Do I have to be a great swimmer to learn to scuba dive?
No. As long as you can swim, any stroke, not timed, 200 metres. Another water safety test is treading water (floating) for 10 minutes. These are conducted in a swimming pool.
If I am not sure whether I would like scuba diving, can I undertake a taster session?
Yes you can. Divecrew operates scuba experience sessions in out lovely warm pools. Close to one hour being underwater having fun like diving through hoops, upside down egg and spoon races or playing with underwater torpedos. At these fun sessions, if you want to, our professional will show how to do some of the skills out of the first open water dive. We also take photographs and video (with permission), which is then posted onto social media, so you can show everyone how you scuba dived underwater.
How old do you have to be to become a qualified open water diver?
10 years old for Junior Open Water Diver. Maximum depth limit is 12 metres until 15 years old, then it automatically changes to 18 metres the same as an adult.
How deep can I dive?
As an Open Water Diver 18 metres for 15 year olds and above. 12 metres in under 15 years old. You can qualify as an open water diver from the age of 10 years old.
If I become a advanced diver how deep can I dive?
30 metres. This opens up some incredible adventures like diving the wreck SS Thistlegorm in the Red Sea. You can see locomotives, tanks, guns and ammunitions. Drop into the open hold and you will find lorries with racks of BSA motorcycles. Being an advanced diver also opens up diving from a liveaboard. These are luxury boats that take divers to amazing places.
Does it take long to learn to scuba dive?
No. Effectively three weekends and providing the standards have been met, you will be qualified. Weekend 1 and 2 will be 1 day, either a Saturday or a Sunday and will include 3 hours at each session in a swimming pool. Weekend 3 is 2 days (the Saturday and Sunday) with 4 dives in an open water training lake.
Do you have trips for open water divers here in the UK?
Yes. Every years we organise UK destinations, sometimes Europe and at least one holiday to far flung places. Right here in the UK with sea diving, you can be entertained in the water with interactions of seals in Lundy. Or explore the underwater life under Swanage Pier. We also put on guided dives both in the sea and inland lakes. One of professionals is on hand to assist new divers and guide divers to underwater attractions.
Can I buy a course or goods as a gift for someone?
Yes you can. We have trendy gift cards available. We also provide a bespoke message certificate as you require.
I have not dived for three years. Do I have to start again?
No. You do need to complete a scuba review to refresh your skills. We recommend a two hour session with one of our professionals if you have been out of the water for more than two years. The scuba review focuses on your request and buoyancy skills. They are undertaken in a swimming pool. We are happy to add aditional skills such as deploying a delayed surface marker buoy.
I want to learn to dive, but do not want to get into the UK waters. Can I do this?
Yes. It is called a referral. You complete your theory eLearning and the pool practical sessions right here with Divecrew. Then if you are going on holiday, you can complete your 4 open water dives and you are fully qualified.
If I do a referral, how long does it remain active?
12 months. We advise doing the referral close to when you are planning the 4 open water qualifying dives. A big gap just means skills will be rusty.
How big are the groups learning to dive?
PADI ratios are a maximum of 10 students to 1 instructor in confined water (pool). Divecrew would never operate that ratio. Most of our pool group courses operate on a 4:1 ratio for instructor, but we also have instructor assistants in the water too.
I want to learn to scuba dive but not in a group. Can you accomodate this?
Yes. It is called a private booking. Sometimes we operate private booking s weekends or mid week for an individual or for a family.
If I have a disability can I still dive?
Yes. Subject to the disability. Divecrew is the UK’s only Gold Star Dive Centre awarded for the work with British Veterans who had suffered life changing injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. We may ask for a GP sign off depending on the diisability and/or medication.
My child wants to dive but has autism. Can she still dive?
Yes. Scuba diving has positively changed many lives. Our senior instructor is a wizzard of adaptive teaching and has helped numerous divers with physical and mental challenges.
Can I split the cost of learning to scuba dive?
Yes you can. Pay for the referral part and eLearning. Once this has been completed, book and pay for the qualifying dives separately.
Are there any benefits of becoming a Rescue Diver?
Absolutely. Everyone loves a Rescue Diver. Our instructors also hand pick and invite competent Rescue Divers to join our elite Rescue Group. These divers halp in the community as safety divers at Tough Mudders, open water events like the World Triathlon, we even sent a team of safety divers to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Do you teach schools, groups and clubs?
Yes we do. Divecrew is a Approved Youth Training Centre. Divecrew have taught lots of schools including: Eton, Harrow, Papplewick, Lambrook, Effingham, St Georges Windsor Castle, Highfield, Bohunt, The Marist, Reddam and Faqrringtons. We have also taught cadets, scouts and cubs.
I want to become a diving professional, can you help me?
Yes. We teach open water to instructor. All sorts of different specialities too. Dive Master is the first level of professional diving, we operate an internship programme where trainees actual work with real students, rather than role play.
Have you taught anyone famous?
Yes we have. Including certain ‘A’ List celebrities who entrusted Divecrew with their children.
What are the unusual things Divecrew have been involved with?
There is a long list. We have been involved in films such as Woman in Black, TV series such as Release The Hounds, Bollywood, inspecting a hidden well, to our own Lord of The Rings who is a specialist in finding lost rings and phones in the River Thames. Our safety divers are involved in the community with open water swimming events, Tough Mudders and were also present at the Paris Olympics.
How long has Divecrew been trading?
Divecrew was formed in 1995. Over the years Divecrew has evolved into a highly accredited dive centre. A multiple award winning centre including the FSB Family Business of the Year, being the UK’s only Gold Star Dive Centre for Adative Teaching and a Silver Award Winner for the Armed Forces Covenant. Divecrew is family owned and family run. Our Team are considered family. Divecrew is open 7 days a week and has a shop stuffed with lots of diving goodies.
