Outrage: Simply pressing 'thanks' doesn't do your last post justice, so I guess I'll have to think of something intelligent to say, too...

Thank you for an informative, and very helpful post. It's also quite reassuring, too!

Maybe I'll give it a try, after all.

Cheers!

Agreed with outrage... except, it comes down to your medication level and peak flow... check with a pulmonologist...

Although this was Mark's site I would still recommend you go through and read www.zurichdivers.com simply because there are many useful articles about diving in Switzerland and dive training on there.

I started to dive to "cure" my water phobia... at the time I did the course the simple thought of being next to the lake was enough to have me in a state of hyperventilating panic. But with an excellent instructor you'll be amazed... and yes I had the best

It was enough to inspire me to go on with my training to professional level and had I not had to stop for other medical reasons I too would have been in the caves.

Anyway, my point is this, find a good instructor who will take his/her time and avoid big groups... get medical clearance and try it out. Maybe a simple discover scuba in a pool would be a good start.

And hey if you want some honest opinions with no commercial motivation behind feel free to ask me...

I have a padi open water certification ... looking to join english speaking divers

Just to clarify, www.zurichdivers.com was the late Mark Fyvie's site. The same gentleman who set up and ran this forum until his death on March 10th 2008. So you will not see actual activities occuring, it is simply a very good resource.

I am quite surprised that this is challenging. I have never tried scuba diving, but it can't be that different to snorkeling? (which I did when I was a kiddo )

I can remember hyperventilating and having cups of sea water the first time I went snorkeling ... absolutely hate it. But breathing in with a regulator is fine it fells al right nothing to panic about.

I guess it is not so difficult if you are used to snorkeling etc. but for me it was damn scary at first. Not much of a water creature I am

Scuba Diving Summer News!

Plans are underway to organize the PADI Open Water Diver course in English around Zurich. Class schedule is this summer (sometime mid July). Suitable for beginners. Feel free to contact Blue Divers for more information.

Thanks and see you in the water.

PADI Open Water Diver (English) in Zurich

Dates: Sat 19 Jul, Sun 20 Jul 2008
Sat 26 Jul, Sun 27 Jul 2008

Places still available. Contact Blue Divers for more information.

to those who worries about the safety aspect of diving, I would highly recommend you to try Discover Scuba Diving. You'll go down to a maximum depth of 12m and if you're interested in doing your Open Water Course, you can use your DSD credentials and jump staright to Dive 3 and 4 of your Open Water Course.

Sucking air underwater is dogs pants but sadly PADI is simply pants because CESA is an health hazzard. Once time permits, I'm converting to SSI.

> to those who worries about the safety aspect of diving, I would highly recommend you to try Discover Scuba Diving.

Good idea for Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) for those who are not yet sure if scuba diving is going to be their thing.


> Sucking air underwater is dogs pants but sadly PADI is simply pants because CESA is an health hazzard.

Some say CESA is better than nothing in a possible life and death situation underwater. Perhaps the concern of "bent"?


> Once time permits, I'm converting to SSI.

What does SSI offer that could be so attractive compared to PADI?

Thanks.

Sorry for bringing such an old thread back to life, but do blue divers still exist ?

I tried to click the website links and my work filter blocked it saying there are naked images ..naked fish ?? So I wondered if anyone knew if they were still offering courses in English?

Clinked on the link and they are still alive and well

Sorry, ignore that last post, thought I would investigate it a bit further and your right, the links on the home page take you through to a photography site not a dive site- wierd

A photography site .. so thats what they call it these days is it ..

Slightly more on topic I sent a mail to bär sports to see if their courses were also available in English.

If I come up with any other places I will add them to the thread.

Can somebody please provide some information in EN from that website ?

http://dive.baersport.ch/

I mean specially the information written in the pricelist PDF.
BTW, does scuba diving license require good swimming skills ? if so, do you know how does that "good" quantifies exactly ?

Which bit exactly do you need translating...

If you look on www.padi.com it will tell you more about each of the courses in English.

I'm guessing looking at the Open Water Course.
The 'fun and sun option' allows you to do the theory sessions and pool session in Switzerland (allowing you to choose where you do your open water dives (most people prefer the sea to a lake).
The other open water course includes the open water dives.
Otherwise the price differences are for students, group or private lessons. and I discount for doing theory as elearning.

You need to be able to swim but you don't need to be that great a swimmer, at the beginning of the course you are asked to take a 200 metres swim test but it isn't timed.

I never had to "quantify" my swimming skills in any form, but I did not make my certificates in Switzerland. Only tests I know of are on a DM level, which is already a professional education.
I have seen people diving with absolutely no swimming skills at all. One could say that the dive master pushed them along the reef... which is probably not the safest option. It does not take a lot of fitness to dive at all, but it would be beneficial to be strong enough to climb into a boat with some kilos of equipment on your back or swim some 100 meters back to the shore...