PADI Open Water Course in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the perfect place to learn how to scuba dive, by completing your PADI Open Water Course there will not only allow you to dive some of the best diving in Europe but equally it will fit into a weeks holiday ensuring that you can get some extra dives out of your 7 day holiday, or even 14 days if you have a long trip planned. Scuba diving on the island of Lanzarote is a popular sport however the dive sites are relatively uncrowned. If you have never dived before it may be worth completing a discover scuba dive course to ensure it is what your looking for, most times this 3 hour introduction to diving only buoys a persons excitement about diving.
Certification isn't required, however it is highly recommended, the 20 hour PADI Open Water course (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) can teach the basics of scuba diving across a few day. The PADI Open Water course will instruct students on how to prepare gear, to breathe properly, descend and ascend safely and avoid common dangers. They will also teach you how to clear your mask, use your regulator properly, life-saving tips and much more. Once you have completed the PADI Open Water Course you are an entry-level scuba diver allowing you to dive in an environment under your instructor’s supervision and guidance.
Embarking upon the PADI Open Water Diver Course can lead to a lifetime of great adventures on vacation or around the corner from home. To take part in the PADI Open Water Course you will need to be in good health with no major health problems as well as being comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills (nothing extreme – 200 meter swim at you leisure and a 10 minute float on the surface (any way up)). Mentally you need a mature attitude and the self-discipline to follow the guide-lines and principles required for safe diving.

Lanzarote is a short haul flight from the UK and Ireland, varying from 3-5 hours from all major airports, the island itself is a biosphere reserve and as a result promotes the sustainability of both the island and the surrounding marine life. The minimum ages for scuba certification is 10 for the Junior Open Water (adult supervised diving), and 15 for the Open Water Diver. These certifications show that you successfully completed the course according to the training standards and requirements established by PADI. Dive centres require a person to be a certified diver or in training before they will rent or fill scuba tanks for you, or let you participate in scuba activities. There is a “Discover Scuba Diving” (DSD) program which allows you to dive one day under the direct supervision of an instructor for the experience without the certification but the diving is extremely limited.
The PADI Open Water course consists of 3 segments: Confined water dives, Knowledge development and Open water dives. Each plays an important role in learning to dive. When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). You don't have to be accompanied by a Dive master or Instructor, but can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced PADI Open Water Course and many specialties.
The PADI Open Water course is usually taught over 3 to 5 days, tour operators such as Active Diving (087 123 11 122, http://www.activediving.co.uk) are based in Lanzarote and can offer you courses and guided dives to be pre-booked before you even leave the UK.

The fun begins in the confined water dives, during which you will apply dive principles, and learn and practice dive procedures and skills. You’ll do this either in a swimming pool or in body of water with pool like conditions under your instructor’s guidance and supervision. There are 5 confined water dives that correspond with 5 knowledge development sections.
Knowledge development establishes the principles and basic information that all divers need to have fun diving safely. It’s divided into 5 bite sized segments that you’ll complete primarily on your own time or in the classroom alone by using the PADI Open Water course manual and video to guide you. For each segment your instructor reviews and elaborates on the material, applying what you’re learning to your specific needs and the local dive environment. A short quiz at the end of each section in the manual confirms that you have picked up the information that you need from that section.

At the end of the knowledge development section there is a 50 question examination (in leisurely conditions) which covers all of the 5 knowledge review sections and your instructor will go through this with you for “reinforced” learning.
You’ll make 4 Open Water Dives. Prior to completing your PADI Open Water course, you’ll meet specific learning objectives that you’ll read about in the Open Water Divers manual.

The instructors and students you meet will often have useful suggestions and fascinating stories to tell about the exciting places they've dived. Australia's Barrier Reef, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Caymans, Thailand and dozens more sites around the globe have all been explored.

The PADI Open Water Course is a full entry level certification, once you have passed the course you are qualified to:
• Refill air tanks, rent scuba equipment and other services for scuba diving.
• Plan, conduct and log open water no stop (no decompression) dives when equipped properly and whilst accompanied by a buddy in conditions which you have training and or experience.
• Dive independently (with a certified diving buddy) while applying the knowledge and skills that you learned in this course, within the limits of your dive training and experience......

To find out more about diving holidays and PADI certification across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on the PADI Open Water course