It’s been said that the single most important
influence on the growth of recreational scuba diving in recent years has
been the increase in participation among women.
Of the thousands of certifications issued to divers
by PADI International over the last few years, over a third of these
certifications were issued to women. Dive equipment manufacturers have
noticed this trend and have started creating gear especially for women.
New designs featuring bright, vivid colours have virtually eliminated the
drab, macho, “Sea Hunt” image of scuba diving.
Whilst the aquatic world is a different environment
than we are accustomed to, it is, in many ways, more forgiving than our
world on land. Obviously, divers must exercise a certain degree of
caution and observe standard safety rules and procedures.
However, modern training and equipment generally
provides divers with a number of options for dealing with any situation
that may arise under the water. The more a person dives, the more
comfortable they becomes and the less likely it becomes that person will
get in trouble.
Q.
Aren't classes
intimidating and difficult?
Modern scuba instruction
emphasizes the enjoyment of scuba diving and takes new students step by
step through the learning process. Early scuba instructions were based on
military requirements designed for divers who would perform elite
activities. Recreational divers don’t need to know about military
applications. Today, classes are performance-based with much of the
initial work done in the classroom and swimming pool, where students
become familiar with the equipment and underwater techniques under the
supervision of a certified instructor.
The most prolific sea
life and stunning corals are usually within 18 meters of the surface.
Plants and corals need light to flourish. The deeper a person dives, the
less light there is - colours become muted. Most underwater photographers
prefer diving between 6 - 10 meters. Occasionally, divers go to deeper
depths to investigate a shipwreck or wall, but rarely do recreational
dives exceed 20 meters.
Q.
Diving is expensive isn't it?
You can buy a good
quality mask, snorkel and fins (basic equipment that every diver should
own) for around £70.00. Most other equipment necessary for a beginning
course is either provided by the facility, or available for rental. Those
making a strong commitment to scuba diving as an activity can expect to
spend about the same amount on equipment as they would for golf or
skiing. Typically, the most expensive part of recreational diving is
travelling to diving destinations.
We can have various
gases in our Scuba Tanks. Normally we use normal air that we breath in our
everyday life. This is 21% Oxygen and 79% Nitrogen. However, once you are
qualified as a Scuba Diver we can teach you to use Nitrox mixes in your
cylinder. This can be up to 40% Oxygen and 60% Nitrogen and gives you the
opportunity to stay beneath the waves slightly longer.
Diving is very different
from anything I have ever experienced before. The feeling of
weightlessness and moving in three dimensions is the closest most of us
will ever get to being in space. In actual fact you will be in inner
space! It is a privileged position to be in as you watch the sea life go
about their daily business and visit ships that sank years ago. We will
teach you to drift dive, to hover motionless and most of all be safe. So
what are you waiting for, come along and join in?
Not at all. We have been
diving in various parts of the UK for ten years. You will be amazed at
the visibility we have. It does of course vary due to many factors,
including weather, bottom composition and time of the year. However, at
Littlehampton visibility can be as good as twenty meters although
typically UK waters are less than this at approximately 5 to 10m.
The English Channel is
not exactly the Caribbean but that does not mean that you have to be too
cold to enjoy the sport. For diving in the UK we dress appropriately -
wearing diving suits and under suits to keep warm underwater. Dry suits
keep you dry and you can wear whatever you want underneath, so even if you
were diving in the Antarctica you could stay warm.
It is very unlikely that
sharks will hurt you, despite popular opinion. Many sharks are actually
close to becoming an endangered species. They are graceful creatures that
are misunderstood by many people. They definitely are not the vicious
diver eating monsters that they are made out to be.
More or less anything
you want. There is something for everyone in the underwater world. Fish,
crabs, lobsters, anemones, corals, sponges, seaweed, shellfish and of
course wrecks. What are you waiting for? Come and join us below the ocean
waves !
Q.
What sort of diving can I do?
In short - varied. We
can organise wreck diving to naturalist diving. Many people want to do
photographic diving to add to the family album or drift diving for a
moments relaxation. Basically, shallow diving to deep diving from a boat
or diving from the shore. We can help you with what ever you want - and
we'll always be willing to join in.
Of course you can. We
will take you on what is called a Try Dive evening. In the swimming pool
we teach you the basic concepts of diving and spend around half an hour
with you swimming around and getting you comfortable with breathing
underwater. If you wish we can take things further after the dive. But I
guarantee you will be hooked!
Q.
How do we talk underwater?
Well at 30 meters it is
an awful lot of water to drink. So we use hand signals that are
standardised throughout the world to avoid any confusion. Alternatively,
we can use things such as plastic slate to communicate. The choice is
yours, but we will teach you all the hand signals you need to know.
There is a Scuba Diving
Course. This is the sort of thing that you may want to do if you wish to
dive on holiday occasionally. This level of certification allows you to
dive to 12m (40ft) but only while accompanied by a PADI Professional (Divemaster
or higher rating). Alternatively, do the Open Water Diver certification.
This allows you to dive to 18m. This is the qualification to choose if you
want to dive more than once per year and allows you to develop as a diver
and gain experience.
We teach you well at
Adventures in Scuba. There are several techniques to equalise your ears
underwater. It is relatively easy to equalise to the surrounding water
pressure.
The philosophy of diving
is that it is for everyone. Basically, we recommend you call in to your
local doctors and if he is happy that you can dive and you can fulfil the
course requirements then you will certify as a diver like anyone else. If
you are unable to meet all of the PADI course requirements there is an
organisation called Handicapped Scuba Association who may be able to help
you. Each diving organisation has its own requirements but all are
inclusive.
You don't have to be
super fit. However a reasonable general level of fitness is required.
PADI provide a
Medical Statement for the student to
complete and this is required before we start.
Nothing to worry about.
Most major manufacturers make masks that have optical lenses fitted. For
example Mares (a big scuba diving manufacturer) allow for this on many of
their masks. Just ask us and we can recommend something to you.
Being able to swim
obviously helps if you want to be a diver. However, to enrol on the PADI
Open Water course you will need to swim 200m and tread water for 10
minutes. This really is so much easier than you think and you can take as
long as you want and float on your back. Its really not difficult.
PADI are the
Professional Association of Diving Instructors and are the world's largest
scuba diving training organisation, with approximately 55% of all divers
worldwide certified by them. All PADI professionals have a code of
standards laid down by PADI - this ensures a consistent quality of
training and services offered by PADI professionals throughout the world.
If you are already a
scuba diver certified with another agency such as SAA or BSAC you may wish
to cross over to a PADI certification to take advantage of the
internationally recognised status of a PADI certification. We take account
of previous training and experience and always welcome people from
different backgrounds into our dive club. After all variety is the spice
of life.
