Despite oceans covering around 70% of our planet, this vast realm remains largely unexplored by most. Scuba diving offers a journey to an entirely different world, one that defies comparison to our familiar landscapes. The sensation of weightlessness and the mesmerizing spectacle of corals and marine creatures gliding around create a liberating and freeing experience.
Diving into the depths: Embarking on diving adventures with Colan
Colan’s diving adventures began in 2006 when he dated a woman who introduced him to scuba diving, and he thought it would be fun to learn and dive together. Since then, Colan has combined his passion for travel with exhilarating diving escapades across the globe. His underwater odyssey has led him to remote and exotic corners of the Earth, including the Bahamas, Maldives, Zanzibar, Turks and Caicos, Roatan, Thailand, Egypt and the Red Sea. Closer to home, Colan’s aquatic exploration has taken him to the pristine Waterton Lakes in Alberta, Canada, as well as the coast near Vancouver and Vancouver Island. He even embraced the ultimate chill with an ice dive in the frozen depths of Lake Minnewanka, near Banff, Alberta.
Discovering the underwater world: What scuba diving is like
Scuba diving is relaxing with a weightless drifting feeling. The underwater environment is serene, and peaceful where each movement unfolds in graceful slow motion. Deliberate and unhurried, you navigate through this submerged wonderland, seeking captivating sights that lie beneath the surface.
You don’t have to be an athlete to be able to scuba dive and it does not require a high level of exertion like swimming. Diving is accessible for everyone with a basic level of fitness.
Unveiling the depths: Best places for scuba diving adventures
Every dive site offers a novel and distinct experience, fostering a sense of excitement and exploration as you embark on a fresh adventure into the unknown depths. Each region harbors its own exclusive array of marine life, and each encounter with underwater creatures is a unique and captivating event. Divers might see a particular species in only a single corner of the globe, with the remarkable diversity in our oceans.
Every dive holds its own unique charm, but certain locations hold a special place in Colan’s memory:
One of Colan’s favourite dives was in Thailand because it is a haven for diverse marine life. During a dive, he encountered the elusive sea horse, a remarkable feat, and even caught a glimpse of his first-ever sea snake.
The Bahamas has a multitude of dive sites clustered closely together which allows for multiple dives in a single outing. In the crystalline Atlantic waters, marine life flourishes, and the allure of shipwrecks beckons explorers.
One of the standout moments from Colan’s journey to Egypt and the Red Sea was the awe-inspiring encounter with a massive 6-foot-long, 4-foot-high tuna. In the Red Sea, nature’s wonders appear larger than life itself.
The islands of the Maldives, resemble scenes from a picturesque postcard, with crystal-clear warm waters, pristine white sandy beaches, and a sense of serenity. In the Indian Ocean, Colan’s explorations have brought him face-to-face with enormous marine creatures including sharks, whale sharks, and mesmerizing manta rays.
Beneath the surface: Scuba diving encounters with sharks and marine life
Colan’s first experiences diving alongside sharks were marked by a mix of intimidation and fear. However, he soon realized that sharks and other marine life exhibit little interest in divers. They are often wary of our presence and tend to keep a cautious distance. Interactions between sharks and divers are rare occurrences, largely due to sharks’ innate skill in navigating through the water.
Divers embark on scuba diving adventures not with the intent of interacting with marine life or disrupting the underwater ecosystem, but with the intention of observation and appreciation. Colan’s dives have led him to remarkable encounters with a diverse array of creatures, including majestic whales, graceful manta rays, tranquil turtles, delicate sea horses, elusive snakes, and a kaleidoscope of vividly colored fish. Diving is about respectfully immersing oneself in nature and becoming a silent witness to its beauty and complexity.
Embracing the chill: Cold water diving adventures
Cold water diving requires specialized gear, such as a drysuit or thick wetsuit, sometimes with gloves for protection. It’s a bit more complicated with the extra gear and more demanding and stressful conditions but it is a great environment to hone your diving skills.
Canada boasts an array of remarkable cold water dive sites, particularly on the west coast. There are a treasure trove of experiences from exploring haunting shipwrecks, to venturing into an underwater 737 airplane. Curious and playful sea lions often make an appearance near Vancouver and Vancouver Island. The Pacific Ocean on the western coast of Canada typically hovers around 10 to 12 degrees Celsius (50-54 degrees Fahrenheit). For those seeking the ultimate frigid plunge, the ice-cold waters of Banff, Alberta, reach an icy 0 degrees (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
FAQs
How do I learn to scuba dive and get my Open Water Diver Certification?
1) Try it out first
Go to the website of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and click on the link on the bottom the PADI webpage to find your local dive shop or a nearby resort if you are travelling. Dive shops will offer basic scuba instruction during a “Discover Scuba Diving experience” if you’re trying it out for the first time, you’re not quite ready to commit to the certification course, or if you haven’t had time to complete the full certification yet
During the “Discover Scuba Diving experience”, you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water, learn safety rules, and get an introduction to the skills it takes to scuba dive under the direction of a PADI professional.
2) Get certified
If you enjoyed your “Discover Scuba Diving experience” then the next step is to register for an Open Water Diver certification course. There is an international standard for diving certifications and Professional Association of Diving Instructors | PADI is the largest and most accepted agency for scuba diving certification.
There are three parts to completing your Open Water Diver Certification including knowledge, practice in confined water dives, and open water dives.
Scuba diving certification includes studying diving theory in several modules with topics like dive physics, safety practices, and scuba diving techniques. There is an e-learning option available through PADI for the knowledge part of the training that costs about $250 CDN ($185 USD). E-learning takes about 5-10 hours to complete, and the entire course takes 4-7 days.
Open Water Diver Certification also includes practicing what you have learned in confined water like a swimming pool. You will take your first breaths underwater, learn how to use scuba gear, apply basic scuba diving skills, and use hand signals to communicate.
Scuba diving certification courses are readily available in major cities, offered by local dive shops. The training schedules and costs are established by each individual dive shop. As an aspiring diver, you have the flexibility to choose between two primary paths for certification: completing both training and open water dives in your hometown or opting for a destination-based approach.
Should you decide to undergo certification in a familiar setting, you’ll find the convenience of local options. However, if combining certification with travel appeals to you, resorts with PADI dive shops offer an opportunity to complete your certification away from home. Certification away from home, including in a resort, is usually more expensive and consumes precious vacation time.
Colan adopted a hybrid strategy, where he acquired scuba knowledge and practiced skills over a weekend at home. Then he travelled to St. Lucia, where he completed the final step of his certification—four exhilarating open water dives.
3) Complete your four open water dives
To complete your Open Water Diver certification, you must complete an additional four dives with a certified PADI instructor after you’ve completed your initial knowledge and practice in confined water.
You can complete your four dives in any location, but newer divers often gravitate towards inviting Caribbean destinations like Cancun and Cozumel in Mexico, with warm climates. The west coast of Hawaii is also a popular dive site, offering a stunning backdrop for your first open water dives.
4) Pay your one-time certification fee and purchase your Open Water Certification card
You can become a certified diver in as little as four days and once you have completed the Open Water Diver Certification you can:
- Scuba dive with a partner (without supervision)
- Rent or purchase scuba diving gear
- Book excursions with dive boats and resorts
- Get air fills at local dive shops
Once you’ve paid your one-time certification fee you will get your physical and/or e-certification card.
Check out the PADI website if you want to take more advanced scuba diving training such as free diving or ice diving.
Is scuba diving an expensive sport?
Scuba diving is not a cheap sport.
To be certified through PADI the e-learning modules cost about $250 CDN ($185 USD) and there is an additional cost to complete your practice confined water sessions with a PADI Instructor that is usually in the hundreds of dollars. The cost is determined by your dive shop and depends on class size, location, and whether you need to rent equipment. You will also need to pay for your four open water dives once you are ready and the one-time fee for certification.
After certification, it is recommended that you purchase supplemental insurance through the Divers Alert Network (DAN). Regular medical insurance may exclude scuba diving activities, so it is important to check first to ensure you are covered. Divers Alert Network is a nonprofit organization that provides insurance for divers to cover diving accidents, search and rescue, medical costs, disability, and lost diving equipment. The cost is typically around $100 CDN ($65 USD) per year.
The cost of travel to a scuba diving location can vary widely depending on your starting point and the destination. Once you arrive you may also want to pay a local guide or dive shop to take you out on a dive boat to open water. In many locations you will get two dives in one outing at a cost of approximately $150-250 USD per outing. If you have your own equipment and do not want a guide you can choose to go on your own. In some locations you may also be able to dive from the shore without a boat. Colan recommends that you dive with a guide, even if there is an option to go on your own, as they are most familiar with the area and can show you the best locations and marine life. This will allow you to get the most value for your money in the shortest amount of time.
Equipping for the dive: What gear do you need?
It is recommended that newer divers rent equipment first and try different gear to see what works best before you buy. Dive equipment that you will need to rent, or purchase includes:
- Masks specially made for scuba diving will allow you to see clearly underwater.
- Fins are essential scuba gear to help divers move efficiently through the water.
- Snorkels are used by divers to breathe on the surface without using up the air supply in their tank.
- Buoyancy control device (BCD) is a vest worn by divers to keep a neutral buoyancy underwater and positive buoyancy at the surface.
- Regulator is a device that controls the pressure of breathing gas for diving.
- Wetsuits protect divers from the elements, and they are good for warm water locations. Wetsuits are typically made of neoprene with a layer of water trapped between your body and the suit to keep warm. Wetsuits are very personal in terms of fit.
- Drysuits are a type of exposure suit used to stay completely dry and are much warmer than other suits, so they are ideal for cold water scuba diving. Typically made of vulcanized rubber and foam neoprene material, a drysuit doesn’t let water in so you can wear clothes underneath like a sweatshirt or sweatpants.
- Gloves made of neoprene are often used to scuba dive in colder water, but some diving operators won’t let you wear them so check first.
- Go Pro or underwater housing for a phone or camera is important if you want to take photos underwater. You can buy an underwater housing specially made to protect your phone or camera while scuba diving or buy a Go Pro that has the special housing already. Never use a cover for your phone that is meant for swimming as it will not be sufficient protection while diving.
- Tanks and weights are typically supplied by the dive operator.
Before your first scuba diving practice in the water check with your dive shop what is included in the price of your scuba instruction. During training, some dive shops may require students to provide their own mask, fins and snorkel and this will likely be the first equipment you purchase. You can buy these in any dive shop and take them with you when you go on diving trips in the future. If you already own a mask, fins and snorkel show them to your instructor before your first in water session as some snorkeling masks and fins are inadequate for scuba diving.
If you’ve been diving for a while, it makes sense to purchase your own equipment and there is a great selection of travel ready scuba gear to take with you on dive travel.
What are the minimum requirements and health considerations?
Scuba divers must be at least 10 years old, be able to swim, be medically fit for scuba diving, and be comfortable in the water.
- Divers certified between the ages of 10-14 earn a Junior Diver certification. Junior Open Water Divers automatically become Open Water Divers at age 15.
- During your training you will need to demonstrate that you can float or tread water without aids for 10 minutes and swim 200 metres/yards with no aids or 300 yards with mask, fin, and snorkel.
- Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness and in some countries, you may be required to attend a medical with a physician. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving. People who have had ear surgery or problems with inner ears generally don’t dive well.
Planning your dive travel: How to book scuba diving adventures
If you are travelling to an all-inclusive resort, like Mexico you may have an inhouse dive shop where you can book diving excursions through the resort.
If you are looking for inspiration PADI sends out a monthly magazine to members with information about diving trends, scuba destination guides, liveaboard trips, and cool places to dive.
Colan offers a valuable piece of advice: reach out to dedicated tour companies that specialize in organizing diving vacations. These vacations are designed to seamlessly organize scuba diving adventures. Maduro Dive, is one company Colan personally uses, because of their exceptional service and expertise in arranging diving vacations around the globe.
Scuba diving is a communal pursuit, and as a hobby, it offers divers the opportunity to forge connections while journeying to captivating dive destinations. This shared passion for underwater exploration not only unites like-minded enthusiasts but also fosters an environment where camaraderie and shared experiences thrive.
Additional resources
Professional Association of Diving Instructors | PADI
Join Divers Alert Network (dan.org)
