1. WHAT DOES SCUBA STAND FOR?

The word “SCUBA” is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Scuba is a portable breathing device equipment worn by divers for breathing underwater which consist of one or two compressed-air tanks strapped to the back and connected by a hose to a mouthpiece.

2. CAN A NON-SWIMMER LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE?

Yes, non-swimmer are allowed to dive as long as they do not have health issues, but there are limits to what non-swimmer can do. Non-swimmer are only allowed to make simple intro dives with an instructor and cannot get a full scuba license if cannot swim.

3. CAN YOU SCUBA DIVE WITHOUT BEING CERTIFIED?

Yes, you can dive without being certified. You can join discover PADI Adventure Diver Course which is specially designed for scuba diving first timer to dive without any prior experience. These programme is one of your first steps towards your journey into scuba diving.

4. HOW TO GET YOUR SCUBA DIVING CERTIFICATION?

You can enroll into scuba diver course which is a subset of the open water diver course to get scuba diving certification. To enroll in a scuba diver course, you must be 10 years old and above, need adequate swimming skills and in good physical health. You could get certified in just 3 - 4 days for the open water diver course but it depends on the dive centre.

5. WHAT GEAR WILL I NEED TO SCUBA DIVE?

When you start to learn scuba dive, at least you need a mask, snorkel and fins. Other gear that will help you to stay safe on the water includes flashlight or headlamp, first aid kit, compass, slate, delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB), emergency signaling devices, backup dive tables, Z-knife, shears, safety reel and lift bags.

6. I WEAR GLASSES, CAN I STILL DIVE?

Yes absolutely. One option is if dive in contact lenses, the daily disposables are the best for you when you lose one during some of the mask skills which can happen from time to time. If you are not a contact lens wearer, the prescription mask is a great option for you.

7. HOW LONG WILL MY DIVE LAST FOR?

It depends on how quickly you breathe your air. Other factors that will affect air consumption are body makeup, depth, fitness, sea conditions, how effectively you use your fins and even water temperature. Your first dive should be a minimum of 20 minutes and the average first dives usually range from 25 - 40 minutes but some first timers dive for 1 hour.

8. WHAT HAPPENS IF I RUN OUT OF AIR?

During your open water diver course, you will learn how to monitor your air supply frequently and never dive until the oxygen tank is empty. You will also learn several different ways to deal with an “out of air situation” safely in the unlikely event and also the skills that you are required to manage the situation.

9. WHAT ABOUT SHARKS?

Although incidents with sharks occur, they are very rare and with respect to diving, primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger feeding behavior. The general rule when diving is to avoid touching any marine life and remembering to keep a safe distance from the marine life.

10. DO I REALLY NEED TO BRING A DRY BAG?

Everybody eventually learns that when you're out on a dive boat, or even on a beach dive, while your immediate goal is to be wet, your long-term goal is to be dry again. And the best way to ensure that happens is to stow your after-dive street clothes, jackets, wallets and whatnots in a dry bag specifically designed to keep its contents dry in a wet environment.