For how long will I be certified?
Your PADI SCUBA certification does not expire, but it is highly recommended that you keep in practice. You should dive more than once a year, or you will become "rusty". You should then take a scuba tune up called a PADI Scuba Review. This can be done with us, if you haven't dived for a while, or prior to going on a diving holiday, as a refresher. We also offer the full range of PADI continuing education classes which are very informative. Continuing with your scuba education is an excellent way to keep in practice and learn more safe diving skills. Contact us if you are interested.

How deep may I go?
PADI is a recreational scuba organisation. The maximum depth for a recreational scuba diver is 40 metres. However, you should not dive deeper than 18 metres without proper training. In the PADI Advance course, divers are shown the correct and safe way to make a deep dive. As an Open Water Diver you are qualified to dive to 18 metres. Once you become an Advanced Diver this increases to 30 metres. To enable you to dive to the 40 metres recreational limit the Deep Diver Speciality course should be taken.
Will the fish bother me
Most fish are afraid of you or will ignore you. It is very exciting to see fish. The larger the better. The prettiest and most abundant fish are in the ocean. The best place to see fish is near shipwrecks and reefs. Some fish will let you get close to them but will stay out of your reach. Some fish are curious and will follow you around. Sharks and eels are very shy and are difficult to see. Barracudas are curious and might follow you around making it easy to photograph them. You are more likely to be attacked by a cow or a pig than by a fish. Be safe - stay off the farm and go diving!

How expensive is SCUBA diving?
Once you are certified, scuba diving costs about as much as 18 holes of golf, or a good ski-lift ticket. Starting out is the most expensive. You have to pay to get scuba certified, and buy some gear. To get started you need to participate in the PADI Open Water Course. This course will give you full certification and is the most popular diving course in the world. If someone says "I've got my PADI" they mean" I've just completed the PADI Open Water Course". Dive equipment prices vary, but we can provide you with details of shops here in Murcia where a selection of gear is available.
If you're not looking to dive that much during the year and only plan to dive on holiday then it's probably worth just purchasing your mask, fins and snorkel and hiring the rest of your kit from the dive centre. Obviously prices vary from area to area.

I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive. How do I get started?
The easiest way to get started is call us on (0034} 96 804 1450 and we'll be able to discuss take your needs. Once you've decided on the course dates we will advise you exactly what needs to be done prior to turning up for your first class session.

Is it hard to learn to scuba dive?
No, in fact, it's probably easier than you imagine. Especially if you're already comfortable in the water. The Open Water Course is conducted over five days, which is split between theory, pool skills and four open water dives. The course is "performance based", which means that you progress as you learn how to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that you acquire

How long does it take
PADI courses are "performance based", which means that you earn your certification when you demonstrate that you have mastered the required skills and knowledge. We structure our courses to suit your time schedule so that you plenty of time for you to master the theory and diving skills. We normally allow 5 full days, split as you want, to finish the course. If however you do not master the theory or skills in the set time, or you have difficulties in a particular area, then we will always offer extra tuition.

Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver?
No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer who is comfortable and relaxed in the water. The swimming requirement for certification is 200 metre non-stop swim (with no time or specific stroke requirement) and 10 minute tread water

What's in a scuba tank? Oxygen?
Recreational divers breathe air, not oxygen. It is filtered to remove impurities, but otherwise, it's air like you're breathing now.

How long does a tank of air last?
This is a common question that, unfortunately doesn't have a single answer. People breathe at different rates, and you breathe faster when you're swimming than when you're resting. Also, the deeper you go, the more you use your air, and, you can get different size tanks. So, the answer is "it depends", this is why divers have a gauge that tell them how much air they have at all times. As an approximation, a diver sightseeing in calm, warm water at 8 -10 metres deep can expect the average tank to last about an hour.

My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won't they hurt when I scuba dive?
Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your ear drum. In your scuba course, you'll learn a simple technique to equalise your ears to the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane, and they shouldn't hurt at all.

Is scuba diving dangerous?
Not really. Statistics show that recreational scuba diving is about as safe as swimming. Certainly there are potential hazards, which is why you need training and certification. But like driving a car, as long as you follow the rules and use common sense, it's pretty safe. To put it in perspective, the drive in your car to go diving is more dangerous than the diving.

If I have been diving do I have to wait before flying? If so for how long?
You must not fly straight away after diving. The recommended time interval set out by the medical profession is to wait at least 18 hours for repetitive dives. However, as each persons physical make up differs it is not a bad idea to wait for a minimum of 24 hours just for added safety.

Do I have to buy SCUBA gear?
All scuba equipment for the course is provided in the price of the course. However you may wish to purchase your gear once you are qualified, purely for comfort. It really depends on you, and how often you may wish to dive in the future.