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How to choose a diving
operator
To choose a safe scuba diving operator that offers quality work you must compare several parameters between operators.
Security – all scuba diving activities for non-qualified people (baptisms, basic courses - Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver) must be monitored by certified instructors with yearly renewals of their licenses, and not by any divemaster or any “scuba diving guide”.
Find out whether the divemasters and the instructors have Professional insurances.
Whether the operator is a registered company or not? How long it has been operating? What is the staff experience?
The scuba diver must always present his certification. However, you may also request to see the divemaster’s and instructors’ certification.
When you fill the Terms of Responsibility and service contract read them carefully. The scuba diver and the operator both have obligations to comply with.
What the types of equipment are used and what is the maintenance schedule?
How is the maintenance of the compressors made, how is the used of the filters controlled and how is the cylinder air quality analyzed?
What is included in the costs of the dives?
What is included in the courses costs? (how many pool dives, how many open water dives, how many theory classes, what is the training material (original or copies). Is the equipment included? Isa the certification included as well? How long does the course last?
What is the maximum and minimum number of people in the courses, outside activities, baptisms?
What of type boat is used? Is the boat security enough for the type of activities in which you’ll participate? What does the boat offer?
All these points should help you choose the operator that corresponds to you. Don’t forget that by comparing the prices between one operator and another you may find big price differences that’ll always correspond to the quality of equipment, number of dives included in the courses, maximum number of people in the activities, air quality, and course material, either original or not used in the theory parts of the course. Course material that is kept by the pupil or that is on a loan basis.
An operator that gives discounts on course prices must surely need to reduce items from the activity (security, activity time, staff attention, comfort, staff qualification).
We hope that this document helps you, scuba divers and future scuba divers, to choose the scuba diving operator that offers quality and avoid being cheated by “scuba diving pirates”, who are unfortunately growing.
The idea behind this informative material arose after we noticed that people who have little or no experience in scuba diving do not have here in Brazil a reference to compare between operators, and that generally at first sight they “all look the same”.
For more information: aica@aicadiving.com.br
Good dives
May 2002, Porto de Galinhas – PE- Brazil
AICÁ diving, Michel Russi, OWSI 906 291 PADI
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