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February 10, 2025
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February 10, 2025Fun Dives are a good way to explore the idea of scuba diving before you commit to being certified and essentially involve simple dives to shallower depths with a basic lesson on safety and how to use equipment beforehand.
I have always been fascinated by the sea and felt a deep draw to the underwater world. I learned to swim almost as soon as I could walk, and am happiest splashing around in the waves. I grew up listening to my mother narrate how, at age 2, on a trip to DisneyWorld, I was terrified of every character from Mickey Mouse to Goofy and was too small for most rides, but when we walked into SeaWorld (yes! we know better now, but this was the 80’s guys, the world was a very different place) I was all smiles and giggles, happy to spend all my time marvelling at the dolphins, whales, sea lions and more.
Many years later I even woke up before 5:00am on a vacation in Goa to rush down to the beach for a glimpse at the frolicking dolphins. Totally worth it!
Over time, listening to stories of friends who had been scuba diving around the world, led me to want to try it for myself and over a decade ago, before a planned vacation to Bali, I decided it was time to get my scuba open water certification.
PADI - the Professional Association of Diving Instructors is the global body that provides amateur and professional courses for scuba diving certification across several levels and competencies from kids courses to highly advanced rescue diving courses. While booking a beach or resort vacation you may notice the option to do a ‘Fun Dive’ that requires no certification at all. Fun Dives are a good way to explore the idea of scuba diving before you commit to being certified and essentially involve simple dives to shallower depths with a basic lesson on safety and how to use equipment beforehand.
The theory includes learning about all the equipment that you will be using, what its meant for and how it works.
When it comes to actual PADI certification, which is valid for life and recognised all around the world, the first level is the Open Water Diver certification which allows divers to explore the ocean depths alongside a dive master or expert. For most divers, specially those who intend to dive recreationally once or twice a year, this certification will teach you basic skills and make sure that you can stay safe under water.
The PADI course has two components, a theory section which ends with a test and a practical pool session which will be conducted by a PADI instructor. You are free to complete the theory on your own to save time and can even do it before your trip like I did. Then you just have to take the test with the instructor before your pool session.
The theory includes learning about all the equipment that you will be using, what its meant for and how it works. Crucially you will learn how to check that the equipment is working properly and safely. You will also learn the important hand signals that are used to communicate underwater (remember, you can’t talk down there!) and more.
The first step to getting PADI certified is to identify a dive school where you will complete your theory and pool tests before you’re free to dive. Your chosen dive school may be in your home city, somewhere in your home country, or in the country you are travelling to. Thanks to the growing popularity of scuba diving, many cities that are not known for diving have created dive schools with access to pools deep enough to complete the practical aspects of the certification.
Since I was going to dive in Bali, and my home, Mumbai did not have an easily accessible dive school where I could complete my certification as an Open Water Diver, I spent some time finding a reputable and well-reviewed dive school in Bali. After reading countless reviews on TripAdvisor and Expedia, I chose Aquamarine Diving in Bali, and it turned out to be a great choice!
Once I registered for the course and submitted my travel dates, Aquamarine was quick to send me all the theoretical course material and guide me through the entire process via email. They were extremely helpful and responsive and made the experience very easy. I spent a couple of weeks before my trip studying the various required modules and completing the worksheets and tests at the end of each one. After that I was ready to pack my bags, grab my swimsuit and head to Bali.
Once I arrived and got myself situated, I informed Aquamarine that I was all set. They arranged to meet me at my hotel the next morning and take me to the dive centre to complete my theory test and undergo my pool training before my first easy dive in the open ocean!
I was greeted at the Aquamarine centre by the team and introduced to my dive master, the guy who would be by my side over the next 3 days as I explored the world under the sea. After a quick introduction I was taken into a classroom with a large screen and handed a test paper. I had an hour to answer all the questions. Once my test was reviewed and it was clear that I had passed, I was led to a changing room to change into my swimsuit and then to the pool for my practical session.
At the pool, I was shown all the equipment, dive vest, scuba tank, mask, BCD or Bouyancy Control Device and regulator and taught how to check that everything was in safe working order. My dive master then showed me how to put on the equipment and flippers correctly before getting in the water. In the pool, the first thing we did was go over all the important hand signals that are universal to all divers across the world. The signs for all okay, I need to go up, and more are crucial to communicate with your dive buddy underwater and to ensure that you can both enjoy the experience safely.
Next up was time to learn how to actually sink below the waves using the BCD and how to breathe underwater. That was the most unnerving! In all my years of swimming in pools and in the ocean I had taught myself not to inhale under water, and now I was being told to do just that!! It definitely took some getting used to, but once I got the hang of it, and learned to take slow, controlled breaths to conserve my oxygen, it was as natural as,well, as breathing!
The last thing I had to learn was how to clear my mask under water in case some water got it, and then it was time to head to the beach to test my new skills out in the sea.
My dive master and I waded out from the beach and he gave me the signal to descend under water. Slowly, slightly nervously and very excitedly I engaged my BCD and sunk down into a whole new world.
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Disha
Disha is a former corporate lawyer with a flair for writing. As an avid traveller, she is always seeking new adventures and loves telling stories about her globe trotting.
