Lanzarote is a key destination for European Divers, offering a plethora of dive sites from wrecks to lava swim throughs. However for many people the thought of scuba diving is enough to frighten them out of their wits, Clunky clobber, open water, sharks — scuba-diving ticks all of these boxes. However at the same time the draw of the ocean is difficult to ignore, the thought of swimming with dolphins and fish of every colour can draw anyone into a world of mystery and wonder. The padi beginners course
Many people learn whilst on holiday in the Maldives or the Great Barrier Reef however with the increase in cheaper flights to Europe Lanzarote is becoming a more common place for UK travellers to learn to dive. A television presenter for GMTV was one of these people, claiming to be hydro, claustro and sharkophobic she was happy to say “Thanks, but no thanks” when diving was offered to her however with some special persuasion whilst filming in Lanzarote two years ago she gave it a go.
Accosted by the hotel diving instructor she was shown “some the most extraordinary images” taken right in front of her hotel, “it was impossible not to be impressed. Seeing marine life in books and on television is fascinating. Seeing things that are swimming beneath the waves in front of your hotel beach somehow makes them more tangible”. She finally decided to enrol on a padi beginners course.
Before she could see these images in real life there were 3 obstacles she needed to overcome; the fear of open water; a mask and breathing through a tube, and of course, the sharks. The padi beginners course would help her achieve this whilst easing all beginners into the water at their own pace. She was adamant that however much logic told her that great whites do not live in the seas around Mauritius “what if one got blown off course from Cape Town?”. A Life coach, Pete Cohen helped the presenter get to the bottom of her phobias, he simply posed the question: “Were you born with a fear of large expanses of water, small spaces and big fish?” The answer, naturally enough, was no. “You learnt them,” he said. “Picked them up from society and now you simply play them out in your daily life, and scuba- diving brings all three crashing together. You can dive; you just have to unlearn your fears.”
In order to get out the fear of diving it’s most sensible to give snorkelling a go either as part of a padi beginners course or before you enrol, banishing all thoughts of sharks and any threatening ideology. It’s not nearly as scary as you might think, after this an attempt at breathing through full scuba apparatus in a pool would be recommended. There is a lot of gear that comes with scuba diving however learning as part of a padi beginners course you will learn in bite-size chunks in a safe environment.
You will discover that the tank really does supply air evenly just like breathing on land and that the mouthpiece is actually rather comfortable, equally you will learn what to do if your mask becomes dislodged and fills up with water. The instructor of the padi beginners course will always be around to give you guidance and explain how everything works.
Once you have got over those issues as part of your padi beginners course you will then be ready to attempt either an open water dive of a dive within a local lagoon for example if you have a house reef which is particularly common in Egypt. Once you reach the dive site if on boat its likely you will be required to roll back off the boat, this is nowhere near as scary as you might think, once splashing in the water the marine world will become available to you. The first underwater experience in open water is likely to be a memory you will never forget.
Once under the water with the rest of the members of your padi beginners course you will notice the lack of sharks and hungry beasts coming to get you, but you will notice the mesmerizing multi-coloured fish swimming happily past you as if you’re not even there looking more extraordinary than any of Versace’s wilder designs. It is impossible not to be bowled over by the 360degree beauty around you, the intricate coral, the soaring rock structures, the unbelievable eels being cleaned by little prawns, and simply the utter peace of being there, hearing your own rhythmic breathing. The constant concentration on breathing and visual stimulation creates an environment that’s difficult to compete with, highlighting why scuba is so often compared to yoga.
When it gets to the time to ascent, you won’t want to leave – the experience is the most relaxing thing you will ever do and your first thought will be “When can I do it again?”
2 years on the woman once petrified of the ocean and the things in it is a regular visitor to worldwide dive sites, spending Christmas and the summer somewhere different although because of the short flight time from the UK Lanzarote is the most frequented with uncrowded dive sites and a relaxed atmosphere.
To find out more about how you can take part in a padi beginners course across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (22/08/08)
That’s all for now on how you the padi beginners course
Showing posts with label padi beginners course Lanzarote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label padi beginners course Lanzarote. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
PADI advanced course
Marsa Alam, situated on the south of Egypt’s east coast offering the perfect destination for divers to complete their PADI advanced course. The dive sites are located close by for all levels of divers, from beginner’s right up to the deepest technical diver. The sites are uncrowded in comparison to other dive areas such the Great Barrier reef. Equally all of the sites offer great snorkelling possibilities too for those whom are too young to dive or would rather stay close to the surface. Perhaps one of the most magnetic possibilities for scuba diving in Marsa Alam is the possibility of getting up close to one of the most magnificent creatures in the ocean, The Whale Shark.
Found regularly in the red sea and off the coast of South Africa those travelling to complete their PADI advanced course will be most likely to come into contact with one of these amazing creatures. The whale sharks are gentle and often stay around divers for an extended period, showing more interest then fear by our presence.
The "Small Bay of the Market" (Marsa Shouni Soraya) has a distinctive shape offering a variety of dive sites ideal for new and experienced divers alike. There is also a sheltered lagoon where baby eagle rays have been regularly spotted. The signature table corals harbour a massive array of life and its reefs are teeming with shrimps, scorpion fishes and barracuda. The bay has a resident hawksbill turtle and dolphins are regular visitors, Whale sharks are sometimes spotted just outside the bay also.
The PADI advanced course will teach you to navigate during the night and whilst deep diving, you will also have the opportunity to choose from a boat dive, drift dive, dry suit dive, multilevel dive, search and recover dive, underwater naturalist dive, underwater photography dive, wreck diving or an altitude dive as part of your elective training dives.
The PADI advanced course in Marsa Alam is an experience that every diver should go through, the conditions are perfect throughout the year. Sometime around April to May the visibility is greatly reduced due to Plankton Bloom, but if you want to encounter whale sharks you must visit Marsa Alam by the beginning of summer and end of spring. Renowned for its diverse marine life and incredible coral reefs, Marsa Alam is a ruby by the Red Sea. I recently travelled to Marsa as a last minute deal with http://.www.activediving.co.uk I was torn as to whether to visit Dahab or Marsa Alam, for my wanting to see Whale Sharks, Marsa was highly recommended and they didn’t disappoint.
One of the best dives I did in Marsa Alam just after I had completed my PADI advanced course was when four massive whale sharks chased a huge bait ball that stretched from 5 metres depth down to 22 metres. Young fish, when threatened, can sometimes be corralled by predators into a tight swirling ball that is forced to the surface in order to permit easy pickings - Large bait balls can turn the sea black. There are many who will swear that the 30th July 2008 saw the best days diving that they have ever experienced. Whale sharks can grow up to 12 metres in length, these were between 5 and 8 metres.
It is assumed that this years exceptionally prolific plankton bloom in the northern Red Sea has brought whale sharks to the area in much larger numbers than in living memory. On the same day whale sharks were also seen just off the beach in Taba - at the northern extremity of the Red Sea. There have also been many more sightings of plankton-eating manta rays than in previous years. These sightings have mainly been on the local sites rather than those further away in Tiran or Ras Mohammed.
Natalie from Red Sea Diving College said "it was an amazing underwater event, with tuna darting into the bait ball... the whale sharks were all around us and at one point I was in the vortex of the bait ball with millions of fish around me - it was as if the heavens had darkened."
Throughout the year the average temperature remains in its thirties and forties. While the hottest month is August, the coolest month is January with temperature dipping during the night. Generally windy, Marsa Alam witnesses a rough sea during November and the waves at times might be large. Featuring prominently in the tourist map of the world, Marsa Alam is fast becoming a hot spot for all tourists and divers alike looking to complete their PADI advanced course or begin diving altogether.
There are plenty of excellent diving sites and some thrilling drop offs once you have completed your PADI advanced course. Some of the most popular dive sites from Marsa Alam include:
- Samadai: This is a crescent shaped offshore reef that is also known as the Dolphin House because you can find plenty of dolphins in the sheltered waters of the lagoon. Seeing the feats of the spinner dolphins can be quite exciting!
- Abu Dabab: If Samadai is the place to see dolphins, then Abu Dabab is famous for the dugongs. It's really a pleasure to watch these dugongs playing around.
- Elphinstone Reef: This site may be a bit dangerous for the inexperienced swimmers. The currents are strong enough and for those who are seeking for some real adventure this would be the - red sea dream dive!
To find out more about completing your PADI advanced course in Dahab, Lanzarote or South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (06/09/08)
That’s all for now on completing your PADI advanced course
Found regularly in the red sea and off the coast of South Africa those travelling to complete their PADI advanced course will be most likely to come into contact with one of these amazing creatures. The whale sharks are gentle and often stay around divers for an extended period, showing more interest then fear by our presence.
The "Small Bay of the Market" (Marsa Shouni Soraya) has a distinctive shape offering a variety of dive sites ideal for new and experienced divers alike. There is also a sheltered lagoon where baby eagle rays have been regularly spotted. The signature table corals harbour a massive array of life and its reefs are teeming with shrimps, scorpion fishes and barracuda. The bay has a resident hawksbill turtle and dolphins are regular visitors, Whale sharks are sometimes spotted just outside the bay also.
The PADI advanced course will teach you to navigate during the night and whilst deep diving, you will also have the opportunity to choose from a boat dive, drift dive, dry suit dive, multilevel dive, search and recover dive, underwater naturalist dive, underwater photography dive, wreck diving or an altitude dive as part of your elective training dives.
The PADI advanced course in Marsa Alam is an experience that every diver should go through, the conditions are perfect throughout the year. Sometime around April to May the visibility is greatly reduced due to Plankton Bloom, but if you want to encounter whale sharks you must visit Marsa Alam by the beginning of summer and end of spring. Renowned for its diverse marine life and incredible coral reefs, Marsa Alam is a ruby by the Red Sea. I recently travelled to Marsa as a last minute deal with http://.www.activediving.co.uk I was torn as to whether to visit Dahab or Marsa Alam, for my wanting to see Whale Sharks, Marsa was highly recommended and they didn’t disappoint.
One of the best dives I did in Marsa Alam just after I had completed my PADI advanced course was when four massive whale sharks chased a huge bait ball that stretched from 5 metres depth down to 22 metres. Young fish, when threatened, can sometimes be corralled by predators into a tight swirling ball that is forced to the surface in order to permit easy pickings - Large bait balls can turn the sea black. There are many who will swear that the 30th July 2008 saw the best days diving that they have ever experienced. Whale sharks can grow up to 12 metres in length, these were between 5 and 8 metres.
It is assumed that this years exceptionally prolific plankton bloom in the northern Red Sea has brought whale sharks to the area in much larger numbers than in living memory. On the same day whale sharks were also seen just off the beach in Taba - at the northern extremity of the Red Sea. There have also been many more sightings of plankton-eating manta rays than in previous years. These sightings have mainly been on the local sites rather than those further away in Tiran or Ras Mohammed.
Natalie from Red Sea Diving College said "it was an amazing underwater event, with tuna darting into the bait ball... the whale sharks were all around us and at one point I was in the vortex of the bait ball with millions of fish around me - it was as if the heavens had darkened."
Throughout the year the average temperature remains in its thirties and forties. While the hottest month is August, the coolest month is January with temperature dipping during the night. Generally windy, Marsa Alam witnesses a rough sea during November and the waves at times might be large. Featuring prominently in the tourist map of the world, Marsa Alam is fast becoming a hot spot for all tourists and divers alike looking to complete their PADI advanced course or begin diving altogether.
There are plenty of excellent diving sites and some thrilling drop offs once you have completed your PADI advanced course. Some of the most popular dive sites from Marsa Alam include:
- Samadai: This is a crescent shaped offshore reef that is also known as the Dolphin House because you can find plenty of dolphins in the sheltered waters of the lagoon. Seeing the feats of the spinner dolphins can be quite exciting!
- Abu Dabab: If Samadai is the place to see dolphins, then Abu Dabab is famous for the dugongs. It's really a pleasure to watch these dugongs playing around.
- Elphinstone Reef: This site may be a bit dangerous for the inexperienced swimmers. The currents are strong enough and for those who are seeking for some real adventure this would be the - red sea dream dive!
To find out more about completing your PADI advanced course in Dahab, Lanzarote or South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (06/09/08)
That’s all for now on completing your PADI advanced course
Sunday, August 31, 2008
padi beginners course Lanzarote
Lanzarote is a key destination for European Divers, offering a plethora of dive sites from wrecks to lava swim throughs. However for many people the thought of scuba diving is enough to frighten them out of their wits, Clunky clobber, open water, sharks — scuba-diving ticks all of these boxes. However at the same time the draw of the ocean is difficult to ignore, the thought of swimming with dolphins and fish of every colour can draw anyone into a world of mystery and wonder. The padi beginners course
Many people learn whilst on holiday in the Maldives or the Great Barrier Reef however with the increase in cheaper flights to Europe Lanzarote is becoming a more common place for UK travellers to learn to dive. A television presenter for GMTV was one of these people, claiming to be hydro, claustro and sharkophobic she was happy to say “Thanks, but no thanks” when diving was offered to her however with some special persuasion whilst filming in Lanzarote two years ago she gave it a go.
Accosted by the hotel diving instructor she was shown “some the most extraordinary images” taken right in front of her hotel, “it was impossible not to be impressed. Seeing marine life in books and on television is fascinating. Seeing things that are swimming beneath the waves in front of your hotel beach somehow makes them more tangible”. She finally decided to enrol on a padi beginners course.
Before she could see these images in real life there were 3 obstacles she needed to overcome; the fear of open water; a mask and breathing through a tube, and of course, the sharks. The padi beginners course would help her achieve this whilst easing all beginners into the water at their own pace. She was adamant that however much logic told her that great whites do not live in the seas around Mauritius “what if one got blown off course from Cape Town?”. A Life coach, Pete Cohen helped the presenter get to the bottom of her phobias, he simply posed the question: “Were you born with a fear of large expanses of water, small spaces and big fish?” The answer, naturally enough, was no. “You learnt them,” he said. “Picked them up from society and now you simply play them out in your daily life, and scuba- diving brings all three crashing together. You can dive; you just have to unlearn your fears.”
In order to get out the fear of diving it’s most sensible to give snorkelling a go either as part of a padi beginners course or before you enrol, banishing all thoughts of sharks and any threatening ideology. It’s not nearly as scary as you might think, after this an attempt at breathing through full scuba apparatus in a pool would be recommended. There is a lot of gear that comes with scuba diving however learning as part of a padi beginners course you will learn in bite-size chunks in a safe environment.
You will discover that the tank really does supply air evenly just like breathing on land and that the mouthpiece is actually rather comfortable, equally you will learn what to do if your mask becomes dislodged and fills up with water. The instructor of the padi beginners course will always be around to give you guidance and explain how everything works.
Once you have got over those issues as part of your padi beginners course you will then be ready to attempt either an open water dive of a dive within a local lagoon for example if you have a house reef which is particularly common in Egypt. Once you reach the dive site if on boat its likely you will be required to roll back off the boat, this is nowhere near as scary as you might think, once splashing in the water the marine world will become available to you. The first underwater experience in open water is likely to be a memory you will never forget.
Once under the water with the rest of the members of your padi beginners course you will notice the lack of sharks and hungry beasts coming to get you, but you will notice the mesmerizing multi-coloured fish swimming happily past you as if you’re not even there looking more extraordinary than any of Versace’s wilder designs. It is impossible not to be bowled over by the 360degree beauty around you, the intricate coral, the soaring rock structures, the unbelievable eels being cleaned by little prawns, and simply the utter peace of being there, hearing your own rhythmic breathing. The constant concentration on breathing and visual stimulation creates an environment that’s difficult to compete with, highlighting why scuba is so often compared to yoga.
When it gets to the time to ascent, you won’t want to leave – the experience is the most relaxing thing you will ever do and your first thought will be “When can I do it again?”
2 years on the woman once petrified of the ocean and the things in it is a regular visitor to worldwide dive sites, spending Christmas and the summer somewhere different although because of the short flight time from the UK Lanzarote is the most frequented with uncrowded dive sites and a relaxed atmosphere.
To find out more about how you can take part in a padi beginners course across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (22/08/08)
That’s all for now on how you the padi beginners course
Many people learn whilst on holiday in the Maldives or the Great Barrier Reef however with the increase in cheaper flights to Europe Lanzarote is becoming a more common place for UK travellers to learn to dive. A television presenter for GMTV was one of these people, claiming to be hydro, claustro and sharkophobic she was happy to say “Thanks, but no thanks” when diving was offered to her however with some special persuasion whilst filming in Lanzarote two years ago she gave it a go.
Accosted by the hotel diving instructor she was shown “some the most extraordinary images” taken right in front of her hotel, “it was impossible not to be impressed. Seeing marine life in books and on television is fascinating. Seeing things that are swimming beneath the waves in front of your hotel beach somehow makes them more tangible”. She finally decided to enrol on a padi beginners course.
Before she could see these images in real life there were 3 obstacles she needed to overcome; the fear of open water; a mask and breathing through a tube, and of course, the sharks. The padi beginners course would help her achieve this whilst easing all beginners into the water at their own pace. She was adamant that however much logic told her that great whites do not live in the seas around Mauritius “what if one got blown off course from Cape Town?”. A Life coach, Pete Cohen helped the presenter get to the bottom of her phobias, he simply posed the question: “Were you born with a fear of large expanses of water, small spaces and big fish?” The answer, naturally enough, was no. “You learnt them,” he said. “Picked them up from society and now you simply play them out in your daily life, and scuba- diving brings all three crashing together. You can dive; you just have to unlearn your fears.”
In order to get out the fear of diving it’s most sensible to give snorkelling a go either as part of a padi beginners course or before you enrol, banishing all thoughts of sharks and any threatening ideology. It’s not nearly as scary as you might think, after this an attempt at breathing through full scuba apparatus in a pool would be recommended. There is a lot of gear that comes with scuba diving however learning as part of a padi beginners course you will learn in bite-size chunks in a safe environment.
You will discover that the tank really does supply air evenly just like breathing on land and that the mouthpiece is actually rather comfortable, equally you will learn what to do if your mask becomes dislodged and fills up with water. The instructor of the padi beginners course will always be around to give you guidance and explain how everything works.
Once you have got over those issues as part of your padi beginners course you will then be ready to attempt either an open water dive of a dive within a local lagoon for example if you have a house reef which is particularly common in Egypt. Once you reach the dive site if on boat its likely you will be required to roll back off the boat, this is nowhere near as scary as you might think, once splashing in the water the marine world will become available to you. The first underwater experience in open water is likely to be a memory you will never forget.
Once under the water with the rest of the members of your padi beginners course you will notice the lack of sharks and hungry beasts coming to get you, but you will notice the mesmerizing multi-coloured fish swimming happily past you as if you’re not even there looking more extraordinary than any of Versace’s wilder designs. It is impossible not to be bowled over by the 360degree beauty around you, the intricate coral, the soaring rock structures, the unbelievable eels being cleaned by little prawns, and simply the utter peace of being there, hearing your own rhythmic breathing. The constant concentration on breathing and visual stimulation creates an environment that’s difficult to compete with, highlighting why scuba is so often compared to yoga.
When it gets to the time to ascent, you won’t want to leave – the experience is the most relaxing thing you will ever do and your first thought will be “When can I do it again?”
2 years on the woman once petrified of the ocean and the things in it is a regular visitor to worldwide dive sites, spending Christmas and the summer somewhere different although because of the short flight time from the UK Lanzarote is the most frequented with uncrowded dive sites and a relaxed atmosphere.
To find out more about how you can take part in a padi beginners course across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (22/08/08)
That’s all for now on how you the padi beginners course
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