Frequently Asked Questions

While the PADI Underwater Naturalist course is primarily a recreational diving course, the knowledge and skills gained from the course can be beneficial for careers in marine biology, marine conservation, and environmental science. Additionally, dive centers and resorts may seek out PADI Underwater Naturalist instructors or dive guides to lead eco-tourism and conservation efforts.

While you can take flights before and after a flight, you should always keep a gap of 18-24 hours after scuba diving. This is because the air pressure inside an aircraft decreases as the altitude increases. The nitrogen bubbles formed after diving need to decompress slowly; however, flying can make the process faster. This may be painful for your body and in certain cases even be fatal. Not just flying, you should even do high-altitude trekking right after diving.

There are several medical conditions that can impede diving. Thus, it is crucial you are aware of these before you consider scuba diving in Corruption Rock, Port Blair. Primarily, any medical condition that impacts your cardiovascular or respiratory systems or that can render you unexpectedly and suddenly incapable of responding rapidly implies that you cannot dive.

The standard contraindications are heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, and asthma. In case you possess any of these illnesses or one that may result in a similar issue, you should consult a physician prior to making the decision of diving. Furthermore, people with the following conditions are highly recommended against scuba diving:

• Individuals with breathing issues
• Individuals with congestion, flu, or cold
• Individuals who have had surgery on the ear in the past year or those who have an ear problem

Apart from this, individuals who must seek the permission of a doctor before scuba diving are the ones with the following medical conditions:

• Equalization or repetitive trouble clearing air spaces
• Shortness of breath
• The utilization of non-prescription or prescription medications
• A recent history of vomiting or nausea
• A blackout
• A history of lung or heart disease

PADI Divemaster is the first professional level in the PADI diving program. This certification allows you to work as a professional scuba diver anywhere in the world. The PADI divemaster course introduces individuals to the knowledge, skills, and concepts of a professional. You can decide how you want to complete your PADI divemaster course - you can go with the local PADI dive center or resort for your certification.

The cost of the PADI Underwater Naturalist course may vary depending on the dive center and the specific course schedule. However, the course typically costs between INR 10,000 to INR 15,000 in India.

While the rules for scuba diving are relaxed, there are certain things you should keep in mind to ensure that you have a good diving experience. For instance, you should not have a heavy meal right before diving. You should avoid alcohol before diving. Another important rule is that you should not dive if you have a cold or fever. While you will not exactly be barred from diving if you have a cold, the air pressure under water may block your sinuses and you face difficulty in equalising air pressure. This may result in a lot of pain in your ear.

Answer: On Andaman Island, a wide range of scuba diving courses are provided to everyone from beginners to experienced divers. Some of the most popular courses are listed below from the entry-to-professional level:

• Discover Scuba Diving
• Open Water Diver
• Advanced Open Water Diver
• Rescue Diver
• Dive Master

To enroll in the PADI Divemaster course, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent)
• Have at least 40 logged dives to begin the course and 60 dives to earn certification
• Have finished EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within the last two years
• Have a medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Anyone who is at least 10 years old and has a PADI Open Water Diver certification or equivalent can take the PADI Underwater Naturalist Course.

This is perhaps one of the most commonly asked questions by anyone who wants to scuba dive. The short answer is yes, you can scuba dive even if you don’t know how to swim. Here’s a secret: in scuba diving, you do not have to swim. You will be wearing dive fins that will keep you afloat on the surface of the water and help you glide effortlessly under the water. What you do need are proper diving gear like scuba snorkels, scuba mask, scuba buoyancy compensation device that helps you to maintain your buoyancy in the water, dive fins, etc. In addition to this, you’ll have a guide follow you everywhere under the water. The Andaman Islands in India, which is very popular among scuba diving enthusiasts, has many dive centres that train non-swimmers to dive. So, there’s all the lesser reason for you to worry.