Once upon a time, each Odyssey Dive Club Instructor put their head underwater for the first time and, each one was probably slightly apprehensive... At least a couple of the following questions passed through their minds before they took the plunge.
Is my current level of fitness adequate?
You don't need to be Arnold Schwartzennegger to appreciate the beauty of the underwater world. The prerequisite requirements for participating in this activity are more psychological than physical. You need to know how to swim, to be in a reasonable state of fitness and to not suffer from any illness that could be aggravated by scuba diving. It's not a bad idea to have a check-up with your local doctor before going diving for the first time.
Isn't this an activity for people younger than myself?
Well, it depends on your general level of fitness. Look at Jacques Cousteau, even in his 80's he never missed an opportunity to slip into his fins. The muscle used the most in scuba diving is actually the brain (oh yeah, it's not actually a muscle at all, is it?). Anyway, it must be said that some of our instructors are keeping pretty quiet about their age...
At what age can you start diving?
Young! But, not too young... Our kids programmes start from 8 years old with different programmes for different aged youngsters. The really little ones can have a go at snorkeling as long as they're supervised by an adult.
I'm scared of running out of air underwater.
You'll have more than you need... Modern regulators are designed in a way that ensures that air is delivered to the diver upon emand (breathing in!). Most beginners breath more heavily underwater than they would at the surface but once you get going you soon find yourself breathing in a relaxed way and your air consumption improves dramatically. All our regulators are equipped with an accurate contents gauge which allows you to frequently and easily monitor your air supply.
I'm claustrophobic!
So what? There's loads of space underwater? It's hardly like being stuck in a lift... Most divers are also great lovers of the outdoors, there must be a connection somewhere...
My ears hurt when I dive into the deep end of the pool.
Well, probably the first thing that you'll learn as a beginner is how to 'eqalise your ears'. Blowing gently against pinched nostrils, swallowing, wiggling your jaw from side to side, or a combination of the above are the choices that will be presented to you. You choose - your instructor will help you find out which method best suits your ears.
I'm a smoker. Does that mean I can't dive?
No, as long as you don't expect to be able to smoke underwater and as long as smoking does not prevent you from engaging in other activities.
How deep can we go?
Well, that's not a one word answer. Experienced recreational divers are advised not to venture beyond 40 meters (that's about the same as a 12 floor building). At that kind of depth you would use your air up rather quickly and you wouldn't be able to stay at that depth for very long. A normal guided dive would probably be between 15 and 30 meters. Of course, there are different maximum depth recommendations depending on what level of diving experience you have. When you make your first dive you're in just a couple of meters of water so you can relax and enjoy this great new experience.
How long does a tank of air last?
Well again that depends... With a 12 litre tank (like the ones at ODC), if you breath heavily and go deep, your dive will probably be over in about 25 minutes. However, with a normal, relaxed breathing rhythm and an average depth of around 12m, you would probably be able to enjoy a dive of up to an hour and a half. A typical dive with one of our guides would be between 15 and 30 meters deep and would last between 40 and 50 minutes.
I'm scared of some underwater creatures!
Well, we need to spend a moment on this subject because it's one of the most frequently raised dilemmas amongst beginner divers. First of all, you should be aware of the fact that most underwater creatures are more scared of you than you could ever be of them. There is nothing underwater that will try to hurt you if you don't try to hurt it. Your instructor will teach you to dive in an environmentally friendly way that will ensure your safety and make yours a positive interaction with the underwater world. You'll love it.
What if my mask comes off?
You'll just put it on again! No need to panic, our instructors are here to teach you to take care of all sorts of little things like that. Just a few hours into your course, you will know how to put your mask back on and clear the water out of it with ease (you'll be amazed by how easy it is...).
What's a decompression accident (The Bends)?
It's something that should never happen! Imagine a bottle of Champagne, Coke or beer (whatever your preference). For as long as it stays closed the bottle is under pressure. If you open it suddenly (pop!) you will see bubbles forming. However, if you open it slowly and carefully, (pschhhh...) no bubbles form. For a diver breathing compressed air (i.e. air under pressure) it's exactly the same. If you ascend too fast excess nitrogen in your system comes out of solution and forms bubbles in your blood that could lead to circulation problems. If you make a slow ascent, in accordance with the dive planning table or computer that you will learn to use, residual nitrogen escapes naturally from the body. With proper training and sensible diving practices it is highly unlikely that you would have any problems.
How can you recognise a reputable, safe dive club?
It's easy! They should have decent looking (well maintained) equipment. The club should have a certificate of recognition from an international diving organisation (such as PADI). They should offer a full range of courses to be taught by qualified instructors. It's also a better experience for you if there is something to see underwater. Well, without wishing to boast, Odyssey Dive Club can offer you all of these things.
Do you have to first learn in a swimming pool?
Not necessarily. Learning to dive in a swimming pool can be advantageous from the point of view that there is nothing there to distract you. However, you'd soon get bored of looking at swimming pool tiles. At Odyssey Dive Club we use the pool for initial familiarisation with your equipment but then we move on to our confined water area in shallow water in the sea where all the interesting stuff is.
Dive planning seems so complicated and I'm allergic to maths. Will I manage?
It's true that dive planning tables have been drawn up through extensive research and calculation. However, you don't have to worry about that. If you can read a train timetable you'll find dive planning really easy and your instructor will take you through it step by step.
If I've already got a diving license can I dive alone wherever I want?
The answer to your question is NO but then again... yes. No you cannot go diving alone, we always dive in buddy teams irrespective of experience level. Your best insurance as a diver is your buddy. Yes, you can dive wherever you like, PADI diving certificates are recognised worldwide. As soon as you've completed your first course - PADI Open Water - you will be certified to dive with your buddy, without the supervision of an instructor.
What if I really love it? Where can I carry on diving when I get back home?
Of course, we don't guarantee that the diving conditions back home will be the same as those in the Mediterranean but there are plenty of divers all over the world. You can link onto the website of PADI and see where your nearest PADI dive centre is.
How much of my holiday will diving take up? I'll be traveling with my family.
It depends on you. You can spend as little or as much time as you want. Our normal schedule takes into account that many of our visitors are traveling with their families. Dives and courses are planned in a way that leaves you half the day free.
