What is scuba diving?

Put simply, scuba diving is being able to breathe underwater. This is made possible through the use of scuba equipment which includes a tank (or cylinder) of compressed air that you wear on your back like a small backpack.

Why do people learn to scuba dive?

For a variety of reasons. Perhaps their friends or spouses dive, and they’re tired of being left out. Or perhaps they are looking for a change in social scene and an opportunity to meet new people who share similar interests. Some divers are drawn to the sense of adventure. They want to visit areas that few people have seen before. Many people learn to dive because of an inexplicable fascination they have with the ocean and a yearning to be more closely associated with the sea.

Who can learn to dive?

Practically anyone can learn to dive, young, old, male, female, fit and even the not-so-fit. The minimum age is 10 years old and there are restrictions placed on divers under the age of 16. While you must have some swimming skills, you do not need to be a strong swimmer to enjoy scuba diving.

Can I teach myself or do I need formal training?

A complete understanding of scuba equipment, the affects pressure (created by water) has on your body, and safety procedures are necessary to dive safely, and therefore, formal training is required.

You will also need a certification card from an internationally recognised scuba diving training organisation to be able to fill your tanks with air or dive from a commercial charter boat. These training organisations in Australia include SSI (Scuba Schools International), PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors), NAUI (The National Association of Underwater Instructors) and some other more specialised entities.

What happens on a scuba diving course and how long does it take?

Scuba diving courses are a combination of classroom lectures, exercises in swimming pools and sessions in quiet, shallow coastal bays. After an introduction to the equipment and some of the theory, you'll get to try scuba diving in the safety of a swimming pool. After more lectures and possibly more pool sessions, you head out to the ocean to practice all your new skills. Courses typically take two weeks sometimes with  evening lectures and two weekends of getting wet. Intensive courses taking only a few days and can be organised by special arrangement. Although it is more fun to learn with a group, private instruction is also available.

I'm not sure if I want to do a whole course, yet. What if I just want to try it first?

Ask your local Apollo Dive Centre about an Introductory Dive, also sometimes referred to as a Resort Course. Taking only a few hours, you will receive a brief introduction to the equipment and then do a one-on-one session in a swimming pool with a diving instructor.

How can I sign up for a scuba diving course?

Glad you asked! Click here for the Apollo Dive Centre closest to you. 

Click here to find an 
Apollo Dive Centre near you.  

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