Scuba Diving Holiday Packages

scuba diving holiday packages"scuba diving holiday packages"
Scuba Diving Holidays?

Thinking about going on a scuba diving holiday as a family, however none of us have any previous experience. I understand that a PADI open water course is needed to be taken and this can be done along with many holiday packages. However to those who have been on these before/ had more experience than us... is it better to do the theory stuff beforehand so you dont have to do the "boring part" whilst on holiday?
Additionally where are the best places to go and learn scuba diving?
Thanks

Under the PADI system, you can do the pool and theory training through a dive centre in your local area, at your own pace and convenience, and then do the qualifying dives at a resort--it's called a 'referral course'. Doing your course this way is a very good idea, especially if none of you have dived before--if it turned out that diving's not your thing (it's not to everyone's taste), you could pack the course in at home, without spoiling your holiday.

The way the referral course works is, your instructor at home fills out a form to say which theory and pool training sessions you've completed successfully (there are five of each, plus a multi-choice theory exam and an easy 'swim test'), and you take that form with you on holiday. The dive centre where you do the skills training may be able to recommend--or even book for you--a place to do the qualifying dives. Once you get to your holiday destination, the receiving instructor fits you with any equipment you don't already have (I don't recommend you buy everything straight off--maybe just snorkelling gear), and takes you for the qualifying dives.

Depending on how long it was between you doing the training and going on your holiday, and/or how confident you are, the instructor may also recommend that you do a 'SCUBA review' (or 'refresher course') (a half-day, one dive), before you start on the qualifying dives. This will give you some extra tuition time during which (1) you can get used to the new gear (2) you can get your weightbelt set right, so buoyancy control is easier, and (3) the instructor can see how comfortable you are with all the necessary skills, and help you iron out any problems s/he notices.

(During pool training, the instructor demonstrates each skill for you before asking you to do it. On the qualifying dives, the instructor doesn't do any skill demonstrations, since you're supposed to be showing that you've learnt how to do them already--all you'll get will be a pre-dive briefing, and then signals underwater).

PADI requires 4 open water dives for Open Water Diver, which will take you 2 days (2 dives per day), so if all goes well, you could even fit your Advanced Open Water Licence (5 dives, usually also over 2 days) into a week-long holiday. :-)

The best places to learn or go SCUBA diving depend on where you live. For Europeans, then the Red Sea would always be my advice. For Americans, Florida, the Caribbean or Hawai'i are closest/most convenient. For Australians, the Great Barrier Reef (via Cairns or Townsville) is a must-see. Yes, I like warm tropical diving, and I'm not ashamed to admit it! :-)

Feel free to email me through Y!A (or check out my previous answers to SCUBA-related stuff) if you have any more questions.

All the best.

Scuba Diving Holiday. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.


scuba diving holiday packages
scuba diving holiday packages