Frequently Asked Questions
This page is designed to answer many of the questions that may have crossed your mind if you are thinking about learning to dive. It is written with Irish diving in mind and our own club in particular so the answers may not be relevent if you are planning to dive with another club or in another country. The questions aren't in any particular order.
Q: Can anyone learn to dive?
A: Almost everyone. You must be over 16 years of age (no upper limit!). You must also be reasonably fit and in good health. To ensure this, every diver must complete regular medical examinations. Health problems such as Asthma and Heart conditions may mean that you cannot dive. This unfortunately is the case for a small number of people.
Q: Is diving dangerous?
A: Diving is a very safe sport. Accidents are thankfully rare. This can be attributed to the excellent standards of training and dive leadership we have in this country.
Q: Is diving expensive?
A: Scuba Diving is not prohibitively expensive, although there is an initial outlay when divers purchase their own gear. It is probably comparable with sports such as Golf in terms of expense. However, the rewards are well worth the cost as diving opens up a whole new world to explore. To see some of the websites of Irish diving shops simply click here.
Q: Do you have to be a good swimmer to become a diver?
A: Surprisingly no! Obviously a basic swimming ability is necessary but all that is required is that you be able to swim ten lengths without stopping (200m). You will be asked to do this at the start of the course as part of the training.
Q: Although I'm able to swim I've never been very comfortable swimming in the sea?
A: We generally find that people's general confidence in the water increases dramatically as a result of learning to dive.
Q: Is it necessary to go abroad to get good diving?
A: Ireland is one of the best diving locations in the world. While the East Coast suffers from some environmental problems the North, West & South coasts have superb diving featuring spectacular underwater scenery and fantastic marine life.
However should you want to dive abroad your diving qualification is recognized the world over and is your passport to diving.
Q: Are there any options to reduce the costs?
A: There are lots of ways of doing this. You will be presented with a bewildering array of paraphernalia, remember that not all if is necessary at least at the beginning. Also for most pieces of equipment only a basic version is necessary.
Many dive shops offer special deals for starting divers. This allows you to get a complete basic set of gear at a reduced rate. Prices for these generally start around 900 Euro.
Second hand gear is another approach. Much of this is quite good and is an excellent way of reducing costs. Do beware however and always ask the advice of your instructors before buying second hand gear. They will be quite happy to help and advise you.
PADI dive centres such as Oceantec also organize annual sales of gear from their dive school. This often offers good bargains but be prepared to camp outside the shop overnight to get what you want!
Renting is another option but not recommended as it works out very expensive quite quickly. Better to be spending that money acquiring your own dive gear instead.
Another approach worth considering is to purchase and share gear with another trainee. For certain items you will each need your own (wetsuits for example) but others such as regulators could easily be shared. This will of course mean that you will have to stagger your diving but usually that can be arranged. Again talk to your instructors who will advise you on the best course of action.
Above all else when buying a lot of expensive gear in a dive shop - HAGGLE! If several of you get together then your bargaining power will be even greater.
Q: Once I've finished my basic training is that it?
A: Not at all! Our club is very active and we organize dives every week during the season and we often go away to some of the superb dive locations around Irelands coast for a weekend of diving. A definite highlight of the diving calendar is our weeklong diving trip to Inishbofin Island. The diving is fantastic.
There are numerous other activities and events including snorkeling during the winter, competitions as well as social events. Most club activities are open to all members apart from the occasional event which may be restricted to more experienced divers for safety reasons.
Q: Why do people dive?
A: The answer varies enormously. Some love the feeling of freedom that flying along the side of an underwater cliff gives them. Others are attracted by the variety and wonder of the marine life. Others love the physical and mental challenges provided by diving. Still others are attracted by the many wrecks to be found around our coasts dreaming of finding that long lost wreck!
Q: Are there different types of diving?
A: Diving is a tremendously broad and rich sport that covers many different activities. In addition to 'normal' diving we have drift diving, night dives, wreck dives and shore dives. Related activities include snorkeling, free-diving, Octopush, underwater rugby, swimming, underwater photography, marine identification, fin-swimming and underwater orienteering.
Spear-fishing which used to be a popular underwater pursuit is no longer encouraged and is now viewed as being contrary to the spirit of diving.
Q: What is Sports Diving?
A: Sports diving means diving for recreational purposes. As sports divers we are not insured or qualified to perform commercial dives. These are working dives that are carried out for financial reward.
Q: What is CFT?
A: CFT stands for Comhairle Fo Thuinn and is the main governing body for Sports Diving in Ireland. Our club is affiliated to CFT, which is in turn affiliated to CMAS that is the worldwide governing body for sports diving.
Q: Is diving hard to learn?
A: Diving is relatively easy to learn and once the basic skills have been mastered can be enjoyed over and over again. We provide a very high standard of training in the club and in fact we have the highest percentage of instructors of any club in the country. We also encourage people to hone and expand their skills once they have mastered the basics.
Q: How long does it take to qualify?
A: It varies from individual to individual, our course will allow everyone to proceed at their own pace. The Diver* Certificate can generally be achieved within 3-4 months, and many individuals will continue and achieve Diver** within one dive season. You can spread your training out over a longer period if you wish. It is not uncommon for people to spend their first year snorkeling only, concentrating on diving in their second season.
Q: Are there any special considerations that apply to female divers?
A: In general no. Two, are worth knowing however. First of all it is recommended that pregnant women should not dive after the first trimester. Secondly, many equipment manufacturers make versions of their gear specifically designed for women. These can provide greater comfort or usability for women. This is especially true of wetsuits, drysuits and buoyancy jackets.
Q: Which is better a dive school or dive club?
A: This is very difficult question to answer briefly. From a dive-training point of view both are very similar. There are however some important differences to be aware of.
- Dive centers are commercial outfits whereas a diving club provides training for the benefit of its members NOT to make money. All money paid to the club is used for the benefit of all members. None of our instructors receive payment.
- One point in favour of dive schools is that you can obtain a basic diving qualification from them quite quickly, in some cases over a long weekend. With CFT it takes a little longer but you will have the confidence and knowledge that comes with experience in depth.
- Beyond the basic qualifications, both organizations provide a wide range of training courses. In the C.F.T. these are free of charge to club members. Examination fees are not free however but these are paid to CFT not the club. Some of these courses include Boat Handling (Coxswain), Diver Rescue, Diver Medic, Dive Leader and various instructors' qualifications.
- The benefits of a club don't stop there. We have two swimming sessions a week as well as regular social events. Our club has it's own boats and compressors and we organise an active program of diving which will provide you with ample opportunity to enjoy your new sport to the full.
All in all if you weigh up all the factors you will clearly see the benefits of a club over a dive school. Having said that if your only interest is in gaining a very basic qualification so that you can dive occasionally when you are away on holidays the dive school is possibly the best approach for you. If you feel you have some 'Jacques Cousteau' in you come join our club where we will fulfil your dreams!
Q: If the club is going to provide gear for pool training won't they be able to do so once diving proper starts?
A: Unfortunately no. The diving gear (bottles, regulators, buoyancy jackets etc.) provided for training are loaned to the club for that purpose by ordinary club members. Training generally takes place outside of the normal diving season so this doesn't cause any problems. Once the diving season proper starts people will be using their own gear for diving and it is not really practical to loan it to other people on a regular basis. Some gear cannot be loaned at all (dive computers for example).
Q: How deep do we go and how long does a dive last?
A: Most dives range from 10m to 40m. Initially while you are training you will be diving in the 10-20 metre range. Most dives last between 20 and 40 minutes.
Q: How often can we dive?
A: It is possible to dive several times a day. Most divers will do 2 or 3 dives a day when away on a diving trip.
Q: What is a diving logbook?
A: This is your passport to diving worldwide. It is a complete history of diving training and qualifications. The qualifications you receive through the club are recognised worldwide.
Q: Is the water cold?
A: In Irish waters yes it is! Even in summer the water temperature is usually only about 13 degrees. In winter it can be as low as 3 or 4 degrees.
The good news however is that with the right equipment you won't even notice the water temperature and you will be quite comfortable in the water.
Q: What are some of the more memorable experiences you have had diving?
A: Seeing my first octopus swimming through the water, flying along the massive underwater cliffs of Inishbofin Island, a school of cuttlefish swimming round and round me on a night dive in Malinbeg, the playful seals on the Conningbeg rocks in the Saltee Islands, the underwater caves of Port Na Blath, the conger eels and fish life on the wreck of the Girl Aileen and the massive walls of the side of the wreck of the Kowloon Bridge towering above me on the dive and many other experiences too numerous to mention.
