2. Is it hard to learn to SCUBA dive?
A. Not really… being moderately comfortable in the water, having basic swimming skills and being reasonably healthy are the minimum requirements to take a course. Qualified & experienced Instructors conduct the CMAS courses with utmost care and discipline. Batches are kept small to ensure a comfortable Instructor to Student ratio and the course is fun mixed with the realization of under water safety / discipline.

3. What is SCUBA certification, and what does it take to become certified?
A. Everyone who wants to dive anywhere in the world has two options – either go for hand-held introductory dives or take a course and get a license that dive centers all over the world recognize. Each centre is an overseas centre for 3 or 4 major International Scuba Diving Federations which standardize the rules for training divers and ensure consistency. Each Federation essentially has the same course content and issues certifications on successfully completing the requirements of the course.

4. What makes up standard SCUBA equipment?
A. An Aluminum or Steel tank filled with compressed air is strapped on to a Buoyancy control jacket. A regulator with a demand valve regulates the high pressure air to a lower breathable pressure. A mask allows perfect and slightly magnified vision under water; fins propel one forward and a snorkel to breathe on the surface. Wet or Dry suits offer thermal protection depending on water temperatures.

5. Are there any physical conditions that would prevent me from diving?
A. Colds or Sinusitis will not allow equalizing of increasing pressure as you go deeper and therefore can be detrimental during a dive course. Mildly Asthmatic people can attempt diving at shallower depths to see how they would fare but highly Asthmatic people should probably refrain from diving. People with collapsed lungs or any kind of lung disorder should refrain from diving. Highly Obese people will also find a basic dive course slightly trying and may not be able to complete all requirements of the course.

6. Are sharks really as dangerous as they are made out to be?
A. No!! Sharks have been wrongly perceived as man-eating fish that are only waiting to make mincemeat out of people in the sea. The truth is far from this. Shark attacks are mostly cases of mistaken identity or their natural instinct to defend themselves if cornered. They have an abundance of food to eat down there and are rarely seen at close range during dives. The larger and colder water sharks can be unpredictable sometimes but simple rules of behaviour with sharks around can guarantee a beautiful dive with sharks. Lakshadweep has reef sharks which feed off the reef and are shy creatures which you are lucky to spot. Like any other creature, there has to be respect for them and the space they live in and once you’ve witnessed a shark going about its on business, a lot of inhibitions and fear go away.

7. How old do I have to be to become a certified SCUBA diver?
A. One can try diving from 12 years onwards though you can attempt the CMAS 1 Star course only from 14 years and above. This has to do with physiological factors as well as an understanding of the rules regarding taking the sport seriously. One can dive till as long as they can and often we see people as old as 60 years enjoying their diving.

8. Do I have to be a great swimmer to SCUBA dive?
A. We should understand the fact that a diver dives in water and therefore has to have a measure of comfort and swimming skills – enough to not have one freak out in the water. A total non-swimmer will normally have the added apprehension of coping with Scuba equipment as well as being in the water – something that can be a hindrance. But if you are someone who can handle themselves well enough in the water and have basic swimming skills – you’ll do just fine with diving. There is however, a minimum requirement of free swimming that you have to complete during the course (100 meters)