Fancy an underwater adventure? Want to spend your vacation watching coral reefs? Sign up for a professional scuba diving course. Training under the guidance of a specialist allows you to acquire the skills necessary to dive safely, and this creates opportunities to explore the extraordinary sea or ocean depths.
But don’t wait until your trip to the warm seaside, start training now. Professional instructors, a state-of-the-art pool and realistic training conditions mean that learning to dive does not require traveling abroad, but is available in Poland, in a warm and deep pool.
Is it necessary to be able to swim well to start learning to scuba dive?
Admiring the depths is a sport for everyone. Ne need to swim perfectly to start learning to dive. Although it is worth mastering basic swimming skills, but it is important above all that the person who wants to start the adventure of diving is able to move freely in the water.
It is also worth remembering that diving is impossible or very difficult for people who are afraid of water. If this fear is surmountable, however, it is worth enrolling in a scuba diving course, even if you are not a champion swimmer.
Main types of diving – Freediving (diving on held breath) and Scuba Diving (diving with diving equipment)
Freediving is a form of diving in which divers plunge into the water solely on one breath, without the use of scuba equipment. Freediving requires deep breath control and physical endurance because the diver reaches considerable depths. Using special breathing techniques and reducing oxygen consumption, you can be submerged for as long as a few minutes or so. The current Guinness World Record for holding breath underwater belongs to Budimir Šobat, a Croatian national, who achieved a time of an impressive 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds.
Scuba Diving is a more common form of diving. Divers use a breathing apparatus called a diving kit or aqualung. The equipment makes it possible to breathe underwater, and thus allows for longer dives and exploration of the sea or ocean floor.
While diving with scuba gear, you can enjoy the diversity of the underwater world: vegetation, corals, fish and even shipwrecks. However, this requires learning how to use the equipment, understanding safety rules and dealing with significant immersion.
Both forms of diving provide an extraordinary experience.
What does it typically look like to learn to dive in a pool?
Learning to dive in the pool is an integral part of the basic diving course. At the beginning of the course, students will be introduced to the basics of diving, including safety rules and the operation of diving equipment. Instructors discuss various pieces of equipment, such as mask, snorkel, diving suit, air cylinder, etc.
The first exercises take place in the shallow part of the pool. Students learn the basic techniques of diving: submerging themselves, controlling their balance underwater and breathing properly through a snorkel. They also learn how to safely remove and put on diving equipment: mask, snorkel and fins.
As students progress, they move to deeper areas of the pool. There they practice ascent and descent control, underwater swimming and underwater communication. Part of the training also includes rescue drills, such as assisting a diver in emergency situations and practicing emergency procedures, such as lifting a diver to the surface. Future divers learn how to recognize and deal with potential diving equipment problems, such as flooding of a mask or snorkel. Since fins are an important piece of diving equipment, they also learn how to swim effectively with them and turn underwater.
After completing practical classes in the pool, students take a short theoretical exam, and after completing the pool course, they are usually ready to train in natural aquatic environments.
Why is a theoretical introduction so important in a scuba diving course?
The theoretical introduction in the diving course is the foundation for the later practical study of diving.
- The theory of diving includes basic safety principles. Understanding emergency procedures, correctly identifying problems and handling critical situations are the cornerstones of safe diving practice.
- The depths are a completely new environment for humans, and this requires an understanding of how the body reacts to changing conditions underwater. The theoretical introduction covers topics in diving physics and physiology, such as the effects of water pressure on the body.
- Students gain knowledge of how to operate and maintain diving equipment. Knowledge of the various pieces of equipment and the ability to deal with possible equipment problems increases the degree of safety.
- Dive planning: dive time, surface intervals, decompression and other factors affecting safe diving are all factors to avoid potential hazards.
- The legal aspects of diving, such as regulations for diving in specific areas, as well as issues related to the protection of the marine environment, are also discussed during diving theory.
What is an Open Water Diver certification and does it allow open water diving?
Open Water Diver (OWD) is one of the basic degrees of certification in diving. It is awarded by various diving organizations such as PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) and SSI (Scuba Schools International). This is the first level of the diving course that allows diving in open water.
Open Water Diver certification proves that a diver has the basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills to dive safely in open water conditions such as seas, oceans, lakes and rivers. OWD is usually a multi-stage course that includes theoretical learning and practical diving exercises.
The basic elements of the Open Water Diver course include:
- Diving safety rules.
- The physics and physiology of diving.
- Operation of diving equipment.
- Dive planning.
- Ability to swim underwater.
- Dips and elevations.
- Dive equipment management.
- Practice diving under realistic conditions.
After completing the Open Water Diver course and earning certification, a diver can dive independently in open water conditions with a dive partner to a depth specified by the issuing diving organization (usually up to 18-30 meters depending on the organization).
The Open Water Diver certification is a great start for those looking to get started in scuba diving. It is also the basis for completing further diving courses, such as. Advanced Open Water Diver.
How does the OWD PADI course work?
PADI Open Water Diver (OWD) is one of the most popular diving courses in the world. The overall course plan consists of several stages:
Theoretical module
Students have access to online learning materials or attend theoretical lessons. They gain knowledge of the principles of safe diving, the physics and physiology of diving, equipment handling and dive planning.
After learning the theory, students take short knowledge exams to assess their understanding of the material.
Pool module
Students learn the basic skills of pool diving: submerging and ascending, swim control, taking off and putting on equipment, emergency procedures. They perform various exercises recommended by instructors. They are intended to give future divers confidence and improve their performance during open water dives.
Open water diving module
The course moves to open waters. These can be seas, lakes or other bodies of water. There they demonstrate the diving skills they have learned, including dive planning, underwater communication, equipment management and emergency response.
The instructor evaluates the students’ skills and confirms whether they meet PADI standards. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a PADI Open Water Diver certificate.
Diving courses at Deepspot – we’ll help you become an independent diver
Deepspot in Mszczonów, near Warsaw, is a pool with a depth of more than 45 meters. Superbly clear and warm water provides favorable conditions for diving. An underwater cave and a shipwreck at the bottom are additional attractions for those interested in diving on held breath or with an aqualung. Deepspot also provides students with high-quality equipment and, of course, comprehensive diving instructor support.
At Deepspot, we organize specialized training with SCUBA equipment and Freediving courses. Attending the course and successfully passing the exam allows you to dive with a partner in controlled aquatic environments to depths of up to 18 meters and continue your education in open water.
The dive instructors at Deepspot are friendly and understanding
At Deepspot, we understand that for many people, embarking on a diving adventure can be exciting, but also a little scary. Therefore, the team of diving instructors has been carefully selected not only for their professional qualifications, but also for their friendly and understanding approach to students of different ages, experience and needs.
Deepspot dive instructors are not only diving experts, but also passionate. They are eager to share their knowledge and experience with all course participants. They are committed not only to ensuring that all applicants acquire the necessary diving skills, but also that they feel comfortable and confident while learning.
How much do scuba diving courses cost at Deepspot?
Prices for scuba diving courses at Deepspot vary. The cost of completing a diving course depends on the type of training, the length of the course and the level of the class, among other factors. Students can choose a course tailored to their preferences and budget. Prices for comprehensive courses start at $1599, for example. Junior Scuba Diver or Deepspot Scuba Diver. Cheaper courses are also available, retraining and improving selected skills with divers who already have some experience swimming underwater, such as the Nitrox course costs $729.
How long is the diving course at Deepspot?
The duration of a diving course at Deepspot depends on the program chosen. You can opt for an intensive weekend course, an extended week-long program, or customize class dates to fit your schedule individually.
Choose a diving course at Deepspot and start your diving adventure
Diving courses for beginners at Deepspot will allow you to learn basic skills and start diving on your own
- Deepspot’s beginner courses allow you to learn the necessary basic diving skills. The instructors will guide you through all the stages of learning, starting with the operation of diving equipment and ending with its effective use underwater.
- You will learn everything necessary to keep yourself and others safe while diving.
- As part of the course, you will immerse yourself in an impressively deep diving pool. In this way you will gain confidence.
- Deepspot’s diving courses combine theory and practice. The theoretical knowledge gained is supported by practical activities in the water.
- After completing the beginner course at Deepspot, you will receive a certificate that entitles you to dive independently.
