Spanning around 20,000 miles of diverse coasts, the British Isles are teeming with natural beauty, maritime traditions and some of the most unique diving in the world.
Scenic reefs and historic shipwrecks are havens for boundless shoals of fish and other British marine life, from seahorses, crustaceans and octopuses to dolphins, seals and basking sharks.
- The weird and spectacular sea creatures found in British waters
- Enormous ocean giants: Discover the UK’s largest sea animals
If you haven’t yet discovered the underwater world but are thinking about becoming a diver, here's what you need to know to get started...
Find a recognised diving organisation
The first step is to book a course with a recognised diving organisation who have a verified dive centre and instructor. In doing so, you can be assured that you’re receiving the best training from qualified dive professionals. They will guide you as you begin your exciting journey underwater.
- Learning to scuba dive? Here's an essential guide to the equipment - and the lingo - if you want to speak like a pro
- Best dive sites in UK: Discover 11 magical underwater worlds
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organisation, operating in 186 countries and territories, with a global network of more than 6,600 dive centres. It has over 128,000 professional members worldwide.
The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), meanwhile, is the UK's national governing body for scuba diving and snorkelling.
What is a Scuba Diving Certification?
If you’re fascinated by the underwater world and the amazing creatures who live there, a scuba diving certification is your passport to extraordinary experiences that support healthy oceans. A scuba diving license identifies you as an underwater explorer and ambassador for the ocean.
The Open Water Diver Course
PADI’s Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular and widely recognised scuba diving certification. You can become a certified diver in as little as four days or over the course of a year. Once certified you can:
● Scuba dive with a partner (without supervision)
● Rent or purchase scuba diving gear
● Book excursions with dive boats and resorts
● Get air fills at local dive shops
● Call yourself a certified diver!
A scuba certification course is much more than just learning how to explore the underwater world safely (but that’s definitely covered too). It’s a great way to reconnect with the natural world.
By the time you finish your Open Water Diver course, you’ll understand our ocean planet in a new way.
What’s involved
Phase 1: Knowledge Development
You must be at least 10 years old, able to swim, and in good physical health to enrol in a scuba diving course. In some countries, you may be required to attend a medical with a GP (your local dive centre will advise you if this is the case). If you meet these qualifications, the first thing you’ll do is learn scuba diving fundamentals during phase one, ‘Knowledge Development’.
During knowledge development, you’ll learn all about scuba equipment, familiarise yourself with scuba terminology, and watch videos of diving skills. It is self-study, so you control the time it takes for you to comfortably go through the material. Most people pace themselves and complete their knowledge development over a few weeks, but it can be completed in a matter of days.
At the end of knowledge development, you’ll take a final exam to ensure you have a thorough understanding of scuba diving essentials.
Phase 2: Confined Water Dives
During phase 2, you’ll take your first breath underwater in a calm environment such as a swimming pool or tranquil lagoon (known as 'confined water'). You’ll practice basic diving skills such as clearing water from your mask, ascending and descending. Your instructor will demonstrate and review the skills with you until you’re comfortable performing them on your own. When you feel ready, you’ll move on to the final phase, open water diving!
Phase 3: Open-Water Dives
You’ll learn to dive by diving to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet. The open-water course includes four open-water dives in total, usually done over two days. With your instructor by your side, you’ll practice the skills you learned in confined water and explore the underwater world.
Most student divers complete their dives close to home, in the ocean, or other body of water. You can also complete your four 'check out dives' on a tropical holiday; ask your Instructor about an Open Water Referral which allows you to take the knowledge development and confined water sessions in one place and your ocean dives in another!
After completing four open-water dives and all course requirements, you become a certified diver – a title that will last a lifetime. Now you are free to explore the other two-thirds of our ocean planet!
As a certified Open Water Diver, you’ll have access to many exciting that help you reach your diving goals – whether that's exploration, ocean conservation, underwater photography, wreck diving, or your other favourite interest areas.
● Not sure if scuba diving is for you? Ask your local dive shop about a Discover Scuba® Diving experience. You’ll get to try on scuba gear and test your comfort level in a pool or other calm, shallow water environment.
For more information about PADI visit www.padi.com