FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS |
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- Every
one in our group doesn't dive. What can we do?
Coki Beach is the place for all of you. It has great
snorkeling. There are vendors who rent chairs and floats
for members of your group who just want to hang out in
the sun. Coral World, right next door, is a wonderful place
to spend a couple of hours watching the fish in aquariums.
We have $4 off discount cards to Coral World for our customers
and people in their party.
- I'm
on St. Thomas for the day, will I have enough time
to dive and shop?
Yes, of course. Your dive should take around 2 hours
even if you aren't certified and need a lesson first. If
we pick you up you can be in the water and back to the
ship before lunch.
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- Snorkeling
seems easy, do I really need a lesson?
If you're comfortable in the water, probably not. But
if you're doubtful, just ask for our guided Snorkel Tour.
It includes all your gear, a life vest if you need it,
and a guide to show you the reef. Remember you can use
the gear all day to snorkel after your tour. We also rent
snorkel gear. Coki Beach is open to the public so snorkeling
is free if you have your own gear. In any case, drop by
and say hello, get an orientation of the beach, and leave
your valuables.
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- I
like to snorkel. Why should I go through the hassle
of learning to scuba dive?
Scuba diving is not only the easiest and cheapest way
to fly but it literally takes you to another planet. Snorkeling
is one dimensional, like looking out a window at a garden.
Scuba diving is three dimensional, like being in the garden.
If you like snorkeling you will find scuba diving fascinating
and easy.
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- I
need to be certified before I dive, right?
Wrong, we offer a PADI-sanctioned course for the non-certified
beginner. It's the best way to see if you like diving.
And Coki Beach is one of the best places anywhere for your
first dive.
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- Maybe
it would be better to wait util I get back home and
just go through the classes there.
People get involved with other things when they get
back home. Seize the moment while you have it. Anyway,
you won't like it as much in a pool and some cold lake
or pond. Plus it will cost a lot more.
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- Is
it hard to get certified?
No, in fact, it's probably easier than you imagine,
especially if you're already comfortable in the water.
PADI's entry-level diver course is split into knowledge
development, confined water skill training and four scuba
training dives. The course is "performance based," meaning
that you progress as you learn and demonstrate your knowledge
and skill.
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- How
do I get started in Scuba Diving?
The best way is to start with a Discover Scuba Diving
lesson. You need no prior experience for this is the easy
way to approach diving and no studying is required. If
you enjoy this dive, you have already passed the first
step of your Open Water Certification course.
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- How
long does it take to become a certified Scuba diver?
It all depends on your needs and your schedule. The
PADI Open Water Diver course is typically split into five
module sessions with tremendous flexibility. The course
may be scheduled over as little as three or four days,
or as much as five or six weeks depending upon your needs
and schedule. The format allows to you progress at a rate
that makes you comfortable. We will work hard to fit the
course into your vacation schedule.
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- How
old do you have to be to become a certified diver?
You have to be at least 15 years old to be fully certified
as an Open Water Diver. But if you're between 10 and 15,
you can earn a Junior Open Water Diver certification (we
also offer the non-certificate PADI Bubble Maker program
for kids aged 8-10).
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- How
does a Junior Open Water Diver Certification differ
from the Open Water Diver Certification?
The difference between the two courses consists only
in the minimum age required: Open Water Diver 15 yrs /Junior
Open Water Diver 10 yrs. Ten and eleven year old Junior
Open Water Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian
or PADI Professional and are limited a maximum depth of
12 metres/40 feet. Twelve to fifteen year olds should dive
with a certified adult. At age 15, the Junior certification
can be upgraded to a regular Open Water Diver certification.
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- Do
I have to have any special qualifications before I
can participate in a scuba class?
No. Generally speaking, anyone in good average health
and at least 8 years old can participate.
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- Are
there any special medical precautions I'll have to
take?
Preexisting medical conditions may prevent you from
diving. On the medical form there is a list of medical
questions. If you answer YES to any of the questions, you
should require a written medical release from your physician. Feel
free to EMail us
with any question.
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- Do
I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a PADI
Open Water Diver?
No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer
who is comfortable and relaxed in the water. The swimming
requirement for certification is an easy 183 metre/200
yard nonstop swim (with no time or specific stroke requirement)
or a 300 metre/yard snorkel with mask, fins and snorkel.
You also have to do a 10 minute simple tread/float exercise.
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- Is
scuba diving expensive?
Not really. Like any hobby or recreation, you can invest
a little or a lot in equipment, depending upon your interest
level and resources. Because most dive centers and resorts
rent equipment, you can invest in equipment over time,
renting what you don't have until you decide to make the
investment in your own equipment. Check out our rental
gear prices.
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- What
equipment do I need before I take scuba lessons?
We provide you with all equipment you need to dive
with us. You'll probably want your own mask, snorkel and
fins, which are all pieces of equipment that are most comfortable
when personally fitted. During your tour or course, we
can help you to select quality equipment that fits you
and lasts a long time. The most expensive equipment is
not always the best for you. Check out our Retail
Page!
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- What's
in a scuba tank? Oxygen?
Recreational divers breathe air, not oxygen. It's filtered
to remove impurities and de-humidified but otherwise, it's
air like you're breathing now. Our air is regularly tested
for quality.
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- How
long does a tank of air last?
This is a common question that, unfortunately, doesn't
have a simple answer. People breathe at different rates.
You breathe faster when you're diving than when you're
resting. Also, the deeper you dive, the faster you use
your air. Men tend to use more air then women. The more
relaxed you are under the water, the less air you use so
experienced divers use less air. So, the answer is "it
depends". This is why divers have a gauge that tell them
how much air they have at all times.
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- My
ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won't
they hurt when I scuba dive?
Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on
your ear drum. In your scuba course, you'll learn a simple
technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding pressure.
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- In
the movies and on TV, divers are always running into
sharks or eels. Are marine animals really much of a
concern?
Virtually all aquatic animals are passive or timid.
There are a few that can bite or sting defensively, but
you can avoid these simply by watching where you put your
hands and feet, and by not touching any animal you don't
recognize. Divers aren't natural prey for sharks, so shark
attacks are very rare. Shark attacks are especially rare
in the Caribbean.
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- Is
scuba diving dangerous?
Recreational diving is very safe. Statistics show that recreational
scuba diving is about as safe as swimming or bowling. Certainly
there are potential hazards - which is why you need training and
certification - but like driving a car, as long as you follow the
rules and use common sense, it's pretty safe. We have never had
an accident in the 11 years we have been in business. Unlike many
other certifying agencies, PADI has designed their diving courses
around the average person like you and me, not the ex-navy seal.
The majority of diving injuries come from divers attempting technical
dives for which they really aren't trained.
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- I
need vision correction. Is that a problem?
Not at all. If you wear soft contact lenses, you shouldn't have
problems wearing them when you dive. If you wear hard lenses, you'll
want the gas permeable type for diving. Your eye doctor can help
you check whether your hard lenses are of the right type. Another
option is to have prescription lenses put into your mask (see our
Retail Page). Remember underwater objects are magnified 25%.
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- Scuba
diving sounds exciting, but I'm not sure if it's for
me. Can I try it without signing up for a course?
Absolutely. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program
allows you to make a shallow scuba dive supervised by a
PADI Instructor to familiarize you with the equipment and
basic diving techniques. You can do this in a few hours.
If you like it, the Discover Program counts as your first
lesson in the Open Water Certification Program.
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- What
is PADI?
PADI is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors,
the largest scuba training organization in the world. PADI
develops scuba programs, diver training products, monitors
the scuba training conducted by more than 67,000 PADI professionals
worldwide, maintains diver certification records and issues
diver certification credentials. In addition, PADI maintains
various support services for PADI Dive Centers and Resorts.
Founded in 1966, today you'll find PADI professionals in
more than 170 countries and territories, and international
service offices in nine countries. Approximately seven
out of ten North American divers are certified by PADI,
and approximately 55% of all divers worldwide are certified
by PADI.
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- I'm
already a scuba diver. I lost my certification card.
Can I get another one? How long does it take?
If you are a PADI diver, we can help you replace your
card. It generally takes about two weeks. If you plan to
dive sooner, we can call PADI to determine if you are certified.
You can also expedite the process by calling PADI directly
(1/800 SAYPADI). The replacement card requires a new picture
ID and $20.00.
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- I'm
a certified diver through another training organization.
How can I become a PADI diver?
It's easy. After an initial assessment of your skills
and diving knowledge, we will guide you into the course
for which you are most qualified. Generally speaking, to
enroll in a PADI Advanced Open Water, Advanced Plus or
most PADI Specialty courses, one must have an entry level
scuba certification and documentation of at least four
open water scuba training dives as part of the certification
course you've completed. To enroll in PADI Rescue Diver
course, you must provide a certification beyond entry level
and documentation of at least 20 logged open water scuba
dives. To enroll in a PADI Divemaster course, you must
provide a certification specific to scuba rescue and a
CPR certification and a first aid certification from a
recognized organization.
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