I want learn how to scuba dive (possibly in sharm el sheik)?

Question

i am going travelling in the near future and want to be able to scuba dive unaided. what do i need to do and can anyone reccomend a course?

Answer 1

You need a diving licence/qualification as diving is a high risk activity if you don't know the rules.  Also, diving "unaided" is ambiguous as you should always always dive with a suitably qualified dive-buddy.

PADI does has lots of very accessible courses and is accepted worldwide.  The first qualification (Open Water Diver) involves a few classroom sessions to learn the risks and some (easy) physics that explains why the rules are there.  To learn to use the equipment there are pool sessions so you can get used to being underwater and go through the safety drills in safety.  Finally there are your open water dives which can be done at a different place to your pool and classroom sessions and are the final part of your qualification.  (Sharm would be a good place to finish the qualification and then you can enjoy some diving as a qualified diver).

As a PADI Open Water Diver you are qualified to dive to 18m depth with a buddy who is qualified to Dive Master standard and above.  The second qualification is the Advanced Open Water Diver and this qualifies you to dive to 30m depth, with a buddy who is also qualified to at least Advanced Open Water standard.

Alternatively, the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) offer courses that are much cheaper than PADI, but you have to join a club to learn from the club's dive officer.  (I did PADI so have little knowledge of BSAC ways).

Answer 2

At the very least, you'll need and Open Water certification. If you're from the UK, I'd recommend taking the BSAC OW if there's a club in your area. If not, then the next best is a PADI course since they seem to be just about everywhere. I'm PADI myself, but feel that BSAC offers better training, after having dived with a number of BSAC cert'd divers.

PADI does have the referral program, where you can do your academics locally and the wet part of the course at an exotic location but I'm not a huge fan of this concept for two reasons.

1/ If your local conditions are cold water diving, doing the full course at home will expose you to a better learning opportunity, probably making you a better, safer diver. You'll have learned in a "tough" place. You'll be better prepared if you dive locally later on and it'll make those warm water dives at your exotic destination seem like a walk in the park.

2/ It's your vacation. Do you want to be in class for a day or two or would you much rather be able to get off the plane and go diving?

Answer 3

Most of the diving centre in Sharm does it, you an get your Padi training and few dives for very little money, I have done it there.

There is a nice diving college at Naama bay, you can e-mail them at

[e-mail], you can do Padi 5* CDC offering nitrox free of charge.

Answer 4

There are loads of PADI scuba clubs in the UK. You can do all the pool dives in the uk and then go to sharm for your exam dives. Try your local pool to see if there is a club that uses it. You need to be able to swim 200m and tread water for 10 minutes, and to learn about dive times, but it isnt that hard really.

Answer 5

ask for people donig a padi liscence. because that is what you acttually need a liscence, padi are probably the best are international and most diving institutions use them.