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Make it a vacation to remember
WELCOME BAHAMAS - GRAND BAHAMA - 2007
Make it a vacation to remember
Be a scuba-diver by the time you go home
Even if you have never gone scuba-diving before, you can learn how in two-and-a-half days provided you put in about eight hours of home study first, says Ian (Woody) Woodcock, an instructor at the UNEXSO dive company in
Grand Bahama.
The actual training comprises two days in the pool and four half-day training dives in the ocean, says Woodcock, and you?ll get a lot of personal attention. There is one instructor for eight students during the in-the-pool sessions. Out in the open water, the ratio drops to one instructor to four students.
And when you?re finished, you?ll have certification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), which allows you to dive anywhere in the world. ?Your certification will be valid worldwide, for life,? says Woodcock.
Scuba-diving is more than just swimming underwater. It becomes a way of life. ?I?ve been diving for over 30 years,? says Woodcock. ?It?s a great way to meet new people from all different walks of life and other countries. It is a very social activity. Divers love to hang around telling tales about what they?ve seen underwater.?
Great for families
Scuba-diving combines the adventure of underwater exploring with a good physical workout. It?s something the entire family can do says Cristina Zenato, a top instructor at UNEXSO, who teaches newcomers as well as divers looking for advanced training.
Among other courses, Zenato teaches cave diving and leads small groups of experienced divers into Ben?s Cave, a famous dive in the Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama. This cavern is part of one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world.
Zenato also enjoys teaching beginners, including children, but they must be at least 10 to learn to scuba-dive.
Zenato well recalls one father and son duo: Vinny and Kyle. ?The best part was watching Kyle making sure his dad was fine and for pointing out a creature and asking what it was. In the beginning, most divers miss the little things of the reef. Kyle didn?t and his big smile made it worthwhile every single day.?
Divers between 10 and 14 earn accreditation in the PADI Jr Open Water Diver programme. Ten- and 11-year-old divers are restricted to diving with PADI professionals, or certified guardians or parents, and are allowed to dive to a depth of only 12 metres or 40 feet.
Before starting the programme, would-be divers must complete a medical questionnaire. It?s available at www.unexso.com or www.padi.com. If you have high blood pressure, a doctor?s release may be required. Woodcock advises a beginning diver to talk it over with his or her physician before signing up.
In addition to the required medical certification, student divers must also pass a preliminary skill test. Zenato explains, ?There is a little swimming test?no time limit. You only have to show you are comfortable in the water. There is a 10-minute survival float.?
The study part of the programme can be completed independently. ?Study time is in the evening and usually takes about two evenings.? Avid novices can do their studying beforehand.
Great exercise
?You don?t have to be super fit or a great swimmer, just confident in the water,? Woodcock adds. ?Any swimming activity is a great way to keep in shape or even lose a couple of pounds.?
Diving is one of the best exercises to get in shape. Being weightless in the water takes a lot of strain off joints and muscles.
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