Learn To Dive
- What are the health requirements?
There are a few simple prerequisites for the
Open Water Diver course. You should be relatively
fit and healthy, be comfortable in the water and be
able to swim 200 metres (any stroke, no time limit)
and be able to tread water for ten minutes. You
will also need to ask your doctor to complete a
medical form stating that you are fit to participate
in a recreational scuba course. The Scuba Store has a list of doctors who can carry out this medical to the required standard (AS4005.1). You may also use your own doctor, but you must collect a medical form from the Scuba Store and discuss this with your doctor before making an appointment.
- I've never dived before, is this a concern?
The Open Water Diver course is designed for
people who want to learn to scuba dive. You
do not need any prior scuba diving experience and in
fact, you do not even need to have been
snorkelling before.
- Does learning to dive take a long time?
Not at all. The Open Water Diver course normally runs
over a two week period and is divided into three
components: theory, pool training and ocean
diving. There are five evenings of theory and pool
training, and two weekends diving at the coast. If you are unable to attend evening classes, eg you are a shift worker, we can arrange a DVD/video based system for you to study the theoretical aspects of the course at your convenience. If you are unable to attend the evening pool sessions, we can also arrange this at another mutually convenient time.
- Is the course "all work and no play"?
Although there is a wide range of
exercises to be completed during the course,
we also have a lot of dive time free of formal
underwater class activities. There will certainly
be time to explore a number of different sites and
to learn about the new world of plants and animals
found underneath the water.
- Why two weekends of diving?
We do not push you through the course. Two weekends diving at the coast gives us the ability
to pay extra attention to individual abilities as
well as making allowances for variations in diving
conditions.
- What about accommodation at the coast?
Our ocean diving is in the Ulladulla area, about
20 minutes drive north of Batemans Bay. Accommodation
is organized in and around Ulladulla on a share basis.
Participants are free to make their own
accommodation arrangements if they wish but it
is convenient (and more social) if the group stays
together.
- How can I improve my skills?
Graduation from the open water course
signifies that you are a competent new
diver. Further
skills can be gained in a safe, friendly
environment via our range of specialty courses
which include Limited Visibility, Navigation,
Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, Stress/Rescue and
Underwater Biology.
- What is the Scuba Store's "Total Teaching System"?
We teach the academics of diving by using manuals,
study guides, videos, teaching outlines and other
support material. Our system utilizes repetition
of information by addressing all of the ways people
learn: seeing, reading, hearing, repeating, and
doing. Our system is the natural way to learn,
has proved to be a highly effective teaching
methodology, and results in a high level of
confidence in overall diving ability.
- Is there a minimum age requirement?
Subject to some restrictions, you must be at least 10 years old to learn to scuba dive. Please contact us for more information.
- What does the course cost?
The current price (as of Jan 2007) is $465. This
includes snorkelling and hire of scuba equipment, workbooks, instruction, diving and airfills and your internationally recognised scuba diving licence. It does not include travel and accommodations expenses. (Accommodation is provided at $40 per weekend, share basis).
- OK, I'm hooked and I want to learn. What do I do next?
Usually courses are run at least once a month; however if things get busy we schedule extra courses in the summer months to maintain our policy of small class sizes. We like to keep the class size on each course to not more than six. If you would like to learn to scuba dive, call the Scuba Store on 6247 4911 to find the date of the next available course which has a vacancy.
To confirm your place, you will need to pay a deposit -usually $75.00- and receive your course materials. Prior to the course starting, you will need to arrange your medical, which must be completed before the first week-end at the coast. If at the time of your medical, you are not fit to dive due to a temporary illness, you can still complete the theoretcial components of the course and be rescheduled for a following course to complete the practical part. Naturally if you are deemed permanently unfit to dive, your deposit will be refunded.
- How can I improve my skills once I've learnt to dive?
The Scuba Store teaches a number of Speciality Courses (see our Further Instruction tab at top) - usually during the winter months - covering deep diving, stress and rescue, navigation, limited visibility etc. These specialities are prerequisites to dive leadership level such as Dive Controller and Instructor.
- At last! I've learnt to dive and got my ticket, where can I go diving??
The Scuba Store arranges monthly dive trips to locations on the NSW coast, mainly between Jervis Bay and Eden. We also run a trip each year to Lady Musgrave Island, on the Southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, and overseas trips to more exotic locations in Indonesia, Papua Guinea and the Solomon Islands. If you would like to know what trips have been organised, you can contact the Scuba Store (02)6247 4911 or send an email to us through this web site.
If your question isn't answered above, please take a moment and
submit it via the online feedback form. We'll email
you a response and add it to our growing list.
|