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Course FAQ
Everything you wanted to know about our dive courses but were afraid to ask: The courses FAQ
Course FAQ
- I'm new to this diving thing - where do I start? What about <insert scary creature here>?
- What dive courses do you offer?
- How much are the dive courses and what is included in the price?
- How do you compare to other dive clubs and shops?
- Do I need a Dive Medical? What is the Australian Standard AS 4005.1?
- Where else can I get information on learning to dive?
- I am not a UWA Student, can I still do a course with you, and how much (more) does it cost?
- Where do you conduct the dive courses?
- When is the next Open Water/Advanced Open Water/Rescue/DiveMaster Course?
- How do I enrol in a course?
- Is the course deposit refundable?
- Who teaches the UWA UC dive courses?
- Do you accept credit cards/eftpos/IOUs?
- I cant find the course I want to do!
- This FAQ sucks - you haven't answered my question!
I'm new to this diving thing - where do I start?
If you are new to diving, this is a good place to start. UWA UC offers very cheap beginners (= ‘Open Water Courses’). These qualify you to dive to a depth of 18m with a similarly or higher qualified diver.
And dont worry about sharks, stingers or other nasties - under water, no one can here you scream :-) But seriously, each year in Australia more people are attacked by vending machines than any of the aquatic beasties you might be worried about.
What dive courses do you offer?
We offer courses at all levels from beginner level (=Open Water Diver) to Divemaster including various specialities such as Deep Diver and Enriched Air Diver. Our courses are all internationally recognised and your certification is issued by PADI (www.padi.com) the largest diving organisation in the world today. Our most popular courses are:-
Open Water courses are offered through the club and advertised through our list server.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Continue the adventure, learn to dive deep, at night and improve your navigation skills plus much more. The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course consists of two core dives (Deep, down to ca. 30m; and Navigation) plus three dives of your choice from:
Night Dive: Learn the special techniques needed to dive safely at night. Then get out there and catch those prawns and blue swimmer crabs in the Swan River, or play with some baby Port Jackson Sharks or Pyjama Dumpling Squids at Ammo Jetty…
Search and Recovery Dive: Lost your sunnies over the side of the boat? Learn how to find them! Master search patterns, lift bags and how to deal with recovering small to medium sized objects.
Underwater Naturalist: Cant tell a pelagic from an ascidian? Learn how to with an Underwater Naturalist dive.
Boat Dive: Splice the mizzen! Sort out your port from your starboard and learn everything you wanted to know about diving from a boat.
Format:
The Advanced Open Water Diver course operates over one weekend depending upon weather and conditions. The emphasis is very much on applying your new skills. As with all PADI courses, there are self-guided learning activities and reviews but unlike other courses, there are no exams in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
We may conduct the Navigation dive and optional Search & Recovery dive in the Swan River or at Rockingham as the low visibility is perfect for developing your skills, but can be convinced to go to some nice spots too…. After a day muck diving, we then head out for the optional night dive at a site where the critters come out after dark - such as Woodman Point jetty. The following day sees a boat trip to Rottnest Island for a deep dive on the reef followed by your final chosen option.
At the end of the weekend, you'll be a PADI Advanced Open Water diver!
Includes:
PADI registration fees, course materials and certification card, all tuition, three shore dives and two boat dives.
You will need:
1 passport-sized photo, and depending upon options, a slate, dive knife, cylume stick and torch.
Since many divers have some or all of their own gear by this stage, our course does not include gear hire. Gear can be hired at normal club rates (ca. $60 for the whole course). It is assumed that you will also have your own mask, snorkel and fins).
Cost: To be confirmed when the course is organised
Next AOW Course: Please contact our course coordinator for further information.
This course teaches the skills involved to manage dive accidents, but will also offer many tools to manage your own diving stress and problems. Theory includes (but is not limited to) managing diving accidents, dive gear and related problems, and basic medic first aid. The practical part of the course culminates in scenarios in which the students have to locate and rescue an unconscious diver from depth.
Prerequisite is an Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent qualification. To fully qualify as a PADI Rescue Diver, you need to have logged 20 dives and to hold a current (i.e. not older than 24 months) First Aid qualification. The entire course normally consists of one weeknight and a full weekend.
Cost: To be confirmed when course is organised.
Next Rescue Course: Please contact our course coordinator for further information.
The role of a PADI Divemaster consists mainly of (a) assisting in dive courses, and (b) leading dives of certified divers. In addition, a PADI Divemaster can conduct a range of snorkel and dive experience programs. It constitutes the first level of a professional diving career and the course is run as an internship-based program.
Prerequisites to enrol in a Divemaster Course are minimum age of 18, a minimum of 20 logged dives, and a Rescue Diver qualification. To finally qualify as a Divemaster you need at least 60 logged dives. The PADI Divemaster Course is a time consuming course. Plan an average of 6 months for the completion of your internship.
Cost: To be confirmed when course is organised.
Next DM course: on demand, please express your interest with our course coordinator
How much are the dive courses and what is included in the price?
The price of the dive courses we run depend on demand. They are, in general, significantly cheaper than commercial operations. We are a university diving club and try to minimize costs so as many students as possible can participate. Once there are enough people interested in a course, the course coordinator will be able to send out more detailed pricing information. Course prices include PADI course materials, PADI certification, boat dives.Course prices excludes gear hire – but this can be arranged at the usual club hire rates.
Please contact our course coordinator for more information
How do you compare to other dive clubs and shops?
- We're better and more fun! We all love diving and want others to get as hooked as we are.
- We offer substantial savings. Since we don't have the overheads of a commercial operation we can pass the savings onto you. Feel free to shop around but you'll find us the best value for money in Perth.
- Our courses always include the relevant materials (manuals, tables, slates etc) unlike some operators who ask you to pay more if you want to keep them.
Where else can I get information on learning to dive?
Come along to the clubrooms or our monthly (1st Tuesday each month, 8pm, Drabble House, 2 Webster St, Nedlands) social meeting for a chat. Drop our course coordinator an email, give one of the committee members a call (they don't bite…) or have a look at some of our favourite websites on the links page.
I am not a UWA Student, can I still do a course with you, and how much (more) does it cost?
Yes! If you are looking to learn to dive it doesn’t cost you any more money than for students.
Do I need a Dive Medical? What is the Australian Standard AS 4005.1?
You need a dive medical for an Open Water Course (beginner level) and a Divemaster Course. You do not need a medical for an Advanced Open Water Course or a Rescue Course, however a regular medical examination is recommended (< 30 years or age: every 5 years, 30 – 50 years of age: every 3 years, over 50 years of age: every year).
The UWA Medical Centre (35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 9380 2118) conducts dive medicals. Alternatively, find a list of dive doctors at www.spums.org.au Prices for a dive medical range from ca. $50 - $100, so it is a good idea to call the doctors first to get a quote. The cost of the medical is not covered by Medicare or private health funds. (You are diving for fun, it's not a medical condition!)
The dive medical has to be conducted according to the Australian Standard AS 4005.1, which defines the requirements for a recreational scuba diving medical examination. The medical form you bring with you to the dive course must state that the examination was carried out according to AS 4005.1. We do not accept medicals which have not been conducted according to AS 4005.1!
Where do you conduct the dive courses?
Review sessions are usually held at the UWA Sport Centre on the UWA campus, mostly on a weekday evening. Our pool sessions are usually at Fremantle Pool or Meville Aquatic centre. Shore dives are dependent upon the weather and conditions but range from river sites (Bicton Baths, Blackwall Reach etc) to ocean sites (South Cottesloe, Woodman Point, Rockingham Wreck Trail). Boat dives are usually around Rottnest Island again depending upon weather.
When is the next Open Water/Advanced Open Water/Rescue Course/DiveMaster?
Open Water: Starts April 1st. Contact UWA Recreate
Advanced Open Water Course: soon, contact our course coordinator for details.
Rescue Diver Course: soon, contact our course coordinator for details.
Divemaster Course and Specialty (Deep, Nitrox, Wreck etc) Courses: on demand (minimum of 4 students required), please contact our course coordinator if you are interested!
For all our courses, drop the course coordinator an email and include the following information:
Course you are interested in, current qualification, number of dives, date of last dive, contact details.
Once there are sufficient numbers of people interested in a course (usually a minimum or 4 is required), we will confirm dates and confirm course cost.
Upon receipt of the course fee, we will send you the respective PADI manual for the course so that you can prepare the theory prior to the review sessions. An information night will also usually be held prior to the running of the course
Is the course deposit refundable?
No.
Who teaches the UWA UC dive courses?
We do! The club has a number of PADI Instructors who are assisted by PADI Divemasters or Divemaster candidates.
How can I pay? Do you accept credit cards/EFTPOS?
Preferred payment method is by internet transfer (details will be supplied) or cash payments can be arranged if necessary.
I can't find the course I want to do!
Give our course coordinator a call/email. The club runs various courses according to demand (Enriched Air Diver, Wreck Diver, Equipment Specialist etc). If there's something you want, we can probably do it! Ever wanted to learn to drive a boat? We're always in need of skippers - drop course coordinator and email
This FAQ sucks - you haven't answered my question!
Did we mention that you can email our course coordinator:-)