What is Discover Scuba Diving?
We are sometimes asked what is Discover SCUBA diving. Or an intro dive or a try dive or a DSD or a resort dive. They are all basically the same thing, a fun way to try diving without the need for a SCUBA diving certification. It is an intro into the wonders of the undersea world. For some it will be a first go at diving, it may be a one off experience. For others a DSD will be the start of a wonderful new adventure in to diving and they will go on to get fully dive certified. Some people never bother to get certified due to time restraints but instead do a DSD every time they go on holiday.
What’s involved? An experienced PADI instructor briefs you on basic safety and the equipment. Then he/she takes you into a shallow water area to practice swimming underwater with scuba equipment. You will experience the feeling of weightlessness for the first time and have fun just blowing bubbles. You will practice a couple of basic skills such as equalizing your ears, clearing water from your mask, removing and replacing your regulator (breathing apparatus) and underwater hand signaling.
Then, once you are feeling confident your instructor will take you on a guided underwater tour over the reef. You’ll see corals, reef fish, anemones, stingrays, moray eels and much more.
Your dive can last from 20 minutes up to one hour, depending on how quickly you breathe the air in your tank. Dives start in very shallow water and go to a maximum depth of 12 metres.
The Discover Scuba Diving Program does not give any SCUBA certification, it’s just for the experience. However, if after trying diving you decide that you want to get certified, your Discover Scuba dive can be credited towards your PADI Open Water Course.
The Discover Scuba Program is also suitable for people who have dived before but lost their certification or who have not dived for years and prefer to dive with an instructor.
Discover SCUBA Diving pre-requisites: To participate in a Discover SCUBA program you must be at least 10 years old. You must not be flying in any aircraft within 24 hours of SCUBA diving. You must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You must read and complete the PADI medical statement.
For more information about Discover Scuba Diving and other PADI dive courses please see the PADI website.