Most people looking to learn to scuba dive are baffled by the amount of options and the various courses on offer, read our simple step by step guide to help you find your perfect scuba training match....

Firstly you have three options:

• Try Dive – (Single session with an instructor to get a feel for being underwater)
• Referral – (Pool and Classroom in the UK and final Open Water abroard)
• Full Course – (Pool, Classroom and Open Water Dives in the UK) 

The next option is to decide how much time you can give up?

• Scuba Diver – (3 Pool Sessions, 1 Classroom Session, 1 Open Water Day) Approx 3 Weeks
• Open Water Diver – (6 Pool Sessions, 1 Classroom Session, 2 Open Water Days) Approx 6 weeks

Does that course give you what you need?

• Scuba Diver – 12m limit, must dive with a professional, option to upgrade to Open Water, lifetime qualification with world wide acceptance.
• Open Water Diver – 18m limit, can dive independently with a buddy, full range of courses to continue education, lifetime qualification with world wide acceptance.

Click for course details

  

SSI or PADI?

Truly, the quality of the courses strongly depends on the experience and attitude of your dive instructor and the dive centre you train with – no matter what organisation you should choose to certify with. Here at Divemaster Scuba, we are able to offer you courses with the biggest dive organisations in the world; SSI (Scuba Schools International) , PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and TDI/SDI (Technical Diving International / Scuba Diving International)..

In terms of diver training there is very little difference between SSI and PADI. They both follow the diving standards set by the Governing body – RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) meaning that knowledge and skill requirements are almost the same. Certifications are interchangeable.