Yes, you will be required to do a swim test - 200m without stopping. There is no time limit and you may swim in any style. You will also be required to tread water for 10 minutes without touching the side or bottom. These skills are usually done in the swimming pool on the second day of your course.
As Open Water Divers you will be allowed to dive to 18 metres (60ft). Whenever possible the dive operators will try to take you to 18m during the course. The majority of you training will be in 10m (33ft) or less.
Most operators offer a minimum 4 day course. There are 5 pool sessions, 5 theory sessions and 4 training dives. The training dives must be over a minimum 2 days.
PADI sets maximum numbers for courses, however courses do not necessarily run at full capacity all year round. The maximum numbers are:
During pool sessions, 10 students:1 Instructor
During Open Water Training, 8 students:1 Instructor
If you want to learn to scuba dive, the first step is to take a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water Diver course, the most widely recognised and respected diving certification in the world. Within a few days, you can be enjoying the underwater world.
Not sure if a full-blown course is for you? Why not try an Introductory Dive and experience what you're missing.
You may wear gas permeable contact lenses or buy/hire a prescription mask. Lenses are available in strengths -1.5 to -8 in 0.5 steps. It is not possible to wear your own glasses and a mask.
The minimum age in Queensland is 12 years old. However many doctors will not pass children under the age of 14. Please contact us if you have children under 14 wishing to participate in learn to dive courses.
Believe it or not, pain in your ears when you dive to the bottom of a swimming pool is quite normal. However it is due to the fact that you have not been trained how to avoid this problem. During your dive course you will learn simple techniques of how to equalise the pressure in your ears. This will prevent any pain! (The same applies if you suffer discomfort in airplanes.)
Please note there are regulations about flying or going to altitude after diving.
- Currently the rules state that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 12 hours.
- For multiple dives you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 18 hours.
Deep Sea Divers Den recommends waiting a minimum 24 hours whenever possible. These are guidelines only, there is no guarantee that these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness. Currently there are no guidelines regarding diving after flying.
Altitude is 300m/1000ft above sea level.
This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands, so be careful when you are booking tours to follow your dive course/trip.
Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 12pm (midday), this should help with organising any travel plans you have after your dive trip with us.
It depends on the reason, but you may be able to finish your course at a later date - (if you got sick for example) - this is known as a referral.
We will get you into the pool/confined water on day one. You will know on the first day as to whether you will like scuba diving. If you decide not to continue you will normally have to pay for that first day and may be entitled to a refund for the rest of the course.
Cancellation policies vary between booking agents, please ask when booking about individual operators cancellation policies.
Most companies offer a full refund for failed medicals, please check at the time of booking. If you are unlucky enough to fail your medical you may still be able to go snorkelling instead!!
Referral Courses can be done if you have completed your pool and theory dive training at home at your local dive shop. Once you come to Australia you can then finish your training dives aboard Liveaboard dive vessels or day dive vessels. This is a great option if you don't want to spend two days of your holiday with pool and classroom training.
Click here for more information on referrals.
Generally most students pass the Medical Examination without any difficulty. There are however, some CONTRA -INDICATIONS for scuba diving. If you have ever suffered from any of the following conditions, you are unlikely to pass the medical examination here:
PNEUMOTHORAX
EPILEPSY
HEART SURGERY
DIABETES REQUIRING INSULIN
ASTHMA
Or if you are currently PREGNANT
This medical examination must be conducted along the guidelines of Australian Standard AS4005.1
If you or your doctor require a copy of this standard, please click here.
To read more about Dive Medicals, please click here.
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