The best places to get your diving license
Earning a scuba certification opens up a whole new world of excitement for you. Scuba diving not only improves your mental and physical health, but also allows you to explore stunning coral reefs and historic shipwrecks, as well as have up-close encounters with spectacular marine life. It’s also a fun way to meet new people with shared interests while supporting ocean conservation.
Whether you choose to get PADI or SSI certified, you can start your training at home and complete it the next time you travel or book a resort where a scuba course is the main focus of your vacation. There is no right or wrong type of water for learning to dive, so the destination of your first scuba experience is largely a matter of personal preference. We’re sure you can’t wait to start exploring the world’s hidden depths, so to help you out, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to get your scuba license.
Getting Starting
Regardless of the certification route you choose, you will start by learning the fundamentals of scuba diving. You can find out about this, do it online or take a course at your nearest pool. Next, you’ll need to learn the practical aspects of checking and setting up your scuba equipment, as well as practicing basic underwater skills. To complete your certification, you will need to make at least four dives. These may be in the ocean, a lake, or another suitable body of water. The cost of learning to dive varies from destination to destination. A starter course should start with a few hundred pounds, while fully kitting out costs much more.
Becoming certified
There are two routes to obtain a diving certificate. A PADI Open-Water Diver Card is the world’s most recognized recreational diving qualification with millions issued since its launch in 1966. There are more than 6,000 PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Centers and Resorts worldwide offering six levels of recreational diving. These range from PADI escorted diving to Master Scuba Diver, which allows you to do night, deep-sea and wreck diving. Founded in 1970, SSI (Scuba Schools International) is another international organization that teaches diving. It also offers a recognized and valued certification and has centers around the world. Its founder was Robert Clark, a pioneer in diving training. Both are safe, highly regulated, and approved by the World Recreational Scuba Training Council.
Shallow water for novice divers
If you are totally new to scuba diving, you may feel more comfortable making your first few dives in shallow water. If so, the crystal clear waters around the Bahamas Islands are ideal. Start at Tiger Beach to take close-up underwater photos of tiger sharks, nurse sharks, and hammerhead sharks. Wakatobi in Indonesia offers shallow water with no currents and provides a good introduction to the stunning colors and aquatic life of coral reefs.
Inexpensive diving for beginners
If you want to learn to dive, but your budget is limited, Thailand is an affordable (and beautiful) destination, particularly the resorts of Koh Tao and Koh Chang. Accommodation is inexpensive, while the wide variety of dive schools keeps instruction prices competitive. The resorts also offer specialized diving courses such as underwater videography. Competition on Gili Trawangan in Indonesia also keeps prices affordable. The Gili Islands teem with life while their waters are warm and clear.
Diving destinations throughout the year
There’s nothing like escaping the gray skies of winter and enjoying sunny days and warm seas. The Canary Islands offer great diving throughout the year. The Gulf Stream keeps the water temperature between 62 and 64 °F year-round, while visibility is good enough to guarantee sightings of rays and octopus. Dahab on the Red Sea in Egypt has long been known for its diving schools. It offers year-round visibility, warm waters, and amazing coral habitats.
Diving with a touch of luxury included
There is nowhere more typical of a tropical paradise than the North Malé Atoll in the Maldives. Healthy coral and abundant marine life reward your diving efforts, while warm waters and good visibility ensure this is a year-round dive destination. For a touch of luxury when you’re not diving, book a stay at the Ocean Paradise Dive Center on Gili Lankanfushi. Other dive destinations with luxury accommodation options include Qualia on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or Fregate Island Private in the Seychelles.
Dive safely
Like many sports, scuba diving does carry some risks, but if you enroll in an accredited dive school that offers PADI or SSI certification and follow some basic safety rules, you’ll learn a skill that guarantees lifetime pleasure and adventure. . Always do some research and check that your dive school and instructor are legally certified and that your equipment is properly maintained. Ask them where the nearest emergency services and decompression chamber are in case something goes wrong (a very rare situation). When you are ready to start soloing, always plan your dive carefully. Be realistic about your experience and limitations, and above all, check your pressure gauge regularly and never dive alone. Finally, give your body a chance to fully recover and avoid getting decompression sickness by not flying home until at least 24 hours after your last dive.
Your diving license is just a vacation away
If we’ve whetted your appetite to earn your scuba license and explore the underwater wonders of the world, why not enroll in an introductory scuba course close to home? Then start planning a vacation where you can finish qualifying for your scuba license in a safe and exciting environment.