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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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No. But there are potential hazards, which is why you need proper training and certification. That’s where we come in 😊
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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!
