Importance of Additional Training

A lot of people complete their Open Water (beginner course) and never complete any additional training again. They simply go ‘fun’ diving with their family/ friends or other dive buddies. Although they’re gaining experience they aren’t learning any new skills. The reasons they may not complete additional training are:

1. They aren’t educated by their Instructor about the importance of additional training
2.  They believe they don’t require it
3. They don’t believe it’s worth it i.e. no value for money, to expensive

The team at Scuba World are very fortunate to run a busy dive charter, as well as lead domestic &
international dive trips. This has given the team the opportunity to see a wide variety of divers in the water. The team collectively agree additional training is very important. The reasons it’s important are:

1. Increases your knowledge. Prepares you for certain safety concerns that may be easily avoidable if you have the correct knowledge before you go for a dive.
2. Increases your skills. Having a highly trained, experienced Instructor providing you with valuable real life tips & advice to avoid you running into any problems that may jeopardise your safety and or comfort.
3. Increase your experience. Your highly trained, experienced Instructor will have had numerous dives in the same conditions you’re about to dive in. Most people who try something new (diving or otherwise) are a little nervous (sometimes very nervous). Your Instructor will be with you the whole time. If you have any questions or concerns they’ll be there to answer them for you. This is invaluable when you’re diving deep, at night or in an overhead environment (wrecks & caves).

All of our club member’s complete certain specialties each year to increase their safety and comfort. In most cases they always seem very relaxed, have better air consumption & are more self-reliant than other divers who haven’t completed additional training.

For more information about increasing your safety & comfort while scuba diving through completing additional training visit your local dive shop. Make sure you ask questions like:

1. What specialty courses will increase my safety & comfort? Why?
2. What will each specialty course qualify me to do?
3. Who will be my instructor teaching me this specialty?
4. How many of these specialties have they taught?
5. How many dives have they done using this specialty course skills?
6. Where will we be completing these specialty courses? Boat or Shore? What depth?

Asking questions like these will make sure you’re getting the right Instructor to teach you the right specialty. It’s no wonder you wouldn’t feel like you’re getting value for money if you arrived for your Deep course and you found out the instructor had only completed one Deep course, had minimal experience diving deep and was only taking you diving down to 30 metres when you will be getting certified down to 40 metres.