Beginner Scuba Diving – FAQ Before Your First Dive

If you're asking yourself this question, the answer is most likely yes. ;-) You don't need to be an extreme athlete or adventurer to scuba dive. It requires calmness, curiosity, and basic water confidence more than anything else.

During your first dives, you will gradually get used to the equipment, breathing underwater, and the feeling of weightlessness in shallow water (1.5-2 meters deep). The goal is not to know everything right away, but to get to know the underwater world safely and with good experiences.

Yes, and we highly recommend it! That is exactly what a try dive or intro dive is for. At good diving schools, the cost of this is credited towards your OWD (Open Water Diver) course fee.

First, we briefly explain how the equipment works, how to breathe underwater, and what you need to know about safety. Then, you can try diving in a calm environment with an instructor.

This way, you can decide whether to take the beginner course based on your own experience.

You don't need to be a competitive swimmer or have perfect technique. However, it is important that you are not afraid of the water, can move in it safely, and are able to swim a short distance comfortably.

While diving, we do not swim fast or use force. We move slowly and calmly, and the equipment helps us float. It is a relaxing activity.

With proper training, well-maintained equipment, and adherence to the rules, scuba diving is a safely practiced recreational activity. I often say that diving is an over-secured activity, so if you take the rules seriously, it is safer than skiing, cycling, not to mention riding electric scooters. Especially considering that there is no careless driver or fellow skier who will hit you from behind. Your safety during diving primarily depends on your decisions and those of your dive buddy.

In the course, you learn not only how to dive, but also how to prevent problems: how to monitor your air, communicate with your buddy, ascend safely, and handle unexpected situations. Diving is a well-documented activity spanning hundreds of years, so there is practically a solution for every situation, and we know how to prevent them. I would compare it to flying. It seems dangerous, but it is actually extremely safe.

Our goal is not to get you through the course as quickly as possible, but to ensure that you exist underwater confidently and safely.

The pressure you feel in your ears while diving can be equalized with a simple method: for example, by holding your nose and very gently trying to "blow", or by swallowing. We call this equalization. Before trying this, always listen to your instructor!

The important rule is: equalize often, right from the beginning of the dive, and don't wait until it hurts. If you feel discomfort, we stop, go up a little, and try again.

We never go further down with pain. And we don't dive if we have a cold, a blocked nose, or ear problems. The DAN diving health organization also emphasizes the rules for safe ear equalization.

This is a favorite movie cliché, but in reality, diving takes place under strict rules. You constantly see the pressure in the tank on a gauge (and even on a dive computer), just like the fuel gauge in a car. Moreover, you never dive alone: I or your dive buddy are always within arm's reach, and everyone has a spare air source (octopus) specifically reserved for such extremely rare cases.

The goal is to prevent this from happening. During the dive, we regularly check how much air is left in the tank and plan the dive so there is plenty of reserve for a calm ascent to the surface. There are strict rules for this! If you follow them, you are safe. Again, you can see that it depends on you...

There is also a backup regulator on the equipment from which your buddy can give you air if necessary. We practice using this in the beginner course under calm, controlled conditions.

Meaning, you won't encounter this situation for the first time when you actually need it.

It is completely normal to be nervous before your first dive. We do not rush, we do not force anything, and you don't have to "prove" anything.

First on the surface, then in shallow, 1.5-2 meter "deep", safe water, you get used to breathing from the equipment. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, you signal, we stop, or simply return to the surface.

Many people are surprised after just a few minutes at how calm the underwater experience is. Some get used to it harder, but - in my experience - they often become the most skillful by the end of the course. However, if you know you have strong panic reactions or severe claustrophobia, be sure to tell us in advance so we can make a responsible decision about diving.

This is a common and easily manageable situation. You can clear the water from the mask while still underwater without having to surface.

We teach this right at the beginning in waist-deep water, then calmly practice it. It might seem strange at first, but it quickly becomes routine.

You use the mouthpiece to breathe underwater, so you will still get air even if a few drops of water get into your mask.

You breathe air from the mouthpiece during normal use. If water still gets in, you can blow or clear it out with a simple motion. The regulator was designed so you can blow water out of it, and you can even cough or sneeze into it underwater. Nothing will happen to it, and it will continue to work exactly the same. ♥ A wonderful device!

We practice this during the course as well. The goal is for you to know: such a minor situation is not an emergency, but an easily solvable part of diving.

Basically, a good general state of health is required for diving. Before signing up, you fill out a medical questionnaire that helps determine if a medical clearance is necessary.

In case of certain illnesses, previous surgeries, respiratory or heart problems, ear complaints, regularly taken medication, pregnancy, or other medical conditions, a medical opinion may be required.

This is not to scare you, but part of safety. If you are unsure about anything, let's discuss it before the dive.

Yes. Although you cannot wear a traditional diving mask with glasses, there are several good solutions.

You can use a prescription diving mask, which helps you see clearly underwater. With milder vision problems, many dive comfortably without extra correction, because the mask and water together make objects appear slightly larger.

Single-use soft contact lenses are also a good solution. (They do not affect diving, but swimming in permanent hard lenses is not recommended.)

Before the first time, we will help you choose the solution that is comfortable for you.

Yes, many divers dive with contact lenses. Single-use soft contact lenses are recommended by ophthalmologists and opticians.

It is important to keep your eyes closed during mask clearing exercises, and you should have spare lenses and glasses with you.

During most beginner dives, we do not swim among dangerous animals, but practice under calm, controlled conditions.

On sea dives, we might see special creatures, but encounters that pose a threat to divers are very rare. The majority of underwater animals do not want to attack, but rather keep their distance. If we dive in a "sharky" place, the local dive guide will always explain the safety rules. By following these, accidents do not happen. (They dive with them almost every day, and they are there with us. That is proof enough.) In certain situations, it is not recommended to dive with predators, in which case the local guide will not allow it.

The shark is one of the diver's smallest problems. It's more of a problem if we want to see a shark and it refuses to show itself.

The rule is simple: we look around, but we do not chase, touch, surround, or disturb the marine life.

Both children and adults can start diving, but the program chosen and subsequent eligibility may depend on age.

For the full beginner dive course, the minimum age is determined by the rules of the given training system. For minor applicants, parental consent is required.

There is generally no upper age limit. What matters much more is your state of health, water confidence, and that you participate in the program happily and calmly. (Chances are you are primarily interested in OWD and AOWD.)

We will inform you about further certifications during the courses.

The beginner dive course — also known as the Open Water Diver (OWD) course — usually consists of three parts. In our course, we progress slowly, step-by-step. We learn everything thoroughly, and when you are ready, we move on.

First, you learn the basics: how the equipment works, how to communicate underwater, how to assemble the gear, and what to pay attention to for a safe dive. You will hear and read a lot about this in the theory section.

Then we practice in a protected, calm environment: breathing with a snorkel underwater, mask clearing, safe descending and ascending, and handling simple unexpected situations.

Finally, you will dive in open water under the supervision of an instructor. The UEF beginner open water diving course includes at least four open water dives.

We do everything we can to ensure you emerge from the water as a fully capable diver after the 4th dive. How do we do it? With us, the beginner course includes advanced elements that represent the boundary between existing underwater and true diving.

This depends on your schedule, the organization of practical sessions, and how much practice you need.

At divETIK Diving School, you can master the theory flexibly, at your own pace, thanks to our online course, where we assist your learning with videos, text, images, and quizzes. At the end of the theory training, you can complete the exam test and immediately see your results. This is followed by practical sessions and open water dives.

We are not racing to see who finishes faster. We move on when you can perform the given tasks safely and calmly.

Exactly how much time?

Theory can be completed comfortably in 2-4 days (Net 10 hours of material). It is worth repeating if something is unclear, and for each lesson, you have the opportunity to send us questions, and we will help. This is completely normal, and we are happy to assist. We appreciate it if you take it seriously.

Practice: Basically 2 or 1+1 days. Two, if we do it at a location where we can complete both the confined and open water parts. Another option (1+1 days) is doing the confined water part in a pool, and subsequently the open water part in a lake or the sea. It depends on you which one you choose. Both are great fun!

You are in luck, because in Hungary, compared to all surrounding countries and distant locations, diving course fees are very favorable.

The first and most important thing is that before you sign up for a course, thoroughly check what the listed fee includes. It is common to see "no hidden costs", but later it turns out that + registration fee, + equipment... suddenly results in tens of thousands of unexpected costs.

We clearly state everything and strive to provide a lump sum fee. Of course, you have to consider that if you want to do the course in Egypt, your accommodation and travel costs will be added, but at nearby locations, even your accommodation might be included in the fee. This could mean a tent spot, but waking up by a lake in a tent isn't so bad. ♥ ...or we can recommend accommodation on-site or nearby.

You can find what we currently offer on our courses subpage. CLICK HERE!

The price of the course depends on what it includes: You have the option to get a free taste of the theory material, pay only for the theory, and then pay for the practical training in a 2nd installment when you are ready. If you had a try dive with us, its fee will be credited towards your Beginner course.

For us, it is important that even before signing up, you see exactly what to expect, and no extra costs arise afterwards.

No. For the beginner course, you don't need to buy full scuba gear. In fact! We advise you not to buy anything until you have consulted with your instructor! We don't want to sell you anything; we only give advice on what equipment suits your needs and body type. ► Of course, if you have already received some gear, like a wetsuit or mask... you can freely use them during the course.

The necessary equipment is provided free of charge for the duration of the beginner course.

For further courses, you can rent any missing equipment from us at a favorable price, so you don't have to buy everything immediately.

Many people first buy their own mask, snorkel, and fins, while purchasing heavier gear can wait until you know what kind of diving interests you.

After a successful beginner dive course, you receive an internationally recognized OWD certification, allowing you to participate in dives according to the rules of your certification level. You can dive up to 18 meters deep with a dive guide (Divemaster) or a higher-qualified diver.

This means you can continue to gather experiences on dive trips, vacations, or at domestic dive sites with a suitable buddy or guide.

After completing the AOWD (Advanced Open Water Diver) course, you can dive in a pair with another AOWD or higher-certified diver up to a maximum depth of 30 meters. This is a big step and highly recommended. It is not an expensive course; you primarily gain practical confidence, level up, and increase the enjoyment and safety of your dives.

The exact allowed depth and diving conditions depend on the rules of your acquired certification, your age, and your experience.

Because you don't need to. :-)

As a recreational diver with a DEEP diver specialty, you can dive up to a maximum of 40 meters deep.

The main reason is your safety. As depth increases, risk grows exponentially. You will learn exactly what these risks are, and based on that, trust me, it won't be hard to see why you shouldn't go deeper.

The lighter reason is that it is completely unnecessary to go deeper. As we go deeper, colors disappear (we can help this with a dive light), and marine life becomes sparser. The most beautiful, colorful fish, corals, and large creatures are located between 10-20 meters, in the warmer range.

In the case of wrecks, it can be useful if you have DEEP, WRECK, and NITROX (special breathing gas) specialties, if they are at a depth of 30-40 meters. In such cases, it makes sense to go deeper, and with attention, following rules, and good planning, we are safe. ...but as a beginner diver, you should wait until you gain enough experience.

(At some dive sites, for safety reasons, recreational divers can only dive up to 30 meters.)

Relax, this is normal! No need to act tough, a cautious diver is the best diver! The easiest way is to come for a try dive first. You get to know the equipment, try breathing underwater, and decide based on your own experience whether you want to continue. Plus, you get to know us a bit and see if you trust us.

No major commitment needed right away. The first step is enough: being curious about what it feels like to exist underwater.