| Choosing the right dive center can make a huge | | | | 6. Equipment |
| difference on your experience whether you plan on | | | | If using rental equipment, check it first. You don'tt |
| learning scuba diving or simply dive for fun As | | | | need to be an expert, or even a diver to know old |
| veteran scuba diving instructors working in various | | | | or badly maintained equipment from a new or well |
| places around the glove let us help you out a bit on | | | | maintained one. Insist on visiting the equipment room, |
| your quest for a perfect dive vacation: | | | | and if there are special demands for sizes, exposure |
| 1. Dive center rating | | | | suits thickness or prescription masks, make sure you |
| Dive centers rating can tell you about the quality of | | | | let the dive operator know about it in advance. |
| its facility, safety standards, instructors rating and | | | | 7. Packages Offered |
| more. The rating status normally follows the dive | | | | Many operators offer various dive packages that |
| operator's name. | | | | may include accommodation, free dives, discounts, |
| 2. Dive center location | | | | special offers on additional courses or deducted retail |
| Location makes a huge difference. Having to walk | | | | prices. |
| with equipment to the dive center or from it to the | | | | 8. Atmosphere |
| water/boat. Being able to chill and relax after the | | | | A key part in any diver's routine is socializing, meeting |
| dive. A dive center is no longer just that, it can be | | | | people and having fun. Spend some time around the |
| the center of your vacation. Make the best of it. | | | | dive center, meet the stuff and customers, and get |
| 3. Facilities | | | | the vibes, some dive centers offer much more than |
| Showers, toilets, classrooms, dock, equipment | | | | just diving, make use of that |
| storage; all are key elements that make a dive shop | | | | 9. Class or Group Size |
| pleasant for its costumers. | | | | A key element in diving is to dive in small groups. In |
| 4. Staff | | | | courses you learn more and get more attention from |
| Meet your stuff members, as you'll probably spend | | | | your instructor. When diving, fewer divers mean |
| some time with them. Check their rating, knowledge | | | | more chances of seeing creatures up close. It doesn't |
| and experience, make sure they are also familiar and | | | | mean diving with small dive operators; just make sure |
| experienced at the local dive sites as professional | | | | your group size remains small |
| divers can be experienced elsewhere and lack vital | | | | 10. Activities. |
| knowledge when working in new places.If choosing | | | | Not all dive operators can offer everything, so check |
| to take a course, see what else your instructors can | | | | if your dive center offers anything extra, and a |
| offer after participating in it. | | | | unique experience that makes a difference. |
| 5. Boats | | | | 11. Environmental Awareness. |
| If you don't intend on shore diving, have a quick look | | | | Please ask what the dive center offers to minimize |
| at the boats available, are they fast and stable | | | | the effects on the marine environment. Please report |
| enough to get to sites easily? Would you have | | | | any misbehaving such as loitering, touching the reef |
| enough space? Would you be protected from the | | | | and marine creatures, and disregarding diver's |
| sun? Are there any O2, 1st Aid, and Spare kits on | | | | buoyancy problems. Help us keep the ocean clean |
| board? | | | | and healthy. |