Scuba Dive Lessons Aboard An Australian Liveaboard
Scuba dive lessons, the Great Barrier Reef provides outstanding conditions to learn to scuba dive
As recent as maybe ten years ago, Learning to dive on a Liveaboard was not a very common occurrence. Liveaboards had a reputation for being for the experienced diver and space on-board was generally very confining.
It was challenging to find a location on board to converse with your instructor.
Well times have changed, and the Liveaboard vessel of today is often spacious and welcoming.
Trip itineraries on many vessels are varied enough that there are always several dive sites that are suitable for open water training.
In addition to the open water training, many Australian Liveaboards can provide advanced training to instructor level.
Changes in training styles have also led to the Liveaboard being more conducive for training.
In the old days, hours of classroom training had to be given before the first dive, wasting a great deal of valuable diving time.
Currently, you can complete the classroom theory portion either at a dive centre in your home town or by doing it online from your home. If you want to Learn to dive, the internet is making it very convenient.
How Does The Great Barrier Reef Dive lessons differ From Elsewhere
As you may have heard, there are a large number of internationally recognised training certification agencies.
The most significant two are Scuba Schools International (SSI) and the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI). It is most likely that one of these two will be available on-board the Liveaboard that you select for your training.
While reading consumer magazines or looking at online forums, you will see a lot of conversations debating which one is better. The truth of the matter is that for the open water student, they are the same.
They may present the material differently and use slightly different terminology at times, but they cover the same items and train to the same international standards.
Other than names, there are no differences until you get to the professional level. Also, they accept each others’ certification.
If you took your open water with PADI you could do your advanced class at an SSI facility, no problem, and the same is true in reverse.
Most Liveaboard would like you to complete the theory portion of your training before arrival.
I am allowing you not to waste valuable diving time.
There are two ways to do this: the most common is to register for your training through the Liveaboard and take the theory portion online.
When you arrive at the boat, you can start right in with your confined water training. Limited water will be a shallow site with calm waters.
The other option, and for many people, a better one is to start your training with a local dive centre.
You will do your theory work there as well as your confined water training.
Confined water training is learning and practising several necessary skills.
Dives typically are done in a swimming pool. When completed you are given a referral for the Liveaboard. With the theory and confined water complete, you will start directly with the open water training.
Training Onboard Benefits
One common item that many instructors and students have stated that learning to scuba dive on a Liveaboard is a very stress-free way to learn.
Doing anything new can be stressful, and something as intense as breathing underwater will create stress.
Many student divers have been dreaming for years to take dive lessons.
Onboard there are no outside distractions.
When you finish a training dive, you have plenty of time to discuss things with your instructor.
You can also extend your surface interval on a Liveaboard which you generally can not do on a day dive boat.
A Liveaboard typically has five even six water sessions a day, while you only need two or three for your training.
As the Liveaboard will likely be mostly divers, the conversations throughout the day will frequently deal with diving. You will get other divers insights.
Learn To Dive Programs
Depending on the pricing practices of the Liveaboard, you may find that learning to scuba dive is cheaper than at a land-based resort.
Plus the Liveaboard offers you more experience in most cases.
You are taking your open water course over four days onboard Reef Encounter. Allows you to obtain your certification and three additional day dives and a night dive, which adds confidence to your scuba diving knowledge.
With a maximum of 4 students in the class and all dives done on the Great Barrier Reef, these dive lessons are outstanding.