Thinking about SCUBA diving in the philippines but don't have certification....?

Question

I am studying abroad in Hong Kong and it looks like I'll have a chance to go on a SCUBA trip to the Philippines for 3 days or so. I have gone diving between 5-10 times, all in moderately shallow water (no deeper than 50 feet), and don't have any official certification although I have had many instruction courses. I know the basics but have no certification. I'm going with a group who has more experience than me. so, will they let me dive without certification? Will they make me take a course? How deep will they let me go without certification? Are the best dives going to be off-limits to me? Let me know what you can, it is all appreciated. Please only respond if you have some knowledge on the topic, thanks!

Answer 1

Well, let me get the bad news out of the way first.

First of they probably won't let you dive unless they are willing to risk their insurance and dive shop to let you dive.

Second they may make you take a course, and some of them are short. To be a PADI Scuba Diver it would take maybe two days but you would be required to dive with a PADI Divemaster or above for each of your dives.

Third a "Discover Scuba" class is usually limited to less than 40 ft on their dives and that's after a few hours of instruction.

Fourth, I'm afraid some of the best dives would be out of your reach, however there is still a lot to see at less than 40 ft.

Now for the better news

You should contact the agencies that you have dove with before and try to get copies of anything they have to see if you can compile it together and get a certification through one of them. Another option would be to take the PADI online course to get all of your book work out of the way and do the confined and open water portion while you are in the Philippines. It could take a day maybe two to finish the water skills. One thing you will have to remember though is that you can't fly for a minimum of 12 hours after diving, and sometimes 24 hours depending on your dive profile so that could take up one of your days.

Good luck