Scuba diving qualifications

cantersaddick · June 19

Anyone got an experience?

I'm a water baby and love the ocean. Have done loads of snorkeling and have decided (definitely not a midlife crisis on turning 30) that I'd like to take up scuba diving. Mainly as something I'd do abroad in the sea.

I've heard you can do theory and pool stuff here and then open water bits abroad to get basic qualification is that right?

Any particular courses better than others or recommended places to do them? Any insights at all basically?

eaststandmike · June 19

I worked with a lady who was a very experienced diver, had plenty of fascinating chats with her and I am sure she did all her training in the waters around the UK. She used to say if you can dive in the English Channel where the visibility is 2-3 meters you can dive anywhere.

Good luck, I have done 2 x 10 meter dives (Cyprus and Turkey) and it was fantastic, feeding the fish and watching all the different species was very special

Arthur_Trudgill · June 19

I got my PADI Open Water last year in Crete: you do the theory online and then the practicals when you get there, I think it was 3 dives on three different days. Visibility was good and we saw a lion fish and a small octopus. Loved it, and I wish I had done it earlier, as I'm 57 now and not as fit as when I was 30 😂

GreenWithEnvy · June 19

PADI open water is universally recognised by dive schools around the world and taught at many centres in the UK. Will take you deep enough to where you see most things if you go abroad on to reefs and wrecks. Lots of specialty qualifications too for fun. Open Water shouldn’t take too long and theory is pretty straightforward.

Siv_in_Norfolk · June 20

I've done PADI Open Water (Thailand), Advanced (Phillippines) and Rescue Diver (Thailand).

In all 3 cases, I decided to do the course while travelling and so did the theory element alongside the practical on location. 24 years ago when I did the first one, that was pretty standard. However, you are right - many people now do the theory elements at home in advance so they don't need to spend a couple/few days of holiday studying and cramming.

It's also correct that you could just get certified in the UK before heading off to the tropics and getting straight onto some "fun dives" e.g week in Thailand with a package of 6 dives from a dive school of 3 days with 2 dives each, for example.

For the Open Water the first stages can be done in a pool, so I think it's just maybe the last dive or 2 that you'd be in cold UK waters (or a quarry, I believe).

In any case, am sure you won't regret it. From your snorkeling I guess you already know this!

You've reminded me that I really must get around to diving a wreck off the north Norfolk coast. Quite a departure from the tropics, but something I want to experience for the contrast.

Redrobo · June 20

I would contact the British Sub Aqua Club.
They will take you through all you need and more.
They will have equipment that you can borrow until you get your own, which also enables you to decide what suits you best.
The club will probably have boats etc and you can really practice your skills off our shoreline.

Belonged myself for years and ended up an instructor, boat handler, navigator and dive planner.
Don’t be put off by our weather - we have some of the best wrecks to dive on!

Redrobo · June 20

Oh, and training is free as by trained volunteers

Friend Or Defoe · June 20

I did my advance in Fiji and open water in Carnies in 2006. Not sure what you would see diving in the UK, shopping trollies?!

Solidgone · June 20

Did my PADI Open water on the Barrier Reef, Advance in Bodrum Turkey and Rescue Diver in Dhabi Sinai. I was thinking of taking a Dive Master qualification but decided against it due to age. I also had difficulties taking the theory exams because of the way the questions were phrased. For me I found them somewhat ambiguous (I knew the answers for either way the question was interpreted). I actually caught the examiner out with one of the questions he said I had got wrong but he came out with the same answer as me when we did a rerun.
My advice is to just do the open water and stay within 20m dives where you see all fish activity and the splendour of the fishes.

guinnessaddick · June 20

Just get the t shirt.

Dippenhall · June 20

The Muff Diving Club in Donegal teaches divers how to deal with hairy experiences you might encounter.

usetobunkin · June 20

No Sea to Rough, No Muff too Tough!
We dive at 5!

dogpat65 · June 20

I'd also recommend the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC). Did my training in the UK and on some of the CLub's organsied trips to Egypt. Some pretty adventurous diving available on the South coast. The training is pretty thorough. My Kids have also trained under ESA when in Italy and they were very good. Depends where you are living now, but there are BSAC clubs in most areas. Relatively cheap (if anything in SCUBA is) and operated by volunteers. I was a member of CLIDIVE BSAC 410 on City Road. Really good athmosphere. The cost of raising 3 kids put paid to my adventurous holidays though. Have also spent a lot of time in Donegal and highly rate Muff.

cantersaddick · October 15

I never came back to say thanks for the advice.

I did my PADI open water in Mauritius recently and absolutely loved it. Incredible experience loved the feeling of being underwater, saw lionfish, turtles, octopus and incredible reefs. Dive shop was great and much much cheaper than in Europe. Probably gonna do my advanced sometime next year in Europe and then assuming I'm still enjoying it and wanting to invest time and money in will likely join a BSAC club and see if I can stomach cold water dives.

WHAddick · October 16

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for, for a course to be kosher?

cantersaddick · October 16

WHAddick said:

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for, for a course to be kosher?

I am by no means an expert but from my recent experiences.

You can either do PADI or SSI. PADI is the most internationally recognised and offered everywhere. You have a few options for how you do it.

- All training UK (if you are okay with cold water). This options not for me as I'm interested in wildlife/reefs etc. but if you were gonna do it look into a BSAC club near you as they offer training and qualifications much cheaper if you are able to commit more time going forwards to be part of the club
- Theory and pool based stuff UK (Open water referral course) with actual open water dives abroad (but a decent dive shop will want to verify you have the skills before the open water dives so you will likely end up repeating a fair bit of the pool stuff)
- Theory online pre holiday then Pool stuff and open water dives on holiday. Theory course can be purchased on the PADI website fairly easily.

Assuming you're doing PADI look for a 5* PADI dive shop and check reviews online. My open water cert in Mauritius cost about 1/3 of what it would in Europe

WHAddick · October 16

Thanks Canters.
I'm a little restricted as im going to Jamaica on Monday but will check out the setup out there go from there.

cantersaddick · October 16

WHAddick said:

Thanks Canters.
I'm a little restricted as im going to Jamaica on Monday but will check out the setup out there go from there.

You can definitely do it all once you are out there just will spend an additional day on the theory and pool stuff. Diving will be amazing there as it is across the Caribbean (judging by what people say and the snorkelling I've done there). The alternative is a PADI discover suba dive (DSD) which is a one day session with a small amount of pool stuff to introduce you to the equipment and then one open water dive (12m limit) with an instructor and you can do a second dive too.

But if you think you are gonna like it then I would go straight for the Open water certification. You wont regret it.

Arthur_Trudgill · October 16

cantersaddick said:

I never came back to say thanks for the advice.

I did my PADI open water in Mauritius recently and absolutely loved it. Incredible experience loved the feeling of being underwater, saw lionfish, turtles, octopus and incredible reefs. Dive shop was great and much much cheaper than in Europe. Probably gonna do my advanced sometime next year in Europe and then assuming I'm still enjoying it and wanting to invest time and money in will likely join a BSAC club and see if I can stomach cold water dives.

I went for my first UK dive in Portmellon, Cornwall, this August. It was a shore dive and quite good value, ~£60 with all equipment included, very good wetsuit, tank, mask, gloves, etc.

Nowhere near as cold as I imagined, and visibility was ok, saw huddles of catshark/fish (they seem to curl up in groups of 3 or 4 at the bottom of the sea), a wrasse, and one or two other species of fish. Also surprising was how attractive the kelp and other sea plants are underwater.

I would definitely do it again and experience more of the biodiversity that UK waters offer.

SantaClaus · October 16

WHAddick said:

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for, for a course to be kosher?

When I did my open water qualification in Koh Tao many moons ago it was all wrapped up in two days. From memory it was a morning of theory followed by a 'dive' in about 6 foot of water off the beach. The second day was a couple of dives in maybe 10 metres of water and that was it you were qualified.

ElliotCAFC · October 16

WHAddick said:

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for, for a course to be kosher?

Did my PADI open water back in September last year whilst travelling in Koh Tao, it’s really quite simple if you have the time. A couple of days in the class room (few hours at a time, usually very early in the morning) and then straight into the water.

If it has good reviews on Google, then you'll be fine.

cantersaddick · October 16

SantaClaus said:

WHAddick said:

What are people's thoughts on starting whilst abroad?
Seems there is some theory to do
Anything else to think about or be wary of?
What do you need to look for, for a course to be kosher?

When I did my open water qualification in Koh Tao many moons ago it was all wrapped up in two days. From memory it was a morning of theory followed by a 'dive' in about 6 foot of water off the beach. The second day was a couple of dives in maybe 10 metres of water and that was it you were qualified.

Yeah not like that anymore. Or certainly not at a place that properly teaches the course. The 6ft dive will be the pool/ pool like conditions part where you are supposed to practice all the skills (mask removal, regulator retrieval etc.) And then 4 open water dives up to 18m (you need to get to 18m at least once). With skills practiced at depth too.

cantersaddick · October 16

Arthur_Trudgill said:

cantersaddick said:

I never came back to say thanks for the advice.

I did my PADI open water in Mauritius recently and absolutely loved it. Incredible experience loved the feeling of being underwater, saw lionfish, turtles, octopus and incredible reefs. Dive shop was great and much much cheaper than in Europe. Probably gonna do my advanced sometime next year in Europe and then assuming I'm still enjoying it and wanting to invest time and money in will likely join a BSAC club and see if I can stomach cold water dives.

I went for my first UK dive in Portmellon, Cornwall, this August. It was a shore dive and quite good value, ~£60 with all equipment included, very good wetsuit, tank, mask, gloves, etc.

Nowhere near as cold as I imagined, and visibility was ok, saw huddles of catshark/fish (they seem to curl up in groups of 3 or 4 at the bottom of the sea), a wrasse, and one or two other species of fish. Also surprising was how attractive the kelp and other sea plants are underwater.

I would definitely do it again and experience more of the biodiversity that UK waters offer.

Sounds great to be fair. Was this with a dive club you're part of of just booked with a dive shop?

Arthur_Trudgill · October 16

cantersaddick said:

Arthur_Trudgill said:

cantersaddick said:

I never came back to say thanks for the advice.

I did my PADI open water in Mauritius recently and absolutely loved it. Incredible experience loved the feeling of being underwater, saw lionfish, turtles, octopus and incredible reefs. Dive shop was great and much much cheaper than in Europe. Probably gonna do my advanced sometime next year in Europe and then assuming I'm still enjoying it and wanting to invest time and money in will likely join a BSAC club and see if I can stomach cold water dives.

I went for my first UK dive in Portmellon, Cornwall, this August. It was a shore dive and quite good value, ~£60 with all equipment included, very good wetsuit, tank, mask, gloves, etc.

Nowhere near as cold as I imagined, and visibility was ok, saw huddles of catshark/fish (they seem to curl up in groups of 3 or 4 at the bottom of the sea), a wrasse, and one or two other species of fish. Also surprising was how attractive the kelp and other sea plants are underwater.

I would definitely do it again and experience more of the biodiversity that UK waters offer.

Sounds great to be fair. Was this with a dive club you're part of of just booked with a dive shop?

I went as a one off with this company
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZyWKExs3oopnkcV2A

To be honest, they initially looked rough and ready, which was a bit worrying, but once we got going they were quite professional (I guess not being sleek keeps the price down).

We were a group of 6, with a very experienced (yet young) leader. Me and a middle aged woman were the oldest, the other 4 lads were young, and seemed to have studied marine biology - I found that endearing.

Danepak · October 16

Went to Hurghada, Egypt, with my wife (then girlfriend) in 2003 and did a 4-day Open Water course. It was an incredible experience. From memory, the first day was theory in the morning, followed by some diving in a swimming pool in the afternoon. The next day, we dived from the beach. Once you got past the swirling sand, you suddenly saw the most beautiful scenery of colourful fish.

The third and fourth days took place on a boat, where we went out and did proper dives. Truly one of the best experiences of my life.

The following year, my wife went with a friend to do the Advanced Open Water course. She had to do a night dive and said it was rather scary to sail out for an hour, then jump in and sit in total darkness at 13 metres, waiting for the instructor to join her.

No photo description available

cantersaddick · October 16

Sounds amazing!! Egypt is definitely on the dive bucket list.

Since we are doing pictures. Hitting the bottom at 13m on my first dive. Then working on trim and buoyancy on a later dive.

WHAddick · October 17

Great pictures!

Thanks for all the advice/comments from everyone

Solidgone · October 17

Once you’ve gained experience I you might want to try the dives around Dahab. The Blue Hole is challenging and into the canyons. I did a night dive into the canyons to a depth of 34m and my torch gave up. Luckily there was a full moon but an incredible dive.

Scuba diving qualifications

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