Not really. Like many sports, you can invest a lot or a little, depending upon your interest level. Most dive centres and resorts rent equipment, so you can invest in equipment over time, renting what you don't have until you make the investment. A 4-5 day entry-level course in the UK with a PADI or BSAC centre will be an investment of between £250 and £350. A learn to dive package in the Red Sea (the most popular overseas dive destination for the Brits) is likely to cost between £450 and £900 depending on the time of year and standard of accommodation. Although you can dive in the Red Sea year-round, the prices are inflated for the school holidays and half terms. To generalise, most people find the costs of scuba diving similar to those associated with skiing.
How young can people learn to dive?
To complete a 4-5 day entry-level course that qualifies the individual to dive, the minimum age if you train with BSAC is 14 years, and the minimum age for PADI is ten years. That said, children as young as five years old can now get a taste of scuba. PADI now has a course for five years olds to try out a form of scuba. Their Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youth (SASY) course involves snorkelling with scuba equipment instead of a snorkel.
Is learning to dive difficult?
No, it's probably easier than you imagine – especially if you're already comfortable in the water. Courses are performance-based, meaning you only move on as you learn and demonstrate the knowledge or skill required.
Who can scuba dive?
Find if there are any restrictions
You don't have to be a super-fit athlete to learn to dive, far from it. According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), more than 1.6 million Americans over the age of 45 are qualified divers, and plenty of them drink, smoke and enjoy a few super-size take-outs when they get out of the water!
To be honest, you don't even have to be a great swimmer to dive. In the water you wear fins and a BCD (buoyancy control devise) to help you glide through the water like a big, clumsy-looking fish! That said, not everyone is physically suited for diving. You are advised to undergo a full medical examination before embarking on a dive course. The biggest knock back for those wanting to learn are sinus and ear problems. And those with circulatory or heart problems should not dive. Asthmatics and those with diabetes need to be examined by a specialist diving doctor to determine whether they can dive safely.
If the above do not apply to you, you're probably okay if you can say yes to all the questions below.
No comments:
Post a Comment