1. How old do you have to be to get certified?

PADI requires you to be at least 10 years old to become a PADI certified Junior Open Water Scuba Diver. Every certifying agency has its own standard. A Junior Open Water Scuba Diver must dive with an Open Water Scuba Diver until the junior turns 15. Most Certifying agencies require students to be at least 12 years old.

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2. Why do I have to get certified to dive?

In the scuba class, you will learn how to dive safely and correctly. Your SCUBA certification card is proof that you have taken and passed the SCUBA course. No reputable Dive Centre will rent you gear, fill your tank , or let you dive at their facilities unless you are a certified SCUBA diver.

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3. For how long will I be certified?

Most SCUBA certifications do not expire. It is highly recommended that you keep in practice. You should dive more than once a year. You may take a SCUBA Tune Up or refresher from any instructor. Most agencies offers continuing education classes which are very informative. Continuing with your SCUBA education is an excellent way to keep in practice and learn more safe diving skills.

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4. How deep may I go?

The maximum depth for a recreational SCUBA diver is 130 feet. I do not recommend you ever dive the maximum depth. You should not dive deeper than 60 feet without proper training. In the Advanced Open Water course, divers are shown the correct and safe way to make a deep dive.

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5. Will the fish bother me?

Most fish will ignore you. It is very exciting to see fish. The larger the better. The prettiest and most abundant fish are in the ocean. The best place to see fish is near shipwrecks and reefs. Some fish will let you get close to them but will stay out of your reach. Some fish are curious and will follow you around. I have been diving for a long time and have seen many sharks, eels and barracudas. The sharks and eels are very shy and are difficult to see. Barracudas are curious and might follow you around making it easy to photograph them. Game fish seem to know when you are looking for dinner. Grilled snapper or flounder taste great. Most of the time I just take pictures, but every now and then I get hungry for sea food.

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6. How expensive is SCUBA diving?

Once you are certified, SCUBA diving costs about as much as 18 holes of golf, or a good ski-lift ticket. Starting out is the most expensive. You have to pay to get SCUBA certified, and buy some gear. Classes cost between R1950-00 and R2950-00. The minimum amount of gear will cost about R595-00. You should have your own mask, fins, and snorkel for the class.

A two-tank dive in the Caribbean will cost about R990-00, in FL you can expect to pay about R660-00. Two dives in Sodwana or Ponta Do Ouro will cost about R280-00 Most rock quarries charge about R50-00 per person for all day diving. Air fills: Sodwana Bay R20-00 but usually included in dive price, Rock quarries R20-00. You can rent a tank with air for about the same amount it will cost you to fill your own.

You don't have to buy all your gear. Most dive shops rent gear and don't charge students rental during class. A complete set of dive gear rents for R75-00 per day. You can buy all of your own gear (BCD, Regulator with SPG and Octo) for as low as R7500-00. I recommend you buy good gear. Don't skimp on your life support gear.

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7. Is it hard to learn to scuba dive?

No, in fact, it's probably easier than you imagine -- especially if you're already comfortable in the water. Entry-level diver course is split into knowledge development, confined water (pool) skill training and four scuba training dives. The course is "performance based," which means that you progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and skill.

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8. Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as an Open Water Diver?

No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer who is comfortable and relaxed in the water. The swimming requirement for certification is an easy 183 meter/200 yard nonstop swim (with no time or specific stroke requirement) and 10 minute tread/float.

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9. What's in a scuba tank? Oxygen?

Recreational divers breathe air, not oxygen. It's filtered to remove impurities, but otherwise, it's air like you're breathing now.

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10. How long does a tank of air last?

This is a common question that, unfortunately, doesn't have a single answer. People breathe at different rates, and you breathe faster when you're swimming than when you're resting. Also, the deeper you go, the more you use your air, and, you can get different size tanks. So, the answer is "it depends;" this is why divers have a gauge that tell them how much air they have at all times. As an approximation, though, a diver sightseeing in calm, warm water in the 5 meter/15 foot to 10 meter/30 foot range can expect the average tank to last about an hour.

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11. My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won't they hurt when I scuba dive?

Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your ear drum. In your scuba course, you'll learn a simple technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane, and they won't hurt at all.

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12. Is scuba diving dangerous?

Not really. Statistics show that recreational scuba diving is about as safe as swimming. Certainly there are potential hazards -- which is why you need training and certification -- but like driving a car, as long as you follow the rules and use common sense, it's pretty safe.

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13. Do I have to buy SCUBA gear

No you don't have to buy SCUBA gear. We provide Scuba tanks, buoyancy compensator, regulator, and weight belt. You will have to have a mask, fins and snorkel.

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