How do I get my PADI? Is diving easy?
Learning to dive is not difficult. You may be a little nervous at the start, but the step by step structure of the course will take you through basics, then into a shallow pool before letting you loose on the reefs. Most people find out very quickly that diving is one of the most fun activities you can imagine! Here's how the Open Water Diver course looks...
Knowledge Development (Theory)
The theory covered in the course develops basic principles and diving procedures. You learn how pressure affects your body, how to choose the best gear and how to plan dives. We try to make the theory fun! You have your PADI manual to read, plus we watch some DVD's in our aircon classroom and then you take some simple quizzes and a final exam. Hey, we don't want to make it too easy!
Start NOW with eLearning!
You can get started on your Open Water Diver course any time - just sign up for eLearning at PADI.com - this can save you holiday time - if you have completed all the theory in advance, you'll be ready to get straight into the water, no messing around in classrooms on holiday, plus with eLearning you can do the theory in your own time. The charge for eLearning is 120 US$ - this is paid to PADI, not to Sunrise Divers. Here in Phuket we'll complete the course in 3 days, and can discount our normal prices by about 1,500 Baht.
Confined Water Dives (Pool Time)
You'll be in the pool on the very first day of your course. The pool sessions cover a wide range of basic dive skills such as clearing water from your mask, setting up your gear, buoyancy control and proper entry techniques. You also practice some emergency skills, like sharing air (just in case). Oh and there is a little swim test too... By the time we're done in the pool, you're ready to hit the ocean with a splash!
Open Water Dives
After your confined water fun, you will make four open water dives over the course of 2 days with your PADI Instructor. When we say "open water", we mean the beautiful blue ocean! You start shallow and gradually go deeper. The maximum allowed depth in the course is 18 meters. Now you can experience real underwater adventure! We make dives either from the beach or boat trips to islands near Phuket. See the price list above for options.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start 9am, theory - lunch break - pool dives. Finish about 4 - 5pm
Day 2 : Start 7:45am, pick up from hotel, diving 2 dives at Koh Racha Yai, return about 4pm. May need to complete theory after diving.
Day 3 : Start 7:45am, pick up from hotel, diving 2 dives at Koh Racha Yai, return about 4pm.
On day 1, please meet at our dive center 9am. We may be able to pick you up from your hotel but not always! We suggest that you stay close to Sunrise Divers when making your course. On day 2 and 3, pick up is from your hotel, pick up time 7:45am based on hotels in Karon or Kata Beach area. Pick up also possible from Patong. Other areas of Phuket will have an extra pick up fee.
Private courses - we can always pick you up from your hotel on day 1 if in the Karon/Kata area.
Open Water Referral Course
We also offer a referral course, which means you can complete all the pool and classroom work at home, then come to see Sunrise Divers and make 4 open water dives to gain your PADI Open Water certification. The course takes just 2 days so you can maximise your holiday time. For more details see Open Water Referral Course.
I'm not a great swimmer. Can I dive?
YES! You don't have to be an Olympic swimmer to learn scuba diving. Most of the time you are wearing scuba gear such as fins and a BCD (like a jacket which you can fill with air), so there's not much need for normal swimming. There is a little swimming test to make sure you are happy in the water, but it's not anything drastic! In general you should be comfortable in the water and you should be reasonably fit and healthy.
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