CHALLENGE YOURSELF
If you're curious about scuba diving then why not come along one Thursday and have a 'Try-A-Dive' or a DSD - 'Discover Scuba Diving' session with us in Tewkesbury School swimming pool... you could then enrol on an Open Water Diver course if you decide you want to learn how to scuba dive!
Try scuba diving...
Are you curious about scuba diving? Always wanted to learn or have a go and never quite gotten around to it? Tried it once before, a long time ago and wished you'd carried on?
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What's stopping you?
You can learn to scuba dive over a period of days, weeks or even months with InDepth Dive Club. By the end of your training, you will have unlocked the door to the underwater realm and countless new adventures will await you. Experience the 70% of our amazing world that you've literally never seen before!
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Explore shipwrecks and see history lying untouched on the seabed for decades, even hundreds of years! Experience aquatic life up close and personal as seal pups play games with you, have Manta Rays swim overhead and relish in the bubbles from your scuba regulator exhaust and see Whale Sharks, the biggest fish in the ocean, glide gracefully past you as it feeds on the smallest creatures in the sea, plankton.​
Incredible adventures await... Destinations all around the world beckon divers to come and explore.
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And it all starts with a simple 'Try Dive' or 'DSD' - Discover Scuba Diving experience. You can book yours online right now, right HERE. What's stopping you?
It's never too late to learn how to scuba dive, and learning to scuba dive will almost certainly transform your life... for the better!
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We run SAA Try Dives & PADI DSDs (essentially the same thing with a different name) every month, throughout the year. You can BOOK HERE.
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You can treat yourself or a loved one. They make ideal gifts and we can send you one of our Gift Vouchers in the post. Surprise someone special with an unusual gift that will literally change their lives!
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If you think you're ready to learn how to scuba dive then keep reading...
Learn to scuba dive...
Getting started.
Learning to scuba dive starts with club membership!
The best, and by far the cheapest, way for you to get scuba diving is to join the InDepth Dive Club.
Annual club membership is just £39!
The membership year runs from the 1st April to the 31st March each year. Although anyone joining from Christmas onwards in any year will automatically get membership for up to 15 months!
You can Join InDepth Dive Club quickly an easily by clicking 'Join InDepth'.
The sign-up and payment process is very straightforward. The online membership form will capture all the necessary information and take payment, you are then officially a club member and covered by our professional liability insurance.
As soon as you are a club member we can order you the necessary course materials and you can start your training immediately!
Your club membership will also give you access to the club’s swimming pool nights, club social events, trips, holidays, club equipment and significant discounts on scuba equipment purchases as well as access to the club boat.
GIFT VOUCHERS
If you are purchasing a course as a gift for a loved one, we are able to provide you with high quality, personalised, gift vouchers for any course, club membership or monetary value of your choosing. A few examples are detailed below and you can select from others by visiting our 'GIFT VOUCHERS' page.
Learning to scuba dive infographic
The infographic below provides you with a quick visual reference for all of the elements involved in learning to scuba dive with InDepth Dive Club.
Learning to scuba dive - Interactive Brochure
We've created this handy little interactive 'Learning to scuba dive with InDepth Dive Club' brochure that contains the majority of the information detailed further down this page. ​We recommend that you 'put the kettle on' before you start reading, so that you can settle down with a brew and enjoy.
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You can either click the 'fullscreen' icon, bottom right, of the flip book below and then use your mouse cursor to 'flip' through the pages as you read or you can use this DOWNLOAD link and download a copy to your computer. Please be advised that this interactive feature isn't available on the mobile version of our website which most smartphones will access.
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To exit the fullscreen mode of the flip book simply press the 'ESC' key on your keyboard.
Learning to scuba dive with InDepth Dive Club
As a club member, we can offer you either the SAA Elementary Diver or the PADI Open Water course broken down into three affordable chunks.... this is now going to take some detailed explanation, so, first of all...
Put the kettle on!
This is where it now starts to get a bit more complicated...
Hopefully you took the advice above and you’ve got a cuppa? If not, then you probably want to get one now! OK, here goes...
PAPERWORK
There’s a pile of paperwork. About 6 forms in total, all of which will need completing. We will forward these to you should you enrol on a course. They all have to be completed and returned!
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The overall cost of the ‘Open Water Diver’ course is £450.00 and this
is broken down into three affordable payments of £150 each.​
Each payment correlates directly to a specific section of the course. These are:
1. Theory
2. Confined Water Training
3. Open Water Qualifying Dives
The first payment is made when you enrol on the course and it covers the cost of the learning materials and the certification costs charged by the agency.
The 2nd payment is made about a month later when we book the swimming pool for a full day of intensive training and this goes directly towards the costs of hiring the pool. A minimum of 3 students is required to make this financially viable.
The third payment is made when you complete your open water dives over a weekend. These costs go towards the costs associated with running the club, insurance, equipment maintenance, air fills and instructors out of pocket expenses.
PLEASE NOTE: Our instructors and Divemasters all give of their time and expertise freely to club members. They are not paid.
Travel and site entry fees are NOT included in the cost of the course.
1. Scuba Diving Theory
We order the eLearning / manuals, student folders and certification credits from PADI (or the SAA) and get them sent directly to you.
You work your way through the knowledge development at home and complete the quizzes and knowledge reviews.
If you have opted for a physical manual then you will read just one chapter per week and then you will have a Zoom call with your instructor for approximately 2 hours, usually on a Tuesday evening, between 7.30pm-9.30pm to go through the knowledge development. We do this for 5 consecutive weeks with the exam taking place on the final week. (This can be done faster if you choose to read the manual quicker.)
Those who prefer eLearning should read at a similar pace and aim to have completed the theory within 4-5 weeks. Students may NOT progress to the next stage until the theory has been completed.
2. Confined Water (swimming pool) Training.
Learning the skills needed in a safe environment.
Once the theory is completed you can start your pool training. We have a fortnightly pool session at:
Tewkesbury School Swimming Pool - Between: 8.15pm-9.45pm
As a club member you would be welcome, and encouraged, to come along and attend these 'Club Nights'.
We would do your first ‘try dives’ and then, once all the knowledge reviews are completed we would likely do a full day session on top of the evening sessions already done.
We usually run the full day sessions on a Saturday or Sunday at: Thornbury Leisure Centre.
The £150, 2nd payment, would not be due until we commence the pool training. So this breaks the cost up by about a month. These funds are used to pay for the swimming pool hire.
You can find the address details and comprehensive directions on our 'FIND US' page.
WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO BRING?
You will need the following:
1. A £1 coin for the locker
2. Swimming costume
3. A towel
4. Packed lunch
5. Hot drink in a flask
6. Cold drink(s)
7. Warm clothes
8. Completed Paperwork!
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WE RECOMMEND...
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We recommend that you invest in the following:
1. Your own ‘shortie’ wetsuit
2. Your own mask
3. Your own snorkel
Whilst the swimming pool is heated, you will be in the water for most of the day. From about 10.30am - 4.30pm. There will be regular breaks for the bathroom and a lunch break.
You do not need to spend a great deal, a cheap £30 ‘shortie’ is ideal. Available from many supermarkets or online.
Whilst we do provide all equipment for the course, including masks and snorkels, we do recommend that you have your own. Primarily due to Covid. We typically keep a stock of ‘Shadow’ masks and foldable snorkels that we recommend to students. You can purchase these items through our ourwebite. Links below:
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We typically meet at Thornbury Leisure Centre at 9.30am. The first hour is spent doing the equipment set-up and double checking all of the paperwork. You MUST email copies of your paperwork back well in advance AND bring the originals with you!
3. Open Water Training.
Taking what you’ve learnt and putting it all into practice... Qualifying dives!
The third and final section of the course is the open water qualifying dives. These typically take place about a week or two after you have completed all of the Confined Water training.
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The costs here are to cover things like equipment servicing, insurance, breathing gas, O2 and first aid kits and any instructor expenses, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: Travel and entry fees are NOT included in the course fee.
These qualifying dives are typically done at either 'The Lake' at Cromhall Quarry or Vobster Quay. Directions for both can be found on our 'FIND US' page.
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WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
DAY 1 - DIVE 1
Your first ever open water dive will almost certainly be an experience you will never forget!
You will demonstrate ‘Skill Mastery’ of some of the skills that you have already learnt during the Confined Water training. Examples of which include:
1. Dive briefing and review hand signals.
2. Equipment assembly.
3. Pre-dive safety check.
4. Positive buoyancy entry of the water.
5. Weight check.
6. Good surface habits.
7. Snorkel / Regulator exchange.
8. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.)
9. Buoyancy and trim check.
10. Clear partially flooded mask.
11. Regulator recovery and clear.
12. Air (gas) monitoring and awareness.
13. Buddy awareness.
14. Exploration of the dive site / environment awareness.
15. Three minute safety stop.
16. Five point ascent - S.T.E.L.A. (Signal, Time, Elevate, Look-Up, Ascent.)
17. Emergency weight drop.
18. Safe exit from the water.
19. Equipment disassembly and post dive care.
20. Debrief and log dive.
21. Q & A.
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The maximum depth on this dive will be 12 metres.
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There will then be a 1 hour 'surface interval' for lunch.
DAY 1 - DIVE 2
Your second dive will build upon the first, you will demonstrate further skills, a few examples of which include:
1. Dive Planning and briefing.
2. Equipment assembly.
3. Pre-dive safety check.
4. Positive buoyancy entry of the water and good surface habits.
5. Weight and trim check.
6. BCD oral inflation on the surface.
7. Cramp removal on the surface.
8. Tired diver tow on the surface.
9. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.)
10. Buoyancy skills
11. Clear fully flooded mask.
12. Alternate air source use as both donor and receiver.
13. Alternate air source ascent as both donor and receiver.
14. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.)
15. Exploration of the dive site / environment awareness.
16. Good buoyancy control.
17. Air (gas) monitoring and awareness.
18. Buddy awareness.
19. Five point ascent - S.T.E.L.A. (Signal, Time, Elevate, Look-Up, Ascent.)
20. Safe exit from the water.
21. Equipment disassembly and post dive care.
22. Debrief and log dive.
23. Q & A.
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You will also get to explore a little further underwater and, as with dive 1, your maximum depth will be 12 metres.
DAY 2 - DIVE 1
On day two you will get to dive a little deeper, to a maximum of 18 metres.
You will also demonstrate further skills, including:
1. Dive Planning and briefing.
2. Equipment assembly.
3. Pre-dive safety check.
4. Positive buoyancy entry of the water and good surface habits.
5. Weight and trim check.
6. Straight line compass swim on the surface, face in the water, using snorkel.
7. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.)
8. C.E.S.A. (Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent)
9. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.) - Visual reference.
10. Hovering / buoyancy skills - Oral inflate BCD underwater.
11. Mask removal and replace.
12. Underwater compass navigation.
13. Exploration of the dive site / environment awareness.
14. Good buoyancy control.
15. Air (gas) monitoring and awareness. (within 20 bar)
16. Buddy awareness.
17. Safety stop.
18. Five point ascent - S.T.E.L.A. (Signal, Time, Elevate, Look-Up, Ascent.)
19. Safe exit from the water.
20. Equipment disassembly and post dive care.
21. Debrief and log dive.
22. Post dive gas planning exercises.
23. Q & A.
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There will then be a 1 hour 'surface interval' for lunch.
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DAY 2 - DIVE 2
On your final qualifying dive you will get to put everything you have learnt into practice, you will plan and execute your own dive!
You will be expected to brief your dive plan, with gas calculations, and then execute your dive plan, under the supervision of your instructor. Your instructor will be looking to see that you demonstrate skill mastery of the following:
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1. Dive Planning and briefing.
2. Air (gas) planning and briefing.
3. Equipment assembly.
4. Pre-dive safety check.
5. Positive buoyancy entry of the water and good surface habits.
6. Weight and trim check.
7. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.)
8. Exploration of the dive site / environment awareness - Execution of the dive plan.
9. Good buoyancy control.
10. Air (gas) monitoring and awareness. (within 20 bar)
11. Buddy awareness.
17. Safety stop.
18. Five point ascent - S.T.E.L.A. (Signal, Time, Elevate, Look-Up, Ascent.)
19. Safe exit from the water.
20. Equipment disassembly and post dive care.
21. Debrief and log dive.
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There will likely be further post dive gas planning exercises and Q&A session.
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Qualifying photographs on the surface, congratulations and hand shake from your instructor!
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On successful completion of the course you will have become a fully qualified scuba diver, and qualified to dive to a maximum of 18 metres depth!
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DAY 2 - DIVE 3 - Dry Suit Bolt-on
If you have opted to undertake the additional dry suit bolt-on course (further details below) then your instructor will take you in for an additional dive, during which you will:
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1. Dive Planning and briefing.
2. Air (gas) planning and briefing.
3. Equipment assembly.
4. Pre-dive safety check.
5. Positive buoyancy entry of the water and good surface habits.
6. Weight and trim check.
7. Five-point descent - S.O.R.T.E.D. (Signal, Orientate, Regulator, Time, Equalise, Descend.)
8. Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim.
9. Neutral buoyancy hover.
10. Removal and replacement of dry suit inflator hose.
11. Inversion recovery exercise.
12. Exploration of the dive site / environment awareness - Execution of the dive plan.
13. Good buoyancy control.
14. Air (gas) monitoring and awareness. (within 20 bar)
15. Buddy awareness.
16. Safety stop.
17. Five point ascent - S.T.E.L.A. (Signal, Time, Elevate, Look-Up, Ascent.)
18. Safe exit from the water.
19. Equipment disassembly and post dive care.
20. Debrief and log dive.
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On successful completion of both the four open water dives and the dry suit bolt-on dive you would have achieved certification as both an Open Water Diver and a Dry Suit Diver!
4. Continued Education & Overseas Referral.
Dry suit training and beyond...
OVERSEAS REFERRAL
If you prefer, it is possible to do your Knowledge Development and Confined Water training here in the UK and then complete the Open Water dives overseas, whilst on holiday, in warmer waters. This is known as an ‘Open Water Referral’.
You would only pay the first two installments to InDepth and then any required fee to the certifying dive centre. We would simply need to know the name and store number of the dive centre, we would then complete the necessary referral documentation and email it over to them in advance of your arrival.
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​PLEASE NOTE: Your certification is for ‘Conditions the same as, or better than, that in which you trained.’ So, if you qualify in warm blue water, and then want to dive in the UK you should undertake some upgrade training with your instructor, prior to diving back here in the UK.​
OPTIONAL DRY SUIT BOLT-ON
Unless you are planning on doing an overseas referral for your open water dives you will complete your qualifying dives here in the UK. Our waters tend to be colder... and whilst you can, during the summer months, dive here in a wetsuit or semi-dry quite comfortably, we do recommend considering a ‘Dry Suit Bolt-On’ course. This course will require an additional ‘orientation dive’ in the pool as well as an additional open water dive, with skills, and further reading. There is an additional cost of circa £90.
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You can view details of the 'Dry Suit' course by clicking on the link or by visiting the 'SPECIALITIES' page and selecting Dry Suit from the list of courses.
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​​BENEFITS OF CLUB TRAINING
Training this way really comes into its own if:
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1. Any member decides to pull out of the course before completion. (You only pay for the bits you’ve done!)
2. You have access to the swimming pool fortnightly for the rest of the club year.
3. You can dive from the club RHIB (Once qualified).
4. The members get first refusal on all club trips and holidays.
5. Any other courses are, again, just charged at manuals, certification fees, insurance levy and expenses. Saving hundreds of pounds per course!
Are you glad we suggested that you put the kettle on at the beginning and that you kept reading...!?
We appreciate that all of the above is rather complicated. Please do feel free to give us a call if you’d like to discuss any aspects in more detail:
Telephone: 01291 418181
You can also see a comprehensive list of 'Continued Education' scuba diving courses by clicking on the 'COURSES' menu.​​
Join InDepth Dive Club and transform your life with a PADI or SAA Open Water Course!
“THE SEA, ONCE IT CASTS ITS SPELL, HOLDS ONE IN ITS NET
OF WONDER FOREVER.”
— Jacques Yves Cousteau