Itineraries

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will I need a wet suit?

We generally recommend a thin wet suit , especially in the colder months. On shallow dives you will spend longer underwater and may become a little chilled. All of the centers have these for hire.

2. What types of dives are there?

Most dives are from boats, although there is some shore diving at certain centers. There are two main forms of reef around the Seychelles; those composed of hard coral, like the famous Barrier reefs, and those of granite, which are generally encrusted with various soft coral formations.  Most centers offer several types of dive trip, including wreck dives, night dives and "off-shore" longer-range dives to the more remote dive sites. On the islands of the Amirantes and further south there are also some true "Wall-Dives", but you should contact the centers to confirm the times of year to visit these outer islands.

3. How deep are the dives?

The dives on the inshore reefs range between 10 and 20 meters, the maximum allowable depth on APDS run dives is 30 meters. Decompression dives are not allowed.

4. Are there any live-aboard dive charters?

There are several charter yachts which will take diving groups.  Charters can be organised through some diving centers who will also supply the Dive Master and equipment.

5. Where are the dive centers?

Most are situated at the beachside hotels.

6. How do I get to the dive centers?

If you are not staying at the hotel where the center is situated, we can arrange daily transfers.

7. Is the diving properly organised?

The centers we recommend are members of the Association of Professional Divers Seychelles.  This association requires that all its centers are staffed by internationally qualified dive masters and instructors. They also lay down a code of safety and operating standards for all diving activities, so properly organised dives are guaranteed.

 8. Where can I learn to dive?

The Dive Centres have internationally qualified instructors who are able to teach from Novice level onwards, as well as providing all the other services needed by qualified divers. "Dive Operators" have only Dive Master rated personnel and are only allowed to take out qualified divers.

9. What about advanced courses?

Many Dive Centress also run more advanced courses for qualified divers, some offering certification right up to Assistant Instructor.  Specialty diving courses are also available at a number of Centres in a whole range of topics from Underwater Photography through to Deep and Wreck Diving.

10. Will the qualification I get be valid elsewhere?

If you take a certification course at any of the APDS centers the license you receive will be valid worldwide. Most instructors are PADI qualified and issue the PADI Open Water Certificate for entry-level divers.

11. What is PADI?

PADI is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors; it is the biggest diver-training agency in the world and certifies the largest number of divers every year.

12. How long will it take me to learn?

As little as one day! The APDS centers run one day Introductory Courses; these courses comprise a theory session, a training session in the swimming pool followed by a shallow dive in the sea, all under the close supervision of an experienced instructor. These courses are not certification courses.  The certification courses will be at least four days long and include five theory tutorials

supported by a training manual, five pool training sessions and four sea dives.

13. What about diving during pregnancy?

PADI recommends that women should not dive at all during pregnancy. Although there is

probably no risk, there have been some suggestions that it may affect the unborn child and thus is inadvisable.

14. Do I need to bring any special papers?

Yes, as a qualified diver you should bring your logbook and proof of diving qualification. It is also a good idea to bring a copy of your current medical certificate. If you are not a diver but you have decided to try diving then you need no paper work unless you have a medical problem, in which case you will need a doctor's certificate of fitness to dive.

15. What equipment do I need to bring?

You need bring nothing at all; all the centers have full equipment rental, including demand valves with contents and depth gauges, BCD's with low power inflation systems as well as tanks, weights, masks, snorkels and fins etc.  If you do bring your own equipment it must be in proper working order and you must dive with a BCD or similar buoyancy device with a power inflation mechanism; you must also use a contents gauge.

16. Are there any age limits?

Yes, the youngest that we will accept on courses or dives is 12 years old and they must

have written parental consent. There is no published upper limit but people over the

age of 55 may be asked for a medical certificate from a doctor confirming fitness to

dive.

17. What about insurance?

All members of the APDS are required to have third party liability insurance cover. However, anyone intending to go diving should declare this when you book your holiday insurance policy. Normally there is a small surcharge, but this is well worthwhile.

18. Are there any sharks?

Yes there are, however these are not a problem to divers or swimmers. You are very unlikely to see any sharks around the main islands; those that are seen have never been a problem and are a rare but thrilling sight. On the offshore sites and more remote islands, sharks are more common, but again there has never been a problem.  The dive masters will give full briefings on all the marine life likely to be encountered.

19. What about flying after diving?

PADI recommends that you have a full 24 hours break after diving before you fly.

21. Are there underwater photography facilities?

Yes, several of the centers have full underwater photography courses as well as offering to photograph you and your dive or even video the event.  Due to the high price of Underwater Photographic equipment there are few centers who will hire out equipment unless on a supervised photo course. There are no rapid slide and print processing facilities on the more remote locations.

22 Can I take coral or shells?

Our centers operate strict conservation policies on their dives and will not allow shell or coral taking.  In marine park areas it is against the law to take either