TRY SCUBA

Overview

Try Scuba is the simplest way to find out whether diving is for you. It is a short introductory program with no theory to study, no exam and no certification requirements. Your instructor explains how the equipment works and covers the basic safety rules, then stays beside you in shallow, calm water as you take your first breaths underwater. You will complete one supervised dive in confined water, which means a pool or a sheltered shallow area with pool-like conditions. This is not an open water sea dive. The confined setting is deliberate, because it lets you focus entirely on getting comfortable rather than on managing an unfamiliar environment. There is no swimming test and no minimum fitness standard beyond being in reasonable general health. Participants from age eight can take part, which makes this a practical option for families. On completion you receive the SSI Try Scuba recognition rating. If you decide to continue, Try Scuba leads naturally into the Basic Diver program, which includes dives in the sea, or straight into the Open Water Diver certification course.

Description

Try Scuba answers one question: do you enjoy breathing underwater? Everything about the program is built around finding that out quickly, safely, and without commitment. What happens Your instructor begins with a short briefing. You will learn what each piece of scuba equipment does, how to equalise the pressure in your ears as you descend, the small number of hand signals divers use to communicate, and the basic safety rules that apply to every dive. There is nothing to memorise and nothing to read in advance. You are then fitted with a mask, fins, and a scuba unit sized to you, and you enter the water. Your instructor remains within arm's reach for the entire session, close enough to make physical contact at any moment. That is a requirement of the SSI standard for this program, not a courtesy, and it is the main reason people who are nervous about diving tend to relax faster than they expect. In the water you will practise breathing through the regulator, moving comfortably with fins, and one or two basic comfort skills. The pace is set by you. Where the dive takes place This program is conducted entirely in confined water, meaning a swimming pool or a sheltered shallow area with pool-like conditions. The maximum depth is five metres. You will not dive in the open sea during Try Scuba. This is worth being clear about. Some visitors to Dahab want their first experience to be on the reef itself. If that is what you are after, the Basic Diver program is the better choice, since it includes open water dives to a maximum of twelve metres. Try Scuba is the gentler, shorter, lower-cost option, and many people prefer to start here. Who it suits Anyone curious about diving with no previous experience. Families, since the minimum age of eight is lower than for most introductory programs. Travellers with limited time. People who are unsure about the water and want a controlled environment for a first attempt. Divers returning after a long break sometimes use it as a low-pressure refresher, though a Scuba Skills Update is usually the better fit for that. Requirements No certification, no previous experience and no swimming test. You should be in reasonable general health. You will complete a medical statement and a liability release before entering the water. If you answer yes to any question on the medical statement, you will need written approval from a physician before taking part, so please raise any relevant condition when you book rather than on the day. What you receive The SSI Try Scuba recognition rating, issued digitally. This is a record of participation rather than a diving certification, and it does not qualify you to dive without a professional. If you continue to the Open Water Diver program, you will already be familiar with the equipment and with the sensation of breathing underwater, which most students find makes the first day considerably easier.