Resources / FAQ
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How strong a swimmer do you have to be to dive?
Whenever a person is in an environment in which they are surrounded by water that is too deep to stand up in, they should have basic swimming abilities. This of course is true of scuba diving as well as many other in water activities. For the purposes of entry level scuba training, a person must be able to swim 300m with the aid of mask, fins and snorkel. This is not a timed swim. Participants will also have to be able to tread water for 10 minutes in the deep end.
How cold is the water?
The waters of Vancouver vary slightly in temperature during the various seasons of the year so SCUBA diving can be enjoyed in Greater Vancouver year-round. The truth is that the water can be pretty cold, so diving here in a swimsuit is not an option. To combat the cold, we equip our divers with thick wetsuits or drysuits and full cold water protection so that you are warm and comfortable while diving - be it November or June. You will just have to trust us to do what we do best. We will teach you well, take you diving and keep you warm.
I am a bit shy - do I have to wear a swimsuit in front of everyone in the class?
Not at all. You can wear a swimsuit if you are comfortable, but for those who like a little less exposure, we do have wetsuits for the pool available. They are full length leg and cover the entire torso with the exception of the fact that they are sleeveless. Your arms, feet, hands and face are the only exposed parts - and most people find them pretty flattering.
What is the diving like in Vancouver?
Jacques Cousteau was noted to say that British Columbia is the most beautiful place in the world to dive aside from the Red Sea. Needless to say, Vancouver Island has been internationally renowned by diving and marine life enthusiasts due to the acres of plant life, extensive marine life, tremendous underwater photography, caves, cliffs, underwater parks, accessible wrecks, and brilliant colours. Most people who live here associate diving with a tropical vacation and don't realize just how amazing BC diving really is. It is one of BC's best kept secrets.
Should I take my diving course here in Vancouver or wait until I get to my vacation destination?
We get asked this question several times a day and feel pretty strongly that diving education should be taken here in BC waters before you depart for vacation. Why? the reasons are numerous and compelling.
First, the quality of diver training you receive in a five star cold water facility is far in excess of that which you will receive in a tropical destination. Much like learning to drive in a standard vehicle versus an automatic, learning to dive here just leaves you better equipped for global environments. Better equipped means safer - and where life support is concerned - safety reigns supreme.
Second, tourist destinations generally charge a very large amount of money for training that is inferior to that here at home. In most places, you will spend close to double the cost of a course here in Vancouver. As well, diver training takes a minimum of 3 days that are spent mostly in a classroom and school-like setting. There is little point in traveling to paradise to sit in a classroom. You are better off becoming a certified diver here in town and arriving with your diving licence in hand. This way you can book a dive charter immediately upon arrival and really enjoy your vacation time.
Last and probably most important is that if you are trained in BC you can dive in BC. If you are trained in warmer waters, you would need additional instruction to be able to dive in BC. After getting a taste of diving, we are sure that BC diving is something you will want to explore a bit further.
Is diving expensive?
No, diving does not have to be expensive. Your course tuition is less than $10 an hour and everything is provided in the price so there are no additional expenses or surprises. On completion of the course you will be able to rent gear from us for a dive at a really reasonable IDC client discount. We offer 2-6 month flexible rental packages so diving regularly can be affordable and pretty well customized to you should you want to get out diving semi-regularly. If you do aspire to purchase your own gear we will help you plan out your purchases so that your needs are met while staying within your budget.
How old do you have to be to dive?
There are programs designed for children as young as 5 but they have strict limits as to maximum depth, child to instructor ratios and they must be conducted in a pool. To dive in the ocean, the minimum age is 10 years old. This is not however the average 10 year old. For children wishing to participate in scuba diving, we have a very stringent screening process that allows us to assess their suitability for the demands of the training.
Is diving strenuous?
Diving is not strenuous if it is performed properly and in fact, it can be very low impact and relaxing for the average diver. As with any sport, it us up to you how aggressively you plan your activity level. Diving can be as calming or as adrenaline charged as you decide to make it. Our job is to make sure that during any training activities, you are having fun and not feeling strained by the day's activities. Of course, your personal fitness level is going to play a big part in your level of enjoyment. Experience has shown us that an averagely fit person does just fine on SCUBA and does not feel over-exerted at the end of the day.
What if it takes me a little longer to catch on?
At IDC, our instructional staff knows that each person has their own learning style. Some are immediate fish in the water, while others need more time to become comfortable with certain aspects of the sport. We guarantee that we will do our best to work with your particular needs and do all we can to help you become a certified diver. Class sizes are small to ensure personalized instruction and private training is available at any time for those who would like to dictate the pace of their training and apply more practice to areas that may be more challenging.
Is the theory hard?
The purpose of the theory portion of the course is to ensure that diving students are knowledgeable in their chosen recreation. The program includes regular lectures from your PADI Dive Instructor along with theory portions supplemented by a comprehensive video and instruction manual. The scuba diving theory is informative, easily grasped and well presented by qualified staff, so the average person has complete success throughout the theory requirements. Of course, if there are any challenging areas - we are always here to help, and we're pretty good at teaching after all these years.
What courses are offered that will fit my particular schedule?
We offer evening and weekend courses that are in a group format regularly scheduled throughout the year. In addition, we offer private courses that can be almost completely tailored to your schedule. Can you only spare a friday evening after work, or a couple of hours on a saturday morning?? no worries - we have a large educational staff and can teach any day of the week at almost any time. We have a full time course coordinator on staff who spends many hours each week coordinating training for busy people. Give us a call or an email and we can work with your schedule to get you diving before you leave for vacation and miss out on some great fun and adventure.
Please feel free to call us anytime at the International Diving Centre, we welcome your questions and would like to help ease any concerns you may have about scuba diving.
