, complete with stamps (from a dive Centre). If you cannot produce this evidence the Dive Centre will reserve the right to refuse your diving at their discretion. No refund would be issued in this event, so be sure you have your logbook and card.

Booking extra dives

When you are booking dive(s) in advance, you should consider the possibility that you might not elect (for whatever reason) to use one or more dives. Dives are strictly non-transferable, and no refund would be issued if you did not use up all your dives. In the eventuality of a diving problem occurring whilst on one of our dive packages, no refund will be issued.

Extra dives and Adventure dives

We cannot guarantee that all of the options on approved diving courses (i.e. the adventure dives you do as part of your advanced open water) will always be available. Changes will occur (subject to availability) and are entirely at the Dive Centre’s (School’s) discretion. Also, we cannot confirm where you will do any ‘Extra Dives’ that you book. The Dive Centre will endeavour to satisfy customers where possible, but it is entirely at the Dive Centre’s (School’s) discretion.

Insurance

Many insurance companies cover recreational scuba diving down to a maximum depth. Please check “maximum depth” covered by your policy (it’s amazing what you read in the small print). You are required to have comprehensive insurance before beginning any of our Dive Courses/Packages. In the eventuality of an accident, you may need costly medical treatment and/or to be repatriated.

Basic Diving Safety

You are expected to comply with the basic safety rules that make diving a safe sport. You should not fly within 24 hours of diving. If on a diving package, you should ensure that your last dive was a shallow dive and preferably your last days diving was at shallow depths. If diving over a two-week period, you should have at least one dry day in the middle. You should never exceed your Dive Centre’s maximum depth limits (usually no deeper than 30m). Remember, most insurance will not cover you for deep dives.

Meals

On some of our diving packages, where meals are included, we endeavour to eat the local cuisine. As this is often considered a highlight of your tour, we ensure that the food is substantial and tasty. Where meals are purchased at local establishments it is always of a high quality, often surprisingly so. In some of the major diving destinations, the types of food you can eat are endless, so you do have plenty of options. Where meals are not included, we will ensure that we get you to a suitable place where you can eat well.

Accommodation

Accommodation is dependant upon the location of where you choose to dive and the country that you choose to visit. We use a variety of rooms, lodges, dormitory style rooms, hostels, and hotels. Where our diving packages start off in a large town or city we use tourist class hotels, usually 2 or 3 star. All the hotels we use are clean, secure and offer most amenities. The hotel accommodation is generally based on same sex sharing of twin rooms. Single supplements are levied if you require a single room.

Equipment

On some courses, equipment is provided and included in the cost. See the details of the specific program you are interested in to see exactly what is included. For the Open Water and Advanced Open Water, all diving equipment and learning materials are provided. PADI Certification Fees are not included unless otherwise stated on the itinerary.

Baggage Allowance on Diving Equipment

There is a general limit on many airlines of 20kgs per person, excluding one item of hand luggage. Although there is an on-going discussion with major airlines about increasing the weight allowance for diving equipment, there is as yet no provision for this extra weight. Very few divers take their own air cylinders, and all dive centres offer weights and cylinders as a standard part of any package. If you do decide to take your own air cylinder, always check with the airline first.

Scuba Diving as a Higher Risk Activity

Scuba Diving is a ‘higher risk activity’ that carries a greater risk of personal injury and death. Such risks are compounded by the fact that you may be participating in these activities in remote areas where even limited medical assistance may be some considerable distance and time away. It is your responsibility to ensure you and all members of your party are medically fit, have the relevant training and are willing to comply with all requirements necessary when engaging in Scuba Diving. In signing our booking form you acknowledge and accept the risks inevitably associated with higher risk activities and that we cannot accept responsibility if any such risks materialise and you suffer death, personal injury, loss or damage as a result.

PDF Downloadable Factsheets

Each diving program that we operate has a factsheet, which is downloadable from this web site. Each factsheet gives a day-to-day /peakdown of the course or tour (where applicable), and detailed background information relating to that particular program. You are strongly urged to read the factsheet before making a decision.

Group Discounts

We do offer group discounts. Please contact us for more details.