We asked Regal Holidays what were the most frequent queries from clients looking to book a diving package. Here’s what we were told.
Do I need a medical prior to learning to dive?
Before you enroll on a diving course, there is a simple medical form you need to complete in resort. This is for your own safety and to ensure there is nothing in your medical history that could put you at risk. Regal provides a similar checklist at the back of its brochure, and if you can answer ‘yes’ to any question you will need to see a doctor beforehand to check you are fit to dive.
Is there a minimum and maximum age at which you can learn to dive?
Regal has taught people as old as 75 to learn to dive! There is no maximum age, as long as you are reasonably healthy, can swim 200 metres unaided and are confident in water. Children have to be 12 years old before they can enroll on junior certification courses but the Professional Association of Dive Instructors has launched a new programme called Bubblemaker which allows young adventurers between the ages of 8-11 experience the thrill of diving in the safe environment of a swimming pool.
Do I have to take a refresher course?
If you have not been diving for over one year, you will need to complete a scuba review. This is pre-booked but paid locally, and the cost for Regal clients is around $55. Regal clients who haven’t dived for six months can take a free warm-up dive in the Red Sea and brush up their skills with a guide.
Is equipment hire included in the diving price?
The dive pack price for qualified divers includes tanks, weights and air. A full set of equipment can be hired for $100 for six days in the Red Sea. All equipment is included on dive courses, such as Regal’s Fastrack course (video and manual received prior to departure) with the confined and open-water dives completed in the Red Sea.
Can I wear contact lenses when I am learning to dive?
Yes, although there is a slight risk you may lose them if you accidentally get water in your eyes, so Regal advises clients to take them out during the mask-clearing exercises necessary to pass the open-water course. An alternative option is to buy, or in some cases hire, a prescription lens diving mask.