Learning to scuba dive is a great activity that you will end up wanting to do all over the world. I first became certified while living in Australia at the Great Barrier Reef. There are few places in the world that can top this diving, so you could say I’m now spoiled.
But I did a lot of research before choosing a course to take. I even thought about getting certified at home in Georgia before I went over there so that I’d have more opportunities when I arrived, but in the end I decided against it. The idea of getting certified in a landlocked suburban pool or quarry was not that exciting when compared to the reefs abroad. I was nervous, especially when the day came when it was time to actually dive in the ocean, but I haven’t looked back since.
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Do your research
What is your destination known for in terms of diving? While traveling the east coast of Australia, I found many locations that offered much cheaper diving courses, but they also had limited visibility and wildlife spotting opportunities.
How much does it cost and what is included for that amount? My diving course in Australia included two nights on a liveaboard boat while my course in Thailand offered free dorm rooms during my stay. Some of the most well-known places to dive are Mexico, Thailand, Australia, Belize, and Egypt. Each has a different season that is best for spotting specific creatures (like whale sharks!).
Take an intro dive
Before you commit to a course, do an intro dive. Many shops offer this for less than $100 for the day, which will give you a taste to see if it’s something you will be interested in. It’s also important to know in advance if you have any medical problems that will prevent you from diving such as inner ear issues.
This is also an option as an excursion for cruise ships. Most formal classes will require you to go through a health check so see what it entails before you put down a deposit.
Shop around
Just because you hear about one dive shop offering a rate for open water and advanced courses doesn’t mean you can’t price others. You might even be able to ask for the same rate other companies offer. They might also be booked for your desired dates.
When I was first looking in Cairns, I called Pro Dive, but they didn’t have any openings while I was there. That’s how I ended up with Cairns Dive Center, which was just as well. Also do research about what each shop is like and how they teach.
I went with Big Blue in Koh Tao because I’d heard so many good references from bloggers and friends. And if you’re concerned about your instructors speaking English, trust me when I say that most of the instructors at dive shops are foreigners anyways, especially Brits and Aussies.
What the Course is Like
Find out how many days long the course will be. Does it include a mix of classroom time and hands-on lessons? I chose the open water course in Cairns that started with two days in the city for the pool and classroom lessons followed by two days on the liveaboard. Others, like mine in Thailand, are located at the beach and bring you out to the reef via boat every morning.
Also find out whether they teach using SSI, or Scuba Schools International, or PADI, Professional Association of Diving Instructors. While PADI is generally more popular, especially on the backpacker circuit, the actual lessons aren’t very different.
Some make you purchase the textbook while others let you borrow it. Just think about which one appeals more to you, as you might want to do further courses using the same school. Either way, you’ll be giving a card to identify you as a certified diver and a book where you can keep track of your dives.
In my experience, daily life in a diving course starts early with you in the classroom or in the water before 7 am. Then you break for breakfast and go back out before lunch. Then you dive again after lunch and before dinner. Sometimes, you can even do a night dive after dinner. Some divers choose to stay up having a few drinks while others, like me, fell asleep instead. It’s very much dive-eat-dive-repeat.
What to Pack
So what do you need to bring if you’re learning to scuba dive overseas? Swimsuits are an obvious necessity. I recommend bringing at least two so that one can dry while the other is in use. Towels are also a must, which you should also have more than one of.
Clothespins and a laundry line are important when it comes time to dry your items. Hair ties will keep your strands from getting stuck in your mask and socks or booties will prevent the flippers from rubbing blisters on your heels (as they did mine!).
Also, have clothes that are easy to put on and off between dives like a sarong or cotton dresses. In Koh Tao, I found that most people traveled with a dry bag, a waterproof, vinyl sack to keep your belongings dry. It has a strap to throw around your shoulder.
I wouldn’t worry about buying your own gear right away, even though some dive shops may try to talk you into the sales pitch. As I dive no more than once per year, I knew I didn’t want to invest in equipment that would spend most of its time gathering dust in my basement. But some people might want to buy the essentials like their own snorkel, fins or masks. You can also shop around here, as there are deals to be found online on sites like Divers Direct.
I also don’t think buying your gear is necessary because it weighs you down when you pack. Unless you’re spending an entire vacation diving, I find that renting is usually much easier. You might not find the same quality of your own products, but you won’t have to check an extra bag or lug it through the dirt streets to your dive shop. But ultimately, this is totally up to you.
Once you’ve learned how to scuba dive, you might find your travel plans constantly shifting to destinations on the water. I’ve added places on my bucket list that I never expected, like the Silfra rift in Iceland, the Blue Hole in Belize and the Red Sea in Egypt. Scuba diving is a fun sport for water babies like myself who want to see beyond the surface of the ocean.
Emma says
Hello, i m Emma a newbie here, fan of traveling and scuba diving
Our last Scuba diving travel was to southern Thailand we think that is the place to be – there are an incredible amount of destinations that make for great scuba spots, Koh Tao, Ao Nang and the Similan islands are great!
Hope i read you soon :-)
KareninCalabria says
Something I’ve always wanted to do. Thanks for sharing!
John Dwyer says
Great article Caroline. I did my PADI course in beautiful Sodwana Bay, South Africa. It was always one of my life’s ambitions to learn to dive and South Africa is perfect for that. The coral was amazing, like floating through space while watching exotic fish swim up to my mask to check out this strange creature! With the PADI qualification, I was able to dive on Ningaloo Reef in Australia and also dive the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand.
Definitely one of the best courses I’ve ever taken.
John