QUESTION TIME
Q How long will it take me to train and when do I actually get to go into the sea?
A The answer to this question is that it depends …
To be an Ocean Diver you need to complete seven classroom lessons, five sheltered water( pool) lessons and five open water lessons( plus some other bits, like theory and swimming tests).
Your training might be organised in different ways, for example doing all the theory sessions in one weekend, or doing one a week for seven weeks. Obviously, doing it in one sitting means you can be qualified quicker! So, you could be finished very quickly, or it might take you a little while. Your club will want to make sure that you are safe and happy underwater, which means they’ ll be looking after you through your training, so that you can be a safe diver while doing lots of exciting diving.
In terms of getting into the sea, you need to be confident and competent in sheltered water first. Many clubs start their open water training in quarries, which provide predictable conditions and are often well set up for new divers. Having said that, Ocean Diver training in the sea is definitely possible( we did some recently, from our club boat).
The best thing to do is have a chat to someone in your club( the Diving Officer or Training Officer are good bets) to see what they are planning. Gordon Procter, First Class Diver
Q How safe is scuba diving, really?
A Scuba diving has a really good safety record and this is mainly due to the training we do before participating in our adventurous sport.
All diving agencies provide training by qualified instructors in sheltered water( pool or safe shallow site) before moving their students to deeper and more exposed dive sites. All key skills are practised several times until the student becomes confident and competent with the skill. The skills are then moved to water a little deeper and practised more to ensure the students have progressive training.
We also have equipment that is fit for purpose that should be serviced in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, this provides another safety factor.
Before any dive we carry out a Risk Assessment – you will come to know this as a SEEDS briefing. The‘ S’ stands for Safety and this means for you, your buddy and the rest of the diving party. Overall there will be another risk assessment by the Dive Manager for the day, ensuring that the weather conditions and site are safe for the diving party.
So, scuba diving has a good safety record that is justified by good training, sound equipment and safe practices. One thing we should all do is practice the skills regularly, especially rescue skills, to ensure we are capable of being effective if called to help ourselves or our buddy. Dave Lock, National Instructor
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