Your Scuba Diving Questions Answered
There’s lots of fascinating things to learn about diving, but first, we’ve listed some of your Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to show the answer.
To find out more, just get in touch >
What does it cost to join?
Your one-off C-Divers joining payment is only £161, followed by £12 per month.
This consists of: the C-Divers one-off joining fee of £50; the SAA one-off joining fee of £99; and your first C-Divers monthly subscription of £12. Thereafter, your C-Divers/SAA membership will cost only your monthly subscription of £12. For that, up to and including Club Diver level, you get unlimited shore diving/instruction, plus SAA third-party insurance for club-authorised dives.
How old do I need to be to join?
Anyone, male or female, over the age of 18 can join Central Scotland Dive Club.
I already have some dive qualifications, is that okay?
We welcome beginners and qualified divers alike. If you have qualifications from other dive organisations e.g., PADI, BSAC, ScotSAC etc. there should be an equivalent crossover qualification with the SAA/CMAS which you will be eligible for.
Do I need to have my own equipment?
If you are a beginner, all you will need is your swimming costume. The club has equipment which you can use as you progress through your pool training. Most new members tend to buy their own basic kit (mask, snorkel and fins) very soon.
Once you are ready to progress to Open Water Diving, you will then need to invest in your own equipment.
Is scuba equipment expensive?
Your basic kit, consisting of mask, snorkel and fins, need not be expensive and there is a very wide price range. Once you progress to Open Water diving the equipment you require (dry suit, hood, gloves, BCD etc.) can cost quite a bit, but it should last you a long time, and you can also buy second-hand, perhaps from other club members or on eBay. Experienced club members are always happy to advise on what’s best for you and your budget, and often accompany new members to the dive shops when they are ready to buy.
The club also has some equipment that you may be able to try for your first open water experience, at the Diving Officer’s discretion.
I wear glasses/contact lenses, is that a problem?
No, you can still dive, as long as you can see well enough to read your instruments. Many divers wear contact lenses when they dive, others prefer to wear a mask with prescription lenses, whilst some have even had laser eye surgery.
Do I need to be in perfect health?
You don’t need to be an athlete, or in peak condition to enjoy diving, and it’s a sport which caters for all shapes and sizes. However, you should have a general level of fitness for your own wellbeing, and there are some medical conditions which make diving inadvisable. As diver safety is of paramount importance, when you join, you will be required to complete a self-certification form regarding your health.
Is it cold scuba diving in Scotland?
Our club members all dive in drysuits – as do most UK divers. This enables us to dive all year round, regardless of the water temperature. Underneath our drysuits, we wear insulating undersuits to keep warm.
Sea temperatures don’t vary as much as they do on land and may range from 5 to 7° C in winter and 12 to 14° C in summer.
Being able to dive all year round means you can get maximum enjoyment from your sport, unlike many others.
What is there to see underwater in Scotland?
The range of wildlife in the seas round Scotland is truly vast (See our Picture Gallery); yet, when viewing the sea from dry land, few people could begin to guess just what wonders lie undiscovered, a few metres below the waves. From microscopic plankton and semi-transparent creatures that glow rainbow colours when caught by the light, all the way up to seals, dolphins and whales at the other extreme. Animals that look like plants and plants that look like animals – and fish that look like none you’ve ever seen before. All these seen in their own habitat makes television a poor substitute.
Then there are the wrecks…
important reminders of Scottish history, of machines and mariners trapped in the tragedies of local or global events and hidden from view from all – except divers.
How safe is scuba diving?
Statistically, scuba diving is safer than many sports, but it is not without risk. That is why, with C-Divers’ comprehensive training programme, the emphasis is always on safety through education and good practice.
Because it is a technical sport, in an environment where we don’t naturally belong, there are many factors which have to be taken into consideration to ensure diver safety. But this challenge and the discipline that is required are also some of the aspects that attract some divers to the sport.
I want to dive abroad, is it still worthwhile joining the club?
Absolutely. If you learn to dive in Scotland and achieve the level of qualification you want, your training will stand you in good stead for diving anywhere in the world. It could also save you money!
Being a club member will cost you just £12 per month, after a one-off joining fee of £157 (which includes your SAA Starter Pack and first month’s subscription). All training lectures are free, and all pool and open water training sessions are also free. Most, if not all, of your in-water training will be on a one-to-one basis with a qualified instructor and your Elementary Diver and Open Water Diver certification won’t cost you any more. If you were to try to match this with learning abroad, we’re sure you’ll agree that the cost there would be prohibitive.
The quality and breadth of our training programme will also enable you to get the maximum diving benefit and give you the confidence to really enjoy your diving holidays year after year.
Do you run any special courses for scuba divers?
From time-to-time, we run some special diving-related courses, including:
• Nitrox Diving
• Oxygen Administration
• Rescue Diver