Support

FAQ

  • Should I buy my own gear, and why?
    Firstly, with Covid still around, it’s best to invest in your own gear, for hygiene reasons. But when you have your own gear, there’s also a degree of familiarity. And that makes things more comfortable underwater. We advise you to buy it only after you’ve tried it. Make sure the fit is right so your dive is seamless and you can just soak up the wonder.
  • What gear should I start with?
    A mask, snorkel, and a rash guard/wetsuit would be good for a start because they have contact with your skin. As you do more dives, you can get a pair of fins. And when you’ve done enough dives, consider invest in a buoyancy control device and reg!
  • When should I start purchasing your own gear?
    We’d say right from the first confined or pool training dive. The sooner you start using your own gear, the faster you’re going to feel comfortable in your first real diving experience. Once you’re used to the gear, it becomes a part of you. A second skin. Now, you can focus on becoming a better diver. And delighting in the sights.
  • How do I choose a scuba mask?
    It’s all about the fit. And nothing to do with the brand or the cost, trust us! Masks come in different designs and fits. However, if it’s snug and creates a good vacuum seal without any air leaks, you’re good to go. We offer a variety of masks that fit most face types. So, if you’re looking for one, we’ll mask you good!
  • Scuba Mask vs. Snorkelling Mask?
    They’re different. Because snorkelling and scuba diving are two different things! When snorkelling, it’s typically just your face that’s underwater and your body can be floating above the surface. But with scuba diving, your body is always going to be completely submerged. What does that mean for the masks?

    Firstly, buoyancy. Scuba diving masks are designed to be less buoyant. They don’t float up. On the other hand, with snorkelling masks this doesn’t matter; you’ll be floating along the surface. Lately, many snorkel masks have evolved to allow for diving underneath the surface (free diving). So, they’re less buoyant too. But that’s a story for another time! If you want to learn more, check out our Pinch Your Nose & Equalise mask.

    Secondly, materials. Scuba masks are built with the highest quality materials and subjected to rigorous testing. Because they travel deeper than snorkel masks. More depth means more pressure. More pressure means more water pushing into the mask and more time to resurface for a breath if something goes wrong. So, they’re super sturdy and capable of withstanding pressure. Scuba diving can be a dangerous sport (you are going underwater after all) and the mask needs to make sure divers are always able to see clearly and breathe.
  • Wet Snorkel vs Dry Snorkel?
    Dry snorkels have a float valve mechanism that seals the snorkel tube from water when submerged. In contrast, a classic wet snorkel has a much simpler design. In its most minimal form, a wet snorkel is only a silicone mouthpiece solidly attached to a J-shaped tube. The dry snorkel is the semi-dry snorkel?
  • Full Foot vs Open Heel Fins?
    The key difference between open-heel vs. full-foot fins is that open-heel fins are typically worn with a thick-soled dive boot (bootie), while full-foot fins can be worn barefoot. That makes open-heel fins better for scuba and cold-water activity. Most casual snorkelers will be better off with a full-foot fin. But there are exceptions to the rule.

    A full seat of gear is a wise investment!

    Because comfort is key. And a full set of your own gear makes you comfortable. No ill-fitting rental gear to distract you from learning the skills and delighting in the sights. There’s another advantage to having your own gear. Most dive centres and liveaboards will offer anywhere between 5-10% discount on your dives since you have all your equipment!
  • Where do you usually conduct dive trips?
    We typically plan trips around the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia. In India we plan trips to the Andamans, Lakshadweep, Murudeshwar, Rameshwaram and Chennai. Outside India, we plan trips to the Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
  • What’s the audience like?
    We cater to a range of guests: those who want to get scuba certified, divers who are already certified, guests looking to complete specialty courses, and accompanying non-divers too. Our trips are designed for diving. So that means we don’t focus on conventional site seeing. There’s plenty of wonder to discover underwater!
  • How long are the dive trips?
    5-7 days, including travel time. Unless there are exceptions at certain dive locations which require more travel time.
  • Would I need dive Insurance?
    We strongly recommend dive insurance for all our guests. Though diving is considered a safe sport, accidents do happen. A good insurance policy that covers all dive related accidents is a plus! Most dive sites are in remote locations. In case of emergencies, many of these sites require helicopter transportation. Our insurance policies cover these unforeseen expenses. They are nominally priced and can be purchased for the duration of the dive trip or even for a year.
  • Covid-19 protocols
    We expect all our guests to be double vaccinated before a trip. The travel date should be at least 2 weeks after the second dose. This makes it safer for everyone! Guests below 18 are exempted as there are no vaccines for them yet.
  • How old should I be to dive?
    Anyone aged 10 and older. All you need is to be reasonably fit, comfortable in the water, and carry a spirit for adventure! There are options for those aged 8-10 too. Keen? Ask us about it.
  • Is there an upper age limit for scuba divers?
    No, there isn’t! Certain conditions my preclude those of any age from diving, temporarily or permanently. This can include lung conditions. But, as long as you’re relatively fit, physically and mentally, it’s never too late to learn. Many divers keep taking the plunge even in their 70s and 80s!
  • Is learning to dive difficult?
    No! It’s probably easier than you imagine. Especially if you’re already comfortable in the water. PADI’s entry-level course consists of pool diving, knowledge development, and open water dives. The course is performance based. That means you progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and skill.
  • How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?
    PADI courses are performance based. That means you earn your certification when you demonstrate the required skills and knowledge. Because some learn faster than others, the course duration can vary. The PADI Open Water Diver course can be completed in just three days!
  • How old do I have to be to become a certified diver?
    You must be at least 10 years old to receive a Junior Open Water Diver Certification. 10- and 11-year-old Junior Open Water Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 meters/40 feet. 12- to 14-year-olds must dive with a certified adult. At age 15, the junior certification upgrades to a regular Open Water Diver certification.
  • Are there any special qualifications or considerations to participate in a scuba class?
    No. If you’re in good health and are 10 years old, you can do dive right in. You will, however, need to complete a medical questionnaire. If anything on the questionnaire suggests caution, you’ll need to check in with a physician to make sure you can dive.
  • Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver?
    No. You need to be a reasonably proficient swimmer and comfortable in the water. You must be able to swim a distance of 200 metres, without a time or specific stroke requirement. You’ll also need to perform a 10-minute tread/float during a swim test before or during the course.
  • Scuba diving sounds exciting, but I’m not sure if it’s for me. Can I try it without signing up for a course?
    Absolutely! The PADI Discover Scuba experience lets you try scuba in a swimming pool. Make a shallow scuba dive supervised by a PADI Professional. It takes a few hours.
  • In the movies and on TV, divers are always running into sharks or eels. Should I be concerned about marine animals?
    Most aquatic animals are passive or timid. A few do bite or sting, but you can avoid these by not touching them. Divers aren’t natural prey for sharks and therefore shark attacks are rare. Many scuba divers actually seek out shark encounters. Of course, this is for the truly adventurous!
  • Is scuba diving dangerous?
    No. But there are potential hazards, which is why you need proper training and certification. That’s where we come in 😊
  • What are the medical conditions that impede diving?
    Any medical condition which affects your respiratory or cardiovascular systems, or which may render you suddenly and unexpectedly unable to respond quickly, might mean you cannot dive. Common contraindications are asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, and heart disease. If you have any of these or other illnesses that might cause similar problems, consult a doctor before diving.
    We don’t recommend scuba diving for people with:
    - Breathing problems
    - Ear problems / ear surgery in the last 12 months
    - Cold, flu or congestion (we don’t recommend you to take decongestion medication to dive, as it can wear off underwater and cause problems during ascents)
    Other reasons a diving student may be asked to see a doctor include (but are not limited to):
    - A history of heart or lung disease
    An unexplained loss of consciousness or “blackout”
    A recent history of nausea or vomiting
    The use of prescription or non-prescription medications
    Shortness of breath
    Repeated trouble clearing air spaces (equalisation)
  • My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won’t they hurt when I scuba dive?
    Your ears hurt because of the water pressure on your eardrum. In your scuba course, you’ll learn simple techniques to equalise your ears to the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane.
  • I need vision correction. Is that a problem?
    No. Wearing soft contact lenses shouldn’t be a problem while you dive. However, if you wear hard contacts, you’ll want to dive with gas permeable lenses. See your eye doctor for more information. Another option is to have prescription lenses put into your mask.
  • What does the diver’s ‘never-do’ checklist look like?
    Good question!
    - Never drink and dive: Intoxication can compromise your ability to use your common sense and make rational judgments, especially involving safety.
    - No big meals before your dive: Wait at least two hours after eating before you make your dive. Diving on a full belly can put you in a dangerous situation. It can not only create cramps; it can also create upchucking in your mouthpiece, making it difficult to breathe.
    - Never conceal: If you’ve got a serious or chronic medical condition, let us know!
  • Does Aquanaut provide service for the equipment
    We are in the process of setting up a full-fledged service centre by mid of 2022. We’ll be able to service tanks, valves, BCDs and regulators of most brands in-house!
  • How do I track my orders?
    While taking your order, we collect your email and phone number. After the order is dispatched, you get tracking updates via email and SMS. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Condimentum ullamcorper sed vel quis nibh eget. Dolor laoreet et integer dolor mus. Amet tristique in odio felis. Eget nisl commodo ornare malesuada ac nam purus. Sed faucibus hac pulvinar fermentum, hendrerit vel gravida tellus. Eget donec porttitor laoreet urna sem. Non, nisi, ac ullamcorper imperdiet mi amet, odio. Tristique neque ipsum nunc nunc aenean convallis. Semper.
  • How long does an order take to be delivered?
    It depends on the location but the maximum time is 7-8 days. However, most orders are delivered within 2-3 days in India. We have noticed delays in some locations due to Covid restrictions.
  • How do I return an order?
    No sweat. In case you need to return or exchange an order, we can organise the return shipping. Kindly contact us and let us know the reason for the return and we will plan for return shipping.
  • How do I get my refund?
    We process refunds within 7-14 working days. Kindly send the order number, item details and reason for the return to our email id or our WhatsApp number. We will process your refund right away.
  • What about breakages and damages during shipping?
    We ensure we pack shipments with sufficient precautions to avoid damages in transit. However, in the rare case of any damages during shipping, we take complete responsibility!
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No 27 & 28 "Anantha Krupa" , 3rd Cross, Vasantha Vallabha Nagar 1st Phase, Subramanyapura Post, Bangalore 560061 GET DIRECTIONS