If you are interested in learning to dive, we recommend you join us for a Try-Dive to find out if you like diving or snorkelling. It allows you the chance to sample an exciting sport and to gain an insight into the fascinating world beneath the waves. We run the try dives on Monday evenings at Stowe School Swimming pool.
If you decide to join us and learn to dive you will see that diving skills are taught progressively so that each new experience is built upon step by step. The first level of qualification is BSAC Ocean Diver, which involves basic training in the safety of a swimming pool or protected area, following which students soon move onto their first open water dives to achieve the Ocean Diver certification.
If you wish, you can continue this progression to become a Sports Diver and beyond, where open water skills and techniques are further developed and experience gained.
How long does it take?
This is up to you and the instructors! The key elements of training for Ocean Diver are:
7 Theory Lessons, followed by a small test.
5 Sheltered Water Lessons (in the pool) followed by a small proficiency test.
A minimum of 4 Open Water Lessons although most students do about 8 dives to be comfortable (we normally use a local quarry)
For the ‘in water’ lessons you will be signed off on all of the required skills. There is no point in learning how to do a skill, then completing it once only to get it wrong when it matters. Our teaching is thorough and sign off will only happen once you and the instructor are happy that you have truly learnt the skill.
Of course to get qualified takes some commitment from both you and the instructors (remember, the instructors are volunteers and just do this for the love of diving!)
What Next?
If you want to go ahead and learn how to dive then email us on [email protected]
As well as the BSAC Ocean Diver and Sports Diver courses and beyond we also offer a wide range of additional courses in skills such as dive planning, equipment care, search & recovery, rescue and Nitrox Diving.