DM Scuba Training - FAQs
Learning to scuba dive presents an exciting new challenge, and it's natural that you will have lots of questions. You'll find some of our frequently asked questions below, but if you can't find what you are looking for then just contact us to have a chat. We'd be very happy to hear from you. [email protected]
Where do you carry out your pool sessions and theory training?
From January 2024 we carry out all of our training using a private pool in Swindon. We have 24/7 access so we can run personal, private sessions on dates and times to suit you. Please get in touch if you have any preference so we can check availability. All theory sessions are carried via eLearning. We no longer offer any pool sessions in Bristol or Bath or courses with an open water element in the UK. Please check our course list for the full offerings.
What additional costs might I expect to incur?
Everything is included, in our course costs. Additional costs will be incurred if you cancel or do not show up for any sessions, please refer to the Terms and conditions for full details.
Are there age restrictions for scuba diving?
Scuba diving is an inclusive sport, and it is quite possible for the whole family to experience scuba diving together. Children can learn to scuba dive from the age of eight, with the PADI Bubblemaker course. From the age of ten, children can earn their Junior PADI Open Water qualification. There is no upper age limit on scuba diving, as long as you remain in good health. Therefore scuba diving is the perfect pastime to enjoy together as a family.
Are your staff DBS checked?
Yes; our instructors who work with children are all Enhanced DBS checked for your piece of mind. We can provide details on request. Most of us are parents as well and we want you to feel happy that your children are in a safe and secure environment while diving with us. We are also an Approved PADI Youth Training Centre, we have an appointed safe guarding lead instructor and all of our staff have been through Safe Guarding training
Are there health conditions or disabilities which might stop me from scuba diving?
Scuba diving should not be a strenuous activity, but lifting and carrying equipment together with the effects of water pressure on the body means that some medical conditions may prevent you from being able to scuba dive. Before you start any course then you will be asked to complete a Medical Questionnaire to see whether you have any pre-existing condition which may affect your safety when diving. We can not advise you whether you should answer "yes" or "no", and can only advise you to answer honestly and truthfully - the questionnaire is there for your safety and protection. If you answer positively to any of the questions then this does not necessarily disqualify you from diving, but you will need to see your doctor prior to diving to ensure that it is safe for you to dive. The doctor must be qualified to assess your condition and fitness to dive. The examination takes about an hour and is very simple. There are a range of adaptive techniques which we can use to make sure that disabled divers can enjoy scuba diving too, and scientific studies are showing that scuba diving can help in the rehabilitation of a range of physical and mental conditions. DM Scuba have four Handicapped Scuba Association Instructors on staff.
What happens if I fall ill during my course and I have to cancel?
If you fall ill during your course, everything you have completed up to that point is still valid and you can continue from that point forward at a later date. Although we will try to be as flexible as possible, additional costs to restart the course will be incurred. Course cancellations fall under our terms and conditions and further information can be found here: Terms and Conditions
Do I need to be comfortable in the water to scuba dive?
You do not need to be an excellent swimmer but you do need to be comfortable in the water. Therefore, before you can complete either the BSAC Ocean Diver Course or the PADI Open Water Course you must demonstrate basic water skill comfort by swimming for 200 metres (there is no time limit or requirement to use a particular stroke), and floating and treading water for 10 minutes. Most people find these relatively simple, and you can attend our pool nights to practice your water skills if you like prior to the course starting.
We highly recommend completing a Ty Dive before booking on to an Open Water course to see whether you like it first, the standard one-day confined water bootcamp is not recommended for anyone who is nervous, has learning difficulties or has never tried Scuba before. Please book a Try dive first and also consider a one-on-one.
Can I learn together with friends or family?
We actively encourage our divers to learn and dive with friends and family, as there is simply nothing better than sharing an underwater adventure with those who mean the most to us. We do like to keep small intimate diving groups, as we feel our students gain value from small group numbers and high student to Instructor ratios, so if you would like to learn in a larger group of friends or family then just let us know and we'll discuss with you how best to meet your requirements. However, it is no problem at all to learn to dive on your own - we have a very active and friendly dive club, Dive Monkey Club , and you will meet diving buddies and new friends really quickly.
Do you offer dive experience packages for groups?
Yes - we offer Discover Scuba Pool Try Dive sessions for groups including school groups, clubs, Guides, Scouts, family parties, in fact any group you can think of! Each group member will have the chance to experience scuba diving for the first time in the safety of a confined water environment.
What materials and equipment do I need?
In order to participate in most PADI courses, you will need a current personal set of student materials, which we will always provide for you which is always included in your course costs (except Professional courses). We supply all of the Scuba equipment you need at no extra cost. If you have your own dive equipment then please feel free to use this on our courses*, but if you do not own your own dive equipment then we have a vast selection of school equipment which you can use. We can provide advice and guidance to students thinking of purchasing their own dive equipment for the first time, or upgrading their kit, and we also provide full servicing and repair by our own on-site qualified dive engineer and technician.
(*Any equipment you own and would like to use on any of our courses must be fit for purpose and in service)
Where can you dive in the UK?
Anywhere coastal as we're an island! But we mainly dive along the south coast of the UK.
Can you help me to learn to scuba dive abroad?
Yes, we can complete a referral for you, that's what we do!. You complete the knowledge development and confined water dives in the pool here in the UK, and then we refer you to a dive centre abroad (either of your choice, or we can recommend one) for you to complete your open water dives. This means you can get straight into the water when you touch down abroad, rather than spending your holiday in a classroom.
Do I need to be a very experienced diver to join a BSAC Club
BSAC Clubs are open to to scuba divers of all levels of capability and experience. The aim of the clubs is to get divers together, pass on relevant information and organise some diving in a supportive environment. At DM Scuba Training we believe that active divers means better divers, so we have partnered with various BSAC Clubs in the region should you want the club experience. This means that not only do you have the benefits of the PADI and BSAC diver education systems - Two of the most the most recognised and highly regarded diver training systems in the world, but you have opportunities to use your diving post-qualification too, by joining on of our local clubs.
Photography
Underwater photography is part of the Scuba diving experience and we actively encourage our students, parents and group leaders to take photographs if they wish. It captures memories and records events for advertising, newsletters and for Social Media use. DM Scuba use photography on most of our sessions. Photos are always edited before use and typical photos of our sessions can be viewed on our Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/#!/DMScubaTraining. If you would like copies of any of our photos that were taken during your course, please see your instructor. If you do not wish to appear in any photography that may be taking place please let your instructor know
Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs)
Diver propulsion Vehicles (DPV's) may be available for your use as part of your pool session by DM Scuba Training. You must follow your instructors guidance and listen to the safety brief. DPVs must be used with caution and you must avoid other pool users at all times. You must NOT use the DPV to alter your depth rapidly without equalising as this may cause injury. DM Scuba Training cannot be held liable for any injury and damage you cause whilst using a DPV.
Who are PADI and why should I do a PADI course with DM Scuba Training over other training organisations?
PADI is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors the biggest certification agency in the world. Whilst there are a number of recreational scuba training organisations worldwide, PADI is not only the largest recreational diving organisation, but it is the World's most recognised recreational diver training organisation. Having a certification from PADI means that your dive qualification will be recognised by dive operators throughout the World. It also means that you benefit from best materials and educational systems which are professionally researched and written to ensure that you receive the very best quality diving training providing you with a robust and safe grounding. When you dive with DM Scuba you also learn from Instructors who are required to adhere to stringent professional standards of instruction and safety by the HSE. All of DM Scuba Trainings instructors are professional insured instructors and are certified to one of the two agencies.
Who are BSAC, and why should I do a BSAC course with DM Scuba Training over completing the course with a BSAC Club?
BSAC is the British Sub Aqua Club, founded in London, England in 1954. BSAC is unusual for a diver training agency in that most BSAC instructors are volunteers, giving up their spare time to train others, unlike many other agencies, in which instructors are paid employees, or self-employed. There are times where it could be difficult for a BSAC club member to progress through their training. This could be down to a number of reasons and this is where DM Scuba can help! With two BSAC Instructors on staff we can schedule and run a professional course for you, with set dates and times for all of your training. No waiting around for club members to become available and keeping the same instructor right throughout your training. As with all of our courses we can also supply you with any kit you require for the duration of the course free of charge. When you dive with DM Scuba you also learn from Instructors who are required to adhere to stringent professional standards of instruction and safety by the HSE.
Do I need insurance to dive?
Just like most other sports or pastimes, scuba diving does present a level of carefully controlled risk of which you need to be aware of. When you dive with DM Scuba Training, you have the benefit of diving with a fully insured professional diving school. Personal diving insurance to cover your own personal risk is also recommended to cover any incidents. BSAC Membership include personal liability insurance as standard.
Where do you carry out your pool sessions and theory training?
From January 2024 we carry out all of our training using a private pool in Swindon. We have 24/7 access so we can run personal, private sessions on dates and times to suit you. Please get in touch if you have any preference so we can check availability. All theory sessions are carried via eLearning. We no longer offer any pool sessions in Bristol or Bath or courses with an open water element in the UK. Please check our course list for the full offerings.
What additional costs might I expect to incur?
Everything is included, in our course costs. Additional costs will be incurred if you cancel or do not show up for any sessions, please refer to the Terms and conditions for full details.
Are there age restrictions for scuba diving?
Scuba diving is an inclusive sport, and it is quite possible for the whole family to experience scuba diving together. Children can learn to scuba dive from the age of eight, with the PADI Bubblemaker course. From the age of ten, children can earn their Junior PADI Open Water qualification. There is no upper age limit on scuba diving, as long as you remain in good health. Therefore scuba diving is the perfect pastime to enjoy together as a family.
Are your staff DBS checked?
Yes; our instructors who work with children are all Enhanced DBS checked for your piece of mind. We can provide details on request. Most of us are parents as well and we want you to feel happy that your children are in a safe and secure environment while diving with us. We are also an Approved PADI Youth Training Centre, we have an appointed safe guarding lead instructor and all of our staff have been through Safe Guarding training
Are there health conditions or disabilities which might stop me from scuba diving?
Scuba diving should not be a strenuous activity, but lifting and carrying equipment together with the effects of water pressure on the body means that some medical conditions may prevent you from being able to scuba dive. Before you start any course then you will be asked to complete a Medical Questionnaire to see whether you have any pre-existing condition which may affect your safety when diving. We can not advise you whether you should answer "yes" or "no", and can only advise you to answer honestly and truthfully - the questionnaire is there for your safety and protection. If you answer positively to any of the questions then this does not necessarily disqualify you from diving, but you will need to see your doctor prior to diving to ensure that it is safe for you to dive. The doctor must be qualified to assess your condition and fitness to dive. The examination takes about an hour and is very simple. There are a range of adaptive techniques which we can use to make sure that disabled divers can enjoy scuba diving too, and scientific studies are showing that scuba diving can help in the rehabilitation of a range of physical and mental conditions. DM Scuba have four Handicapped Scuba Association Instructors on staff.
What happens if I fall ill during my course and I have to cancel?
If you fall ill during your course, everything you have completed up to that point is still valid and you can continue from that point forward at a later date. Although we will try to be as flexible as possible, additional costs to restart the course will be incurred. Course cancellations fall under our terms and conditions and further information can be found here: Terms and Conditions
Do I need to be comfortable in the water to scuba dive?
You do not need to be an excellent swimmer but you do need to be comfortable in the water. Therefore, before you can complete either the BSAC Ocean Diver Course or the PADI Open Water Course you must demonstrate basic water skill comfort by swimming for 200 metres (there is no time limit or requirement to use a particular stroke), and floating and treading water for 10 minutes. Most people find these relatively simple, and you can attend our pool nights to practice your water skills if you like prior to the course starting.
We highly recommend completing a Ty Dive before booking on to an Open Water course to see whether you like it first, the standard one-day confined water bootcamp is not recommended for anyone who is nervous, has learning difficulties or has never tried Scuba before. Please book a Try dive first and also consider a one-on-one.
Can I learn together with friends or family?
We actively encourage our divers to learn and dive with friends and family, as there is simply nothing better than sharing an underwater adventure with those who mean the most to us. We do like to keep small intimate diving groups, as we feel our students gain value from small group numbers and high student to Instructor ratios, so if you would like to learn in a larger group of friends or family then just let us know and we'll discuss with you how best to meet your requirements. However, it is no problem at all to learn to dive on your own - we have a very active and friendly dive club, Dive Monkey Club , and you will meet diving buddies and new friends really quickly.
Do you offer dive experience packages for groups?
Yes - we offer Discover Scuba Pool Try Dive sessions for groups including school groups, clubs, Guides, Scouts, family parties, in fact any group you can think of! Each group member will have the chance to experience scuba diving for the first time in the safety of a confined water environment.
What materials and equipment do I need?
In order to participate in most PADI courses, you will need a current personal set of student materials, which we will always provide for you which is always included in your course costs (except Professional courses). We supply all of the Scuba equipment you need at no extra cost. If you have your own dive equipment then please feel free to use this on our courses*, but if you do not own your own dive equipment then we have a vast selection of school equipment which you can use. We can provide advice and guidance to students thinking of purchasing their own dive equipment for the first time, or upgrading their kit, and we also provide full servicing and repair by our own on-site qualified dive engineer and technician.
(*Any equipment you own and would like to use on any of our courses must be fit for purpose and in service)
Where can you dive in the UK?
Anywhere coastal as we're an island! But we mainly dive along the south coast of the UK.
Can you help me to learn to scuba dive abroad?
Yes, we can complete a referral for you, that's what we do!. You complete the knowledge development and confined water dives in the pool here in the UK, and then we refer you to a dive centre abroad (either of your choice, or we can recommend one) for you to complete your open water dives. This means you can get straight into the water when you touch down abroad, rather than spending your holiday in a classroom.
Do I need to be a very experienced diver to join a BSAC Club
BSAC Clubs are open to to scuba divers of all levels of capability and experience. The aim of the clubs is to get divers together, pass on relevant information and organise some diving in a supportive environment. At DM Scuba Training we believe that active divers means better divers, so we have partnered with various BSAC Clubs in the region should you want the club experience. This means that not only do you have the benefits of the PADI and BSAC diver education systems - Two of the most the most recognised and highly regarded diver training systems in the world, but you have opportunities to use your diving post-qualification too, by joining on of our local clubs.
Photography
Underwater photography is part of the Scuba diving experience and we actively encourage our students, parents and group leaders to take photographs if they wish. It captures memories and records events for advertising, newsletters and for Social Media use. DM Scuba use photography on most of our sessions. Photos are always edited before use and typical photos of our sessions can be viewed on our Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/#!/DMScubaTraining. If you would like copies of any of our photos that were taken during your course, please see your instructor. If you do not wish to appear in any photography that may be taking place please let your instructor know
Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs)
Diver propulsion Vehicles (DPV's) may be available for your use as part of your pool session by DM Scuba Training. You must follow your instructors guidance and listen to the safety brief. DPVs must be used with caution and you must avoid other pool users at all times. You must NOT use the DPV to alter your depth rapidly without equalising as this may cause injury. DM Scuba Training cannot be held liable for any injury and damage you cause whilst using a DPV.
Who are PADI and why should I do a PADI course with DM Scuba Training over other training organisations?
PADI is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors the biggest certification agency in the world. Whilst there are a number of recreational scuba training organisations worldwide, PADI is not only the largest recreational diving organisation, but it is the World's most recognised recreational diver training organisation. Having a certification from PADI means that your dive qualification will be recognised by dive operators throughout the World. It also means that you benefit from best materials and educational systems which are professionally researched and written to ensure that you receive the very best quality diving training providing you with a robust and safe grounding. When you dive with DM Scuba you also learn from Instructors who are required to adhere to stringent professional standards of instruction and safety by the HSE. All of DM Scuba Trainings instructors are professional insured instructors and are certified to one of the two agencies.
Who are BSAC, and why should I do a BSAC course with DM Scuba Training over completing the course with a BSAC Club?
BSAC is the British Sub Aqua Club, founded in London, England in 1954. BSAC is unusual for a diver training agency in that most BSAC instructors are volunteers, giving up their spare time to train others, unlike many other agencies, in which instructors are paid employees, or self-employed. There are times where it could be difficult for a BSAC club member to progress through their training. This could be down to a number of reasons and this is where DM Scuba can help! With two BSAC Instructors on staff we can schedule and run a professional course for you, with set dates and times for all of your training. No waiting around for club members to become available and keeping the same instructor right throughout your training. As with all of our courses we can also supply you with any kit you require for the duration of the course free of charge. When you dive with DM Scuba you also learn from Instructors who are required to adhere to stringent professional standards of instruction and safety by the HSE.
Do I need insurance to dive?
Just like most other sports or pastimes, scuba diving does present a level of carefully controlled risk of which you need to be aware of. When you dive with DM Scuba Training, you have the benefit of diving with a fully insured professional diving school. Personal diving insurance to cover your own personal risk is also recommended to cover any incidents. BSAC Membership include personal liability insurance as standard.