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The minimum age in Queensland is 12
years old.
However many doctors will not pass children under the age
of 14.
Please if you have children under 14 wishing to participate
in learn to dive courses.
If you want to learn to scuba dive,
the first step is to take a PADI (Professional Association
of Diving Instructors) Open Water Diver
course, the most widely recognised and respected diving
certification in the world. Within a few days, you can be
enjoying the underwater world.
Not
sure if a full-blown course is for you? Why not try an introductory
dive and experience what you're missing.
Generally
most students pass the Medical Examination without any difficulty.
There are however, some CONTRA -INDICATIONS for scuba diving.
If you have ever suffered from any of the following conditions,
you are unlikely to pass the medical examination here:
PNEUMOTHORAX
EPILEPSY
HEART SURGERY
DIABETES REQUIRING INSULIN
ASTHMA
Or if you are currently PREGNANT
This
medical examination must be conducted along the guidelines
of Australian Standard AS4005.1. If you or your doctor require
a copy of this standard,
To
see an example of a dive medical form used here, please
Most companies offer a full refund
for failed medicals, please check at the time of booking.
If you are unlucky enough to fail your medical you may still
be able to go snorkelling instead!!
Yes, you will be required
to do a swim test - 200m without stopping. There is no time
limit and you may swim in any style. You will also be required
to tread water for 10 minutes without touching the side or
bottom. These skills are usually done in the swimming pool
on the second day of your course.
You may wear gas permeable contact
lenses or buy/hire a prescription mask. Lenses are available in strengths -1.5 to -8 in 0.5 steps. It is not possible
to wear your own glasses and a mask.
Most operators offer a minimum
4 day course. There are 5 pool sessions, 5 theory sessions
and 4 training dives. The training dives must be over a minimum
2 days.
PADI sets maximum numbers
for courses, however courses do not necessarily run at full
capacity all year round. The maximum numbers are:
During pool sessions, 10 students:1
Instructor
During Open Water Training, 8 students:1 Instructor
As Open Water Divers you will
be allowed to dive to 18 metres (60ft). Whenever possible
the dive operators will try to take you to 18m during the
course. The majority of you training will be in 10m (33ft)
or less.
Believe it or not, pain in your ears
when you dive to the bottom of a swimming pool is quite normal.
However it is due to the fact that you have not been trained
how to avoid this problem. During your dive course you will
learn simple techniques of how to equalise the pressure in
your ears. This will prevent any pain! (The same applies if
you suffer discomfort in airplanes.)
Referral Courses can be done if
you have completed your pool and theory dive training at home
at your local dive shop. Once you come to Australia you can
then finish your training dives aboard Liveaboard dive vessels
or day dive vessels. This is a great option if you don't want
to spend two days of your holiday with pool and classroom
training.
Click
here for more information on referrals.
We will get you into the pool/confined
water on day one. You will know on the first day as to whether
you will like scuba diving. If you decide not to continue
you will normally have to pay for that first day and may be
entitled to a refund for the rest of the course.
Cancellation policies vary between booking agents, please
ask when booking about individual operators cancellation policies.
It depends on the reason, but
you may be able to finish your course at a later date - (if
you got sick for example) - this is known as a referral.
Please note there are regulations
about flying or going to altitude after diving.
- Currently the rules state
that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude
for at least 12 hours.
- For multiple dives you
should not fly/go to altitude for at least 18 hours.
Deep Sea Divers Den recommends
waiting a minimum 24 hours whenever possible. These are guidelines only, there
is no guarantee that these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness.
Currently there are no guidelines regarding diving after flying.
Altitude
is 300m/1000ft above sea level.
This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands, so be careful when you are booking
tours to follow your dive course/trip.
Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 12pm (midday), this should help with organising any travel plans you have after your dive trip with us.
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