| Is it difficult to learn to dive? |
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| No. As long as you are reasonably comfortable in the water, then there shouldn’t be any problems. The course is designed for children the age of 10 and onwards, so the theory sections should be very straight forward. All of our courses at Dive Travel Asia are conducted by a experienced instructor, and we keep the groups to a maximum of four people per instructor. |
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| How long does it take to do the PADI course? |
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| The course is performance based, so we progress at your speed. Usually the course can be completed in three days, but sometimes an extra day is required to finish off. |
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| How old do I have to be to do a PADI course? |
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| You can start the Open Water Course when you are 10 years old, the certification is called a Junior Open Water Diver, this enables the person to dive to 12 meters, but must be accompanied by an adult. |
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| What do I need to start the course? |
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| Before the course begins there is a small amount of paper work to go through, involving a medical questionnaire and liability releases. If you have any medical concerns it is best to check with your local doctor before you arrive. |
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| Do I have to be a strong swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver? |
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| No. All divers are expected to be able to swim 200 meters and tread water for 10 minutes. If this is a problem, divers are can swim 300 meters with the aid of a mask, snorkel and fins. |
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| Is scuba diving expensive? |
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| No. Thailand’s is still one of the world’s cheapest locations to undertake a PADI Scuba diving course. Scuba Diving is comparable to most hobbies which is equipment based, golf, fishing, mountain biking etc. |
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| What equipment do I need before I take scuba lessons? |
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| For all of our courses, equipment is included in the price. If you would like to purchase any equipment while you are here, we can help you make the right choice. |
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| What's in a scuba tank? Oxygen? |
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| During the dives we breath air from our tanks, 79% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen. |
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| How long will my tank last on a dive? |
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| This is dependent on several factors including depth and breathing rate, generally speaking, new divers can get around 40-50 minutes out of the tank on a normal dive. |
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| I’m worried about my ears, will they hurt? |
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| It is not uncommon for new divers to experience a little discomfort with their ears during the course. You ear is a muscle, and like any muscle, if you don’t use them often (to equalize) then when you do start to use them, some discomfort can be experienced. There is nothing to worry about though, 80% of divers experience no problems at all |
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| Are there any dangerous animals in Thailand, Sharks? |
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| Thailand is not home to any large aggressive sharks, and there has never been a shark attack in Thai waters, ever. The reefs around Phuket and the Similan Islands are home to a vast array of marine life, and as long as divers don’t start touching everything that they see, you will not have a problem |
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| Is Scuba diving safe? |
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The simple answer is YES. Diving has a safety record much better than most sports, and accidents happen very rarely. Accidents usually occurred through diver error, due to a lack of adequate training. The best way to avoid this is to make sure you are properly trained.
All of our instructors are very experienced. They, unlike many others in Phuket, have not just started diving 6 months ago, passed all there courses and became instructors. Please be aware that it is not the dive center you should be looking at, it’s the instructor that you will have. Even the largest companies in Phuket, who have great reputations employ newly qualified instructors, be aware.
All of our instructors have a minimum of 5 years teaching experience, and logged over 1500 dives. |
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| How long after diving can I fly? |
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The rules about flying after diving have changed a few times in recent years. The general consensus is that you should wait 15-18 hours after your dives.
I have always recommended that divers should wait 24 hours to be extra sure.
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| I’m not sure about taking the whole course, what can I do? |
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| If you are unsure then I would recommend taking a Discover Scuba Diving course to start. This course is an easy introduction into the world of diving, without the lengthy academic and pool sessions. |
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| What is PADI? |
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| PADI stands for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. It is an American based company operating through regional offices all over the world. PADI make the standards by which every PADI Instructor will teach their course. PADI is by far and away the largest certification agency in the world, and has the best teaching materials available today. |
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| I did my course years ago, do I have to do it again? |
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| No, your PADI certification is valid for life. What we recommend is a refresher course, where you will go for a dive with a instructor who will go over the everything again with you, from setting up your equipment, to sorting out your buoyancy. |
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