Frequently Asked Questions

"I want to learn to Scuba dive but I am unsure what certification I should do”

• If you want to learn to scuba dive to a basic level with a maximum depth of 18 metres then the open water (OW) course is for you. After you learn to scuba dive with this certification you can dive anywhere in the world.
• If you want to learn to scuba dive to an advanced level the advanced open water (AOW) will qualify you to 30 metres. You will learn about diving to deeper depths and also gain more experience in the water.
• If you want to learn to  scuba dive to a professional level then take a divemaster course, and as a pre requisite you will need your rescue diver qualification.

“I want to learn to dive, how much will this cost me?”

This all depends on where you want to learn to Scuba dive. If you wanted to learn to scuba dive in the UK for instance, then it will cost a lot more than learning to  scuba dive in Thailand.  Xtreme Gap has partnered with one of South East Asias top diving schools offering some of the best value scuba diving courses available. Taking into account accommodation is included then learning in Thailand becomes a very attractive option. For a full price list and scuba diving options click here: Scuba diving in Thailand.

I already have scuba diving qualifications, but it has been a while since I them and will need a review. How much will this cost?

If you already have scuba diving qualifications, but you are a little rusty then you need to complete a scuba review. This takes a couple of hours and costs £30. This can be arranged locally.

“I want to learn to Scuba dive but I am unsure if I am medically fit”

Learning to dive is relatively easy and you do not even have to be that fit to learn to dive. Healthy yes, but athletic, no. If you have any medical conditions that might conflict with diving you can research them here”

“I want to learn to scuba dive but I am worried about taking exams”

PADI certifications follow a very efficient and easy learning process, yes you need to study, but you do not have to be a genius to pass your exams. People only fail when they do not study the learning modules at all. But considering if you enrolled on the course, this would indicate that you actually want to learn to scuba dive, and furthermore as you are learning about safety aspects related to diving, that should be incentive enough to hit the books.

“I want to learn to Scuba dive, how much time will it take?”

This depends on the level you want to learn to scuba dive. An open water course takes on average 3 or 4 days, advanced 2 days. If you are in a hurry you can get to rescue qualified in a week. Your Divemaster course is a different matter. In theory, it only takes 60 dives, however you probably want to make the most of the course. Taking your time is as  beneficial as it is fun. The more diving experience you gain on your course the better skilled you become. For this reason the Xtreme Gap divemaster course is a full 12 weeks of pure diving mixed with living on a tropical island: pure bliss.

“Can I learn to scuba dive if I am a terrible swimmer?”.

Surprisingly you do not have to be a very strong swimmer to learn to scuba dive, you do however have to be able to complete 8 lengths, (200metres). Remember when learning to dive you will be trained how to use a BCD (buoyancy control device) and also you will wear fins making movement through the water very easy.

“I want to learn to scuba dive but I am scared of fish and sharks!”

Well lets face it under water there is an abundance of marine life, if you would rather eat fish than be surrounded by them, perhaps ti s best that you do not learn to scuba dive! Some people are worried about sharks. They get a bad press,  most species are completely harmless and you are fortunate to see them as they are very nervous around divers. More over shark attacks are so rare you are far more likely to have an accident out of the water. If you learn to Scuba dive you can spend some time in the water with them and get to understand them a little. If you really want to know more, consider completing our great white shark specialty scuba diving course in South Africa with Shark man Mike Rutzen or consider some of our shark specialty courses in South Africa.

“I want to learn to scuba dive and become a Scuba diving instructor, what do I need to know?”

A career in Scuba diving is extremely exciting, more over it is lifestyle choice. You will need a minimum of 6 months between your first certification (the first time you learned to scuba dive) and completing your IDC.  More information can be found on our Scuba diving instructor course page

“I want to learn to scuba dive but I am unsure what the point of it all is?”

How do you really know that you want to learn to scuba dive without actually having experienced it? When you learn to scuba dive you will see several distinct benefits. You will learn a new skill, experience a totally new environment, and learn about the marine life and ecology of the oceans. If you learn to Scuba dive you will be engaging in a social activity enabling you to meet new friends and share experiences with like minded people. You will experience moments of wonder and discover a totally different world. When you learn to scuba dive your fitness will improve, as scuba diving gives you a good cardiovascular work out. Some people want to learn to scuba dive as out of sheer curiosity,  not all become return divers, but for many their decision to learn to scuba dive opens up a life long hobby that becomes their passion for years.

Can you book your open water course out there?

Yes, you could, there are plenty of dive shops in Koh Tao, but the advantages of booking before you travel to Thailand seriously outweighs booking in Thailand.

• Koh Tao is becoming increasingly popular, so finding decent accommodation can be difficult at certain times of the year. Once you book with us  you are guaranteed a place at our beautiful Koh Tao resort.
• We will also send you out all your predeparture information including PADI medical forms before  you travel, so  you know if you are fit an able to do the course before heading to Koh Tao.
• We will also provide you with detailed transfer instructions, or for a small fee can arrange your transfer from Bangkok to the island.
• Not all dive schools are the same either, we work with one of the top schools on the Island, and the founders of Xtreme Gap have spent over a year collectively living on Koh Tao, so we know the island like a local and we are on hand to give yo uall the advice and guidance you need pre and post departure.

Gap year diving courses in Thailand.

Taking a Gap Year Diving Course is a wonderful way to spend some or all of your gap year. On a gap year diving course, you will learn new skills, be in a social environment, and as you would expect from a gap year diving course, learn to scuba dive!
Learning to dive in  Thailand will mean that you will live in an incredible environment, rich with culture, gorgeous weather, tanned good looking people all out having an amazing time. Our gap year diving courses are based in Koh Tao, one of the worlds top diving course locations. Xtreme gap have partnered with one of the regions leading dive schools to bring you extremely professionally delivered gap year diving courses, the school is a PADI 5 star resort, operating 2 dive boats, meaning that on your gap year diving course the training will be the best, and that you will always be able to go diving anytime you choose.
During a gap year you have the perfect opportunity to take your diving to Divemaster level. This is because you have lots of spare time on your hands and the Divemaster course is the perfect solution to filling lazy days living on a tropical island. Unlimited diving whilst living the life. Perfect.
If you did not want to go to that level, but you are interested in a taking a  shorter gap year diving course, then you have several options.
Firstly you can complete the basic gap year diving course: your PADI open water course. This qualifies you to dive to 18 metres. This is enough to see the beautiful tropical reefs surrounding Koh Tao (or any where else in the world for that matter).
If you really want to experience Scuba diving proper, you would best to complete the second gap year diving course:

The PADI advanced open water course.

This gap year diving course qualifies you to 30 metres, a lot deeper where different fish species can be found. Take it from us, it is very frustrating seeing a beautiful Whale Shark sink below your open water depth limits and you are unable to follow it. For more detail on this gap year diving course option please click here: PADI Advanced Open Water Course.
To take full advantage of the Divemaster course and the unlimited diving included with the gap year Divemaster program, you first have to complete the third Gap year diving course: PADI Rescue diver. This is the next stage from Advanced. This Gap Year Diving Course teaches you more about safety aspects of diving, looking out for others, search and rescue and if necessary recover y of divers and dealing with and aiding distressed divers. For more information on this gap year diving course follow this link: PADI rescue diver course
The best gap year diving course we believe is the Divemaster course, we rate this highly due to the level of experience you gain underwater, the leadership skills  you gain and the far more indepth learning about the physics and consequently safety aspects of diving. You can read more about this gap year diving course on the Divemaster page.
Another fantastic gap year diving course is the underwater videographer course. You need to be a fairly competent diver for this, but the experience is second to none. Being an underwater videographer, not only allows you to earn money on your gap year, it allows you to have an incredible lifestyle, making movies of divers and marine life and selling your movies to customers at dive schools. There are not many gap year diving courses that allow you to earn on your gap year!
If you really want to extend your diving further, you can go technical, this is really hardcore but worth it for those brave enough! More on this gap year diving course here: DSAT Tec Deep Diver course.
If you are already qualifies to dive (perhaps you took a gap year diving course in Australia) but want to just go out and have a diving holiday in Koh Tao, then we have the perfect solution. The Ultimate Koh Tao Diving Package allows you to book by the week inclusive of accommodation