PADI Skin Diver Course

PADI Skin Diver Course

Learning to Snorkel Safely, provides you with another great way to explore the underwater world when you are not able to scuba dive or if scuba diving just isn't your thing

Snorkelling is about swimming on the surface and the ability to make safe breath-hold dives to observe aquatic life, up close and personal. Our Snorkelling course teaches you how to enjoy watching life below the surface and comfortably venture underwater for short visits, whether you intend to dive in a local freshwater lake or the big blue ocean while on holiday.

Is there a Difference between Snorkelling and Free Diving?

Snorkelling v Free Diving
You may think that snorkelling is similar to free diving, which has become more popular these days.  While both involve diving underwater without the help of a scuba gear, the two are quite different.  Snorkelling involves looking at the underwater marine life from the surface and occasionally diving underwater for short periods of time.  Free diving, on the other hand, involves diving for long periods of time without snorkeling at all.   Its aim is actually to dive longer underwater and the only reason why one resurfaces is to re-oxygenate and not to snorkel.

​No snorkel is needed in free diving and the mask used is much lower in volume compared to regular dive masks.

Why learn to Snorkel?

Snorkelling is something that a lot of people do when on holiday, not just in those warmer waters but here in the UK to.  It consists of minimal equipment - Mask, Snorkel, Fins and maybe a wetsuit or rash vest or just a swimming costume

​It offers freedom and an insight into the world that divers are very aware of as not everyone wants to be a diver (yes really!)  

Snorkeling has many positive aspects, from an active lifestyle to stress relief and general happiness as a side effect. 

We experience the world, and comprehend it through our senses.  The sea is such a multi-sensory experience.  It is visually simulating with a thousand shades of constantly moving blue.  Smells and sounds of waves have an effect on our wellbeing.  And thats before we get into it!

Our bodies have been shaped and formed by water - after all we have an ocean inside us.  Just like the Earth, we are 70% water.  

Cold water stimulates the vagus nerve, calming our fight or flight response, lowering cortisol and releasing fee-good hormones.

Just looking at water changes our brain wave frequency, putting us into a more mediative state.

There is growing body of evidence pointing towards the powerful healing effects of regular and gradual buildup of immersion or swimming in the sea and on top of all of that there is nothing quite like being able to swim above some coral and watch fish swim around you as you float in the cool water. There are so many amazing sights to see and we hope you take the opportunity to go see them like Whale Sharks in Tanzania

We actively encourage everyone to engage with the sea, there are so many beautiful things that live in our seas, the more people that see that, we hope it will encourage more to protect them and maybe become involved in nurturing and revitalising some ecosystem in need of help.

What do I need to start the PADI Skin Diver Course?

• You must be at least 8 years old
• You need adequate swimming skills and be comfortable in the water
• No prior experience is required
• You need to complete a Discover Snorkelling and Skin Diving form

What will I do during the PADI Skin Diver Course?

You will learn:

• How to choose, adjust and use skin diving equipment.
• Basic safety guidelines for being in and around the water.
• Snorkeling and skin diving techniques including
  • checking buoyancy
  • surface swimming
  • clearing water from your snorkel; and
  • performing effortless surface dives.​
• Basic hand signal communication at the surface and underwater.​

How long does the PADI Skin Diver Course take?

One Pool Session

What will I need to take part in the PADI Skin Diver Course?

• Your swimming kit
• Your own mask, snorkel and fins are recommended, but these are provided if you do not have.

When does the PADI Skin Diver course run?

This course is ran as and when required and as part of our Open Water courses.  Get in touch to arrange.

What is next after the PADI Skin Diver Course

Get out and go snorkelling on your next holiday or just pop to the coast here in the UK and have fun.  We hold a wide range of stock in store to make that snorkelling experience all that much easier, so please feel free to browse and ask questions, we are always happy to help

• Mask - We can fit you for a mask - nothing worse than one that leaks!
• Snorkel - Talk through all of the various snorkels - advantages / disadvantages
• Integrated Full Face system - maybe you want a Full mask system, where you can now breath out of both your mouth and nose AND no fogging.
• Safety Vests
• Practise
• Protective Items -  Wetsuits - Rash Vests - Leggings
• Fins - Open Heel or Closed Heel
• Beach Shoes
• Wet Boots