Q: Do
I have to be a good swimmer to learn to Scuba Dive?
A: You need to be able to
swim 200 YARDS/METRES, but you don't have to be an olympic swimmer.
Q: What is the minimum
/ maximum age to scuba dive?
A: The minimum age to start
Scuba Diving is 10 years old for Junior Open Water Diver. However, you
could enjoy time in the pool on our Bubblemaker course from the age of
eight. There is no maximum age as long as you are in reasonable health.
Q: How long will it take me
to learn how to Scuba Dive?
A: It Depnds upon your time schedule and your
comittment to training. With a concentrated course, training can take
as little as 5 to 7 days. Usually we conduct training to suit your needs
when you can attend the pool sessions, some home study with training culminating
in a final exam and 4 Open Water dives conducted over 2 days.
Q: I Am Claustrophobic.. does
this mean that I would not be able to try Scuba Diving?
A: It may or may not be a
problem..in the past we have had many dive students who have suffered
with the same phobia and they have gone on to be certified padi divers.
The best way to find out if you can scuba dive would be to come along
to a try dive at the pool and see how you get on. in our experience when
a student wants to dive strongly enough, they get beyond their phobia.
Q: I have a disability..does this mean i cannot
learn to dive?
A: Absoloutely not...PADI courses are flexible
to adapt courses to most students needs..often a dive skill need only
be modified to adapt it for a student with a disability.
Q: I have been told that I must complete a
medical questionaire before I can start a diving course..is this true
and what is involved?
A: Yes this is true..we will require information
about any conditions that may affect yours and our safety when you are
breathing compressed air under water. if any of the answers on the questionaire
are yes, then you will need to see your GP or specialised Diving Doctor
to get clearance. without the clearance in advance of the course we cannot
commence any in water training. to view a copy of the medical questionare
which details ailments, click on the link"medical statement form"
in the left hand column on this page.
Q: I have a medical issue
that I think might stop me from diving, what should I do?
A: Please check the PADI medical
statement that is on our application form . If you identify any issues
please contact us and you will need to consult with your doctor.
Q: I Wear Glasses and Contact Lenses. .Can
I still learn to dive
A: No problem..you can wear contact lenses
with a mask on or if you prefer you an invest in a mask with a prescription
lense.
Q: I take a prescription medicine, can I still
learn to dive?
A: This would be a question on the medical
questionare and would constitute a "YES" answer and would require
a clearance from your doctor.
Q: How soon could I start a Scuba course?
A: We run courses every week at several locations..if
you want to start today we can get you started today!
Q: Is diving safe?
A: Diving has an extremely strong safety record
and there are very few diving accidents each year. PADI is the world's
largest dive organisation and its courses are well proven. Safety is very
much an individual responsibility when diving, so please follow the guidelines
given to you during your training and briefings and respect the marine
life and underwater environment.
Q: Once I qualify as a diver where can I dive
and who can i dive with?
A: As a PADI open water diver,
you will be able to dive anywhere in the world as long as you dive with
another qualified diver. in addition we plan dive trips here in the uk
and abroad through our dive club and you will always be welcome to join
us. We keep all of our student divers updated when we are diving. the
dive club is a great way to meet with fellow divers who have the same
love of diving and forge new freindships.
Q: What is the difference between the scuba
diver course and the open water diver course?
A: As a scuba diver you will
only qualify to dive to a depth of 12 metres and then only when accompanied
by a PADI professional (Divemaster or higher). as a open water diver you
are qualified to dive to a depth of 18 metres and you can dive with any
other fully certified diver
Q: I have been told that scuba diving is an
expensive sport, equipment etc..is this true?
A: By todays standards the
sport represents good value for money. you can buy as much or as little
equipment as you like dependent upon the frequency of diving that you
think you are going to do. if you plan to dive on holidays only then you
may decide renting equipment is the way to go. however if you plan to
dive reguarly throughout the year then this may be an expensive option.
many divers build their equipment up a piece at a time and work towards
having their own full kit. however unlike most sports, once you have your
own kit it becomes a relatively cheap sport to participate in.
Q: I would like to become an instructor..how
long would it take me to achieve this?
A: It would vary dependent
upon your flexibilty and comittment to your training..realistically you
would be looking at a minimum of two and a half years to reach instructor
level and possibly as long as three and a half years. To achieve instructor
status is no mean feat and requires a huge dedication to learning dive
theory, man management skills as well as developing your dive skills.
Q: I have a dive qualification, but it is
not from PADI?
That is no problem and we
can arrange a crossover into the PADI system. Please contact us and we
can let you know what PADI level you are the equivalent of.
premierdivers@frameman.co.uk |
