Better, Safer Diving

As a qualified PADI diver with several logged dives under your belt, chances are you already own your own scuba gear and regularly dive with your trusted buddy. You’ve likely explored a variety of dive sites and feel confident in the water.


But how confident are you when it comes to dive planning? Can you expertly assess a new dive site, or feel completely at ease picking a beach or cove for your next adventure? Do you know who to notify before your dive, the extra safety measures to consider, and the essential equipment you might need? Are there local regulations or laws you should be aware of?


If you’re unsure about any of these, then this course is perfect for you. Enhance your skills, dive with greater safety, and unlock exciting new opportunities in recreational scuba diving.


This course is designed around your requirements so please be prepared for a short period of consultation to establish scope and price.

Call us to discuss

About the Course

Learn how to be a better, safer diver and enjoy exploring dive sites off the beaten track. Gain a greater insight into dive planning and how to plan your gas requirements. You'll spend some time in the classroom and complete five open water dives planned by you and your buddy.


Take this course if you want to:

  • Explore new dive sites
  • Support ocean protection
  • Enhance your dive planning skills
  • Learn from a scuba diving expert
  • Understand where to find local laws or regulations.
  • Understand the Diver's Alert Network and similar organisations.
  • Understand the role of the Coast Guard.


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You will learn how to:

  • Be a confident and skilled diver
  • How to assess a new dive site
  • Draft an emergency action plan
  • Plan your route and navigation
  • Plan your gas usage
  • Respectfully approach marine life
  • Handle common problems
  • EFR training if required.


At the Dive Centre

Step 1  With Your Instructor


During your classroom session at the dive centre you will explore a variety of topics related to recreational dive planning and planning for and responding to emergencies. You will practice assessing a fictional dive site and conduct a simulated diving exercise with a qualified instructor. You will also be briefed on the intended open water site and plan your first open water dive.



  • Time commitment: 1 day
  • Minimum age: 18 years or older


At the Open Water Site

Step 2  With Your Instructor


You will spend two days at an open water dive site, putting into practice the skills you have mastered in the classroom, where you will plan and execute 5 different dives.

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  • Time commitment: 2 days
  • Prerequisites:  medically fit for diving
  • Depth: expect shallow dives (12m), the maximum depth will be 30m


Additional Requirements

Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving.

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Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical form to ensure you won’t need a physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course. Instructors, divemasters and dive shop staff are not physicians and should not be asked for medical advice; only medical professionals can give medical clearance to dive.

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If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN).

Ideally, you will be an Advanced Open Water Diver or better with a minimum of 30 logged dives. You should have most of your own scuba diving equipment and it should be in date for test.


NITROX speciality is desirable but not essential and can be added to the course package.


Additional specialist equipment will be provided,

 

Minimum age: 18


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This course requires both classroom and in-water training.  

Below are the additional costs to complete this course.

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We always require students to provide their own mask and snorkel. We sell these in our dive centre and you can purchase these on our online shop or during your orientation session at the dive centre. If you already own a mask and snorkel, bring them to your instructor before your first in-water session as some snorkelling masks are inadequate for scuba diving.


Equipment hire is not included and will be an additional cost depending on what is needed

The inland open water dive sites we use charge an entry fee ranging from £15 - £24 per day.