SCUBA DIVING HOLIDAYS - INSTRUCTIONS - LEARN TO DIVE

Learn to Dive & Skill Development

To provide balance in our lives we need an escape, something to breathe life into our free-time, Learn to Dive! From the moment you don dive gear and take your first breaths below the surface you start on an adventure into an underwater world. In this world there is the amazing freedom of weightlessness. It's also a world of variety with something new to prick your curiosity on every dive; the amazing colours of coral reefs; spectacular marine life; mysterious sunken ships; exhilaration drift dives. As a Newly Qualified Diver there are new skills to develop and new people to meet and share your experiences with. From your first underwater breaths you'll be hooked.

As you read on click on the links to find out more about the courses and on which holidays they are offered. If this seems quite daunting just pick up the phone, call us and we'll guide you through your options.

Learn to Dive

The most important consideration when learning to dive is safety, but running a close second is having fun.

Virtually anyone can learn to dive, so long as they're reasonably fit, in good health and comfortable in the water. If you just want to try diving you can discover scuba diving in the company of an instructor. Its not exclusively for adults either. Kids from 10 years old can Learn to Dive and from 8 they can try diving with a Bubblemaker experience.

An entry level Learn to Dive course is the first step in developing diving skills and gaining a recognised diver qualification that'll allow you to dive around the world. There are three parts to learning to dive; Theory where you learn the ‘why’ of scuba diving; Confined Water Dives introduce real skills learnt in a pool or similar environment; Open Water Dives where you apply and demonstrate the theory and skills you have learnt.

There are lots of Diver Training Systems and Learn to Dive courses the most popular, and widely recognised, is the PADI Open Water course, which takes around 5 days to complete. If that is too long try the shorter Scuba Diver course. These two form the entry level into the PADI system of diver training . Other diver training organisations and Clubs

Inline with Planet's philosophy of flexible holiday planning we offer a choice of alternatives to complete your course either entirely during your holiday or by doing some parts in the UK before you depart.

Newly Qualified Divers

Learning to Dive doesn't stop after a Learn to Dive course. On a Planet Dive holiday as a Newly Qualified Diver you can safely develop your diving skills with an advanced course. Rescue techniques and developing your ability to identify potential hazards are essential skills in ensuring your safety in the water.

Special Interest Diving

Whether you are newly certified or have hundreds of dives logged short Skill Development Courses can provide the perfect introduction to a variety of exciting diving experiences under the guidance of a qualified instructor.

Enhance your enjoyment of the underwater world and develop your knowledge of a special interest. Perhaps your interests lie in diving on ship wrecks? Diving at night? Drifting in the current? Why not dive with a computer? Learn underwater digital photography? Dive on Nitrox? You can learn to do all these and more. PADI's range of Speciality Courses are offered on many of our Land Based and Liveaboard holidays.

Taking it to a higher level choose an Escorted Workshop for a diving holiday in the company of a small group of like-minded buddies, escorted by experts in their field. Workshops including 'Wreck Exploration', 'Marine Awareness' and 'Photo' or 'Video' workshops as well as 'Technical' workshops for experienced divers venturing beyond simply scuba

Safety in the Water

On most of our Land Based holidays we offer the PADI Rescue Diver course during which you'll develop your overall competency and safety in the water up to a level required to dive safely without the support of a professional instructor-guide or in the company of less experienced divers. The Emergency First Response and Emergency Oxygen Provider Courses complement the Rescue Diver Course fully developing your safety skills.

To further develop your leadership skills you could consider becoming a Divemaster which, if you choose, is the first step towards becoming a recreational diving professional

Course Details: PADI Scuba Diver & PADI Junior Scuba Diver

Course Overview

Want to learn to dive but short on time or perhaps you don't want to devote too much holiday time to a course?

The PADI Scuba Diver course is the first ‘entry level’ qualification from PADI. It’s taken from the PADI Open Water course (see below) with three knowledge development sessions, three confined water sessions and two open water dives. If you’ve already completed a try dive like the PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience it may also be credited towards completion of these courses. Throughout the course, you will learn the basics of scuba diving, including diving skills and the theory behind them. For those aged 10-12 years the Junior Scuba Diver is essentially the same course but with some restrictions on your diving once qualified.

On successful completion of the PADI Scuba Diver course, you'll be certified to dive under the supervision of a PADI Divemaster or above, to a depth of 12m. Following a little further training, within 12 months, the qualification can be upgraded to the full PADI Open Water certificate (or, if still aged 10-12 years, to the PADI Junior Open Water Diver)

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Anyone 10 years or over looking for an entry-level dive qualification but with limited time.
• How much does it cost: Please refer to the individual holiday guides as prices vary depending on the resort and dive centre. Certification is normally charged for separately (aprox £25) on successful completion of the course.
• Qualification Required: You need to be able to swim and will be required to complete, and sign a PADI Release Statement and the PADI Medical Statement prior to commencing the training.
• Equipment Required: Equipment is generally included in the cost of the course.
• Materials Required: You will require a Crew Pack which including the PADI Open Water Manual. It is advisable to start learning as soon as possible so we recommend you purchase the crew pack at the same time you book your course.
• Duration: 2-3 days

Where is the PADI Scuba Diver Course available?

The PADI Scuba Diver Course is available on many of our Land Based holidays

How can I continue the adventure?

Now that you know how much fun and how easy diving can be you need to get fully qualified by upgrading to the full PADI Open Water Diver qualificiation. If you are 10-12 years old this would be the PADI Junior Open Water.

Course Details: PADI Open Water Diver & Junior Open Water Diver

Course Overview

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the way, most of, the world learns to dive.

There are Three elements in learning to dive; Five Knowledge Development modules where you learn the ‘why’ of scuba diving; Five Confined Water Dives introduce real skills learnt in a pool or similar environment; Four Open Water Dives where you apply and demonstrate the theory and skills you’ve learnt. The PADI Open Water course is performance based meaning the intention is for you to acquire the necessary skills and instructors work to help develop your skills in order that you might achieve this.

The excellent course materials and its flexible design allows you to find a schedule that best suits the way you learn and the time you have available. You may have heard the terms PADI Open Water Diver Referral, PADI Open Water Fastrack, PADI Open Water Express, PADI Open Water Diver E-learning, in essence they are all forms of the same thing. Inline with Planet's philosophy of flexible holiday planning we offer a choice of alternatives to complete your course. This might mean completing the entire course during your holiday or just the Open water Dives in resort after: completing theory and confined skills with a UK based instructor; completing the theory at home via e-learning or self study and confined dives in the UK or on holiday.

If this all seems complicated or daunting there's a simple solution. Just pick up the phone, give us a call and let us guide you through your options.

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Anyone 10 years or over looking for an entry-level dive qualification.
• How much does it cost: Please refer to the individual holiday guides as prices vary depending on the resort and dive centre. Certification is normally charged for separately (aprox £25) on successful completion of the course.
• Qualification Required: Good health, reasonable fitness and comfortable in the water. You need to be able to swim 200m and tread water for 2 minutes. You’ll also be required to complete, and sign a PADI Release Statement and the PADI Medical Statement prior to commencing the training.
• Equipment Required: Equipment is generally included in the cost of the course.
• Materials Required: You will require a Crew Pack which including the PADI Open Water Manual, video or DVD. It is advisable to start learning as soon as possible so we recommend you purchase the crew pack at the same time you book your course.
• Duration: Generally 4-5 days but depends on chosen method of completion.

Where is the PADI Open Water Diver & Junior Open Water Diver Course available?

The PADI Open Diver Course & Junior Open Water Diver are available on many of our Land Based holidays

How can I continue the adventure?

Now that you are a Newly Qualified Diver you can go out and dive but we recommend that you continue your training with some further instruction, like the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. If you are between 10-12 years you will qualify as a PADI Junior Advanced Open Water. Alternatively you might get some in depth experience through a speciality course like the PADI Boat Diver or PADI Night Diver courses.

Course Details: PADI Advanced & Junior Advanced Open Water Diver

Course Overview

Though the term 'Advanced' seems to set the bar high you can go straight into it the course directly after completing a Learn to Dive course like the PADI Open Water Diver. Theses course helps you increase your confidence and develop your diving skills so you can become more comfortable and confident in the water. It is a great way to get more dives under your belt while continuing to learn under the supervision of your instructor.

This course builds on what you’ve learned and develops new capabilities by introducing you to new activities and new ways to have fun scuba diving. If you only have time for 3 dives you can complete the Adventure Diver course, later adding two more dives to upgrade to the full Advanced Open Water diver course.

Of the 5 dives in the full PADI Advanced Open Water course one will be the Underwater Navigation dive and a Deep dive (typically between 18-30 meters). You and your instructor will choose the other 3 from 15 different Adventure Dives. You might try your hand at digital underwater photography, wreck diving, night diving, peak performance buoyancy...

What's more each dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course may credit toward the first dive of the corresponding PADI Specialty Diver course.

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Anyone 12 years or over, or 10 years for the shorter Adventure Diver.
• How much does it cost: Please refer to the individual holiday guides as prices vary depending on the resort and dive center. Certification is normally charged for separately (aprox £25) on successful completion of the course.
• Qualification Required: PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certification or equivalent. You’ll also be required to complete, and sign a PADI Release Statement and the PADI Medical Statement prior to commencing the training.
• Equipment Required: Equipment is not generally included in the cost of the course.
• Materials Required: You will require a Crew Pack which including PADI’s Adventures in Diving Manual and video or DVD. It is advisable to start learning as soon as possible so we recommend you purchase the crew pack at the same time you book your course.
• Duration: Generally 2 days but depends on chosen method of completion.

Where is the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver & Junior Advanced Open Water Diver Course available?

The PADI Advanced Open Water & Junior Advanced Open Water courses are available on many of our Land Based holidays.

How can I continue the adventure?

If you have the PADI Adventure Diver certification then complete 2 more qualifying dives to upgrade to the full Advanced Open Water. If you enjoyed one particular dive during the course why not go on to complete the full speciality. Your dives in the Advanced course credit toward the first dive of the corresponding PADI Specialty Diver course. Or go straight onto the PADI Rescue Diver Course.

Course Details: PADI Multilevel Diver Speciality

Course Overview

Maximize your dive time so you can explore more!

In this course, you learn how to plan dives that extend your bottom time by crediting you for slower nitrogen absorption when you ascend to a shallower depth. That’s the way you really dive, after all... 

This is a great way to learn how to make multilevel dives (different depths on the same dive) even if you forget to bring your dive computer. You'll learn what multilevel diving is and why you want to plan for multilevel dives to maximise your potential, no stop, dive time. You'll also get to see the various types of multilevel dive calculators (including dive computers), as well as learning about multilevel dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques, and potential problems. You'll plan multilevel dive profiles and dive them with your Instructor.

If this sounds complicated there's a simple solution. Just pick up the phone, give us a call and let us guide you through your options.

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Anyone 12 years or over.
• How much does it cost: Please refer to the individual holiday guides as prices vary depending on the resort and dive center. Certification is normally charged for separately (aprox £25) on successful completion of the course.
• Qualification Required: Good health, reasonable fitness and comfortable in the water. You need to sign a PADI Release Statement and the PADI Medical Statement prior to commencing the training.
• Equipment Required: Normal dive equipment which may be hired locally from most dive centers
• Materials Required: You will require an electronic Recreational Dive Planner (eRDP). It is advisable to start learning as soon as possible so we recommend you purchase the crew pack at the same time you book your course.
• Duration: Generally 1 day but depends on your dive center.

Where is the PADI Multilevel Diver Speciality Course available?

The PADI  Multilevel Diver Speciality is available on many of our Land Based and Liveaboard holidays.

How can I continue the adventure?

We recommend that you continue your training with the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. If you are between 10-12 years you will qualify as a PADI Junior Advanced Open Water. Alternatively you might get some in depth experience through a speciality course like the PADI Boat Diver or PADI Night Diver courses.

A family diving holiday is an amazing way to spend time with your loved ones, Whether everyone is exploring the fascinating world underwater, where you can see amazing marines life, stunning coral, and interesting ship wrecks. Or perhaps you are a mixed family with divers and non-divers.

Course Details: PADI Boat Diver Speciality

Course Overview

Maximize your dive time so you can explore more!

Whether you’ve never made a boat dive or you’ve logged dozens, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty course can benefit almost every travelling diver because procedures for diving from different boats in different parts of the world differ. Diving from a boat is fun, and allows you access to sites that may not be accessible from shore.

Learn the tips, tricks and ways to Dive from boats ranging from small inflatable’s to giant liveaboards and how they might differ from place to place. You will gain experience and training from diving on boats in your local area or dive destination. You will receive instruction on how to safely enter and exit the water. Sometimes it might be better to hand your gear up to the crew and then climb in the boat, sometimes you just take off your fins and weights and walk up the ladder. How should you stow your gear in the most appropriate areas; how to use surface lines to initiate or conclude your dives; how to locate basic boat safety equipment.

If this all seems daunting there's a simple solution. Just pick up the phone, give us a call and let us guide you through your options.

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Anyone 10 years or over.
• How much does it cost: Please refer to the individual holiday guides as prices vary depending on the resort and dive centre. Certification is normally charged for separately (aprox £25) on successful completion of the course.
• Qualification Required: Good health, reasonable fitness and comfortable in the water. You need to sign a PADI Release Statement and the PADI Medical Statement prior to commencing the training.
• Equipment Required: Normal dive equipment which may be hired locally from most dive centres
• Materials Required: Boat Diver Manual and video. It is advisable to start learning as soon as possible so we recommend you purchase the crew pack at the same time you book your course.
• Duration: Generally 1 day but depends on your dive centre.

Where is the PADI Boat Diver Speciality available?

The PADI Boat Diver Speciality is available on many of our Land Based and Liveaboard holidays.

How can I continue the adventure?

We recommend that you continue your training with the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. If you are between 10-12 years you will qualify as a PADI Junior Advanced Open Water. Alternatively you might get some in depth experience through a speciality course like the PADI Multilevel Diver or PADI Night Diver courses.

Course Details: PADI Night Diver Speciality

Course Overview

As the sun sets, you don your dive gear, slip on your scuba mask and bite down on your dive regulator. A deep breath and you step off the boat – into the underwater night. Although you’ve seen this reef many times before, this time you drop into a whole new world and watch it come to life under the glow of your dive light. Introduce yourself to a whole new cast of marine wildlife that wakes after the sun goes down. See your favourite dive sites from a whole new perspective at night.

If this all seems daunting there's a simple solution. Just pick up the phone, give us a call and let us guide you through your options.

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Anyone 12 years or over.
• How much does it cost: Please refer to the individual holiday guides as prices vary depending on the resort and dive centre. Certification is normally charged for separately (aprox £25) on successful completion of the course.
• Qualification Required: Good health, reasonable fitness and comfortable in the water. You need to sign a PADI Release Statement and the PADI Medical Statement prior to commencing the training.
• Equipment Required: Normal dive equipment which may be hired locally from most dive centres
• Materials Required: Night Diver Manual and DVD. It is advisable to start learning as soon as possible so we recommend you purchase the crew pack at the same time you book your course.
• Duration: Generally 1 day but depends on your dive centre.

Where is the PADI Night Diver Speciality available?

The PADI Night Diver Speciality is available on many of our Land Based and Liveaboard holidays.

How can I continue the adventure?

We recommend that you continue your training with the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. If you are between 10-12 years you will qualify as a PADI Junior Advanced Open Water. Alternatively you might get some in depth experience through a speciality course like the PADI Boat Diver or PADI Multilevel Diver courses.

Technical Diving, also known as TEC diving or TECH Diving, goes beyond the conventional scope  of recreational diving. This might be reflected in the dive profile as you may dive deeper or dive for longer, or dive in environments where standard scuba divers would not venture. Technical divers require advanced training and to develop their experience safely. They also require specialised equipment and often breathe breathing gases other than compressed air or standard nitrox mixes.

Course Details: PADI Bubblemaker Introductory Dive

Course Overview

Course Summary

• Who’s it for: Kids aged 8-10 years with a sence of adventure
• How much does it cost: Prices vary depending on the resort and dive centre. Please refer to the individual holiday guides
• Qualification Required: Check out the Bubblemaker Statement which a parent will need to complete prior to participation.
• Equipment Required: Equipment is generally included in the cost of the course.
• Materials Required: Materials are generally included in the cost of the course.
• Duration: 1-2 hours

Where is the PADI Bubblemaker Introductory Dive available?

The PADI Bubblemaker Introductory Dive is available on many of our Land Based holidays.

How can I continue the adventure?

After your 10th birthday, you'll be ready to begin your PADI Junior Scuba Diver or PADI Junior Open Water certification that will help you safely continue exploring the underwater world.

Skill Development Clinics in Underwater Photography are designed to help you develop your skills in underwater photography. Clinics are lead by expert, professional, dive guides who have specialist knowledge in getting that perfect shot underwater. They give presentations and provide coaching designed to help you develop your confidence and UW photo skills.

In the holidays listed below we offer escorted workshop style clinics or dive holidays with underwater photo tuition included: