Frequently Asked Questions about Scuba Diving
Q. I have never
dived before, can I try it?
A. You can try diving with an
introductory try dive in confined water. Introductory diving is
fun and safe as the maximum number of divers per instructor is
kept to a minimum, which enables you to get initial tuition
before diving then try out your new experience in a beautiful
environment in very capable hands. If you wish it is possible to
have your first try dive in our pool, but we're sure that once
tried, you will want to get into the sea as soon as possible.
Q. Is it difficult to learn to dive?
A. Not for most people. If you're comfortable in the water and a
reasonably good swimmer, you should be able to learn
Q. How long does it take to get certified?
A. When working with us with full day instruction it depends on
how fast you learn. The standard Open Water Diver/Ocean Diver
certification will typically be a three to four day process.
Q. I get pain in my ears when I go below 3
metres. Can I dive?
A. Part of learning to dive is learning to clear your ears… that
is equalizing the pressure inside and outside your eardrum. It
takes people a few days to get the hang of this, but soon you'll
do it automatically. If you have ear infections or other
blockages that might keep you from clearing your ears, then you
should check with a doctor before proceeding.
Q. How long will I be able to stay
underwater?
A. That depends on how deep you are and how heavily you are
breathing. Air gets compressed at greater depths, so with each
breath you'll go through more air. You can often stay down 45
minutes to an hour at depths of 5 to 10 metres. On deeper dives
you may only get 15 to 20 minutes. As you get more experienced
you'll learn to prolong your air supply by breathing more
slowly, by conserving your energy and, most of all, becoming
more confident and relaxed in the water.
Q. Can I wear contact lenses or glasses
while diving?
A. Soft contact lenses should not be a problem. Bring an extra
pair or two in case one washes out. Eyeglasses worn under a dive
mask are not practicable. However, it is more economical than
you might think to have your prescription ground into the mask
itself. Your optician or dive shop can advise you on where to
have it done. If your prescription is quite low, it might not be
necessary to have special lenses, as the water magnifies
naturally.
Q. Do I need a medical to dive in Malta?
A. We have a self-assessment form that needs to be completed and
signed by you. Should you have any of the problems listed on the
form, it would be necessary to have a doctor check you over and
give you the go-ahead to dive. This is not a problem and we can
arrange for you to see the doctor at the dive base.
Q.I'm a certified diver but I haven't
dived in a while, is this ok?
A.No problem! Just tell us when booking. As all our dives are
guided we make sure that you are well looked after throughout
the dive. If you prefer we can arrange a scuba review for you to
get you back into diving.
Q. Will I be shore diving or boat diving?
A. A lot of our dive sites can be reached from the shore. We
have beautiful reefs, wrecks and caves all within easy reach
from the shore. We also have plenty of dive sites that are
reached by boat. We take a typical Maltese Luzzu to Comino for a
day's trip doing two dives, with a stopover for lunch on the
beautiful island of Comino. Depending upon which dive site we
visit we can also take a fast, very well equipped rib. We also
take the ferry and do two shore dives on the lovely island of
Gozo.
Q. How many dives will I do daily and how
long will I be out diving?
A. We like to offer two dives a day but obviously it's your
choice as to how many you do. We normally go out for the day,
meeting at the dive base around 8.30am and returning about
2.30pm. This leaves most of the afternoon for you to spend time
with your family having had a good days diving!
Q. What are the sea temperatures?
A. During the summer months the sea temperature will go up to
around 27/28 degrees centigrade with divers wearing just a short
wet suit or 3mm one-piece. In the winter months it drops to
around 14 degrees centigrade and there is a mixture of 5/7mm
two-piece wetsuits or drysuits.
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Frequently Asked Questions about
Malta
Q. What's
life-after-diving like in Malta?
A. Brilliant. You will find plenty for you and your family to do
on the beautiful island of Malta. There are jeep treasure hunts,
jeep safaris, horse riding, go-karting, swimming with dolphins,
weekly festas, weekly markets, a craft village and a superb golf
course!
Q. What is there for the kids to do?
A. Apart from the above, there's a splash and fun park,
amusement centres, beautiful beaches to build sand castles and
lovely warm, clear water to swim in.
Q. Is it easy to travel around the island?
A. The bus service is excellent with plenty of buses covering
the whole of the island with very cheap fares. To make life even
easier and cheaper you can purchase a week's bus pass at a very
reasonable cost. There are also many car hire firms. If it's a
car you want, then let us know and we will point you in the
right direction.
Q. Is the water safe to drink?
A. Yes it is, but as it tastes a bit bitter, most people buy
bottled water for drinking but use tap water for tea and coffee.
Q. What is the Maltese currency?
A. As of January 2008 the Euro is Malta's legal tender and as
this currency fluctuates we do not give currency equivalents on
our quotes and payments are requested in Euros at the rate of
exchange at the time of payment.
Q. What language is spoken in Malta?
A. Malta does have its own language… Maltese but, apart from
their native tongue, most Maltese people speak good English and
Italian.
Q. What temperatures can we expect?
A. During the summer months the temperature will probably be
between 30 to 35 degrees centigrade, cooling off slightly during
the evenings and nights. During the winter months the lowest
temperature is likely to be around 14 degrees centigrade, but it
could get quite a bit colder during the evenings and nights so
bring a warm coat!
Q. What is the accommodation like in
Malta?
A. There are many first-class hotels offering excellent
accommodation with nightly entertainment. There are also many
smaller and less expensive hotels offering a very good service.
If you prefer self-catering apartments, then we have plenty of
those too! If you need help in choosing, we can offer varied
accommodation depending on what's right for you and your family.
Q. Where will we find the best night life?
A. All the best night clubs and bars can be found in Bugibba or
Paceville. Both places come alive at night with live
entertainment, karaoke or disco and most clubs and bars stay
open until they are empty. Great fun is to be had… provided you
are not diving the next day!!
Q. What about the restaurants?
A. Most of the restaurants are excellent with good food at
reasonable prices. The tourists' menus are very good too. A good
tip for you - have a quick peep inside and if there are plenty
of local people eating… then it's good!!
Q. Is it worth taking a trip to Gozo and
Comino?
A. Most definitely. The ferry runs frequently from Cirkewwa at
the northern most tip of Malta, taking around half an hour to
reach Gozo. Just enough time to take a snack with tea or coffee!
Alternatively you can remain on deck and enjoy the spectacular
views. You can go with an organised group or take your own hire
car and do your own thing. Either way Gozo has lots to offer and
we're sure you'll enjoy your day. Comino is much smaller and
boasts the Blue Lagoon for swimming, with beautiful clear
electric blue water. Apart from a walk around the island, there
isn't much else to do other than lie in the sun and chill out.
Comino is reached by a small boat leaving Cirkewwa frequently
for the island. Don't forget, you can combine the sightseeing of
Gozo and Comino by diving the two islands with us!!
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