Dive School - Terrigal Dive

Terrigal Diving School is Australia's longest established diving school & has been owned & operated by husband & wife team Les & Fran Graham at Terrigal Haven since 1968.

All of the teaching is under the direct supervision of Les & Fran, both of whom have been diving all over the World for more than 42 years.

The dive school premises are on the beachfront at Terrigal Haven just 5m from the water. They incorporate; lecture rooms, equipment store, kit-up courtyard, dive shop as well as change rooms. The two dive boats are moored just outside the dive centre.

We are renowned for our SAFE, careful style of teaching with small, intimate classes of never more than four (4) students per instructor in the water at any time.

This basic open water course will lead you through a series of easily attainable steps to make you a safe competent diver, leading to the international open water scuba certificate issued by SSI. (Scuba Schools International). This is your passport to diving & is recognized throughout the World. This certificate enables you to hire equipment and join in SCUBA activities anywhere.

This training programme also meets & exceeds, the minimum training standard required by 'Standards' Australia'

The 'in water training' for the first 4 lessons is all conducted in the safe, shallow waters of Terrigal Haven just in front of the dive centre and then at one of the picturesque, shallow local reefs for the boat dives.

Each day the lesson will consist of both lectures and practical diving. The lectures cover all aspects of diving from the pitfalls for the unwary, the marine life you can expect to see and what not to touch, as well as how to wisely choose your own diving equipment.

How fit do I have to be?
You must have a diving medical, performed by a 'diving doctor' before commencing training. The medical will check the condition of your lungs, ears, sinuses etc. A list of suitable doctors can be obtained from the Dive Centre please just contact us by email or phone for a list of doctors in your area. You should also be able to swim 200m freestyle & float for 10 minutes

How old do I have to be?
In accordance with Australian Standards the minimum age limit for certification, as an open water scuba diver, is 14.

What do you provide?
All of the equipment that you need for your use during the course is supplied, including mask, fins & snorkel, weight belt, a FULL 5mm wet suit including boots and the SCUBA set. You will also receive to keep, a great colour text book, your log book and decompression tables. If you would prefer to dive in your own equipment, let us advise you on your 'personal gear selection' either before, or as you go through the course. You will be amazed at our total dive system packages, with prices tailored to suit your needs.

How Often Do Courses Commence?
Courses start every Monday at 9am for the full time weekly course, or 9am Saturday mornings for the three weekend course.

COST: Total Cost of the course is $385

Daily Programme

DAY 1: 9am - 4pm

Swim test

Theory
Direct effect of pressure on the diver, including lungs ears & sinuses.

Demonstration
Assembly of SCUBA equipment, operation, dive brief & hand signals.

Dive
Mask clearing, mouthpiece clearing and first exploration of reef to 6m. Snorkeling with full gear, clear up shower and coffee.

DAY 2: 9am - 4pm

Theory
Air purity, compressors & filters. Rescue techniques, stress Avoidance, Resuscitation CPR & EAR. CO2 imbalance, effects of drugs Alcohol & saltwater in diving. Emergency ascents, buddy diving.

Dive
Mask clearing practice, Rescue & resuscitation practice, remove & replace weight belt, 25m no mask swim. Further exploration of reef to 9m & feed fish. Snorkel with full gear, clear up shower & coffee.

Theory
Basic equipment selection, mask, fins, snorkels knives etc.

DAY 3: 9am - 4pm

Theory
Decompression sickness, use of tables, Dive planning, breathing Rates & tank duration. Use of Decompression computers.

Dive
Mask clearing practice, remove & refit scuba set on the surface, Octopus training & practice controlled ascents. Further exploration of reef, clear up shower & coffee.

Theory
Wet suits & BCD's.

DAY 4: 9am - 4pm

Theory
The SCUBA set: Tanks & regulators; mechanics, care & selection.

Dive
Practical test dive: Removal & replace SCUBA set underwater, Buoyancy control practice, Explore reef. Clear up, shower & coffee

Theory
Dive physics; light refraction & colour loss. Sound & dive flags. Buoyancy factors inc suit & tanks, correct buoyancy calculations.

DAY 5: 9am - 4pm

Theory
Marine life: Basic classification, cnidarians, echinoderms, molluscs & Chordates. Treatment of bites and stings etc.

Dive
Boat Dive. To outer reefs & deeper water to 18m. Clear up shower & coffee.

Theory
Nitrogen Narcosis, deeper diving limitations, oxygen poisoning, Research & commercial diving.

A Total Of More Than 5 Hours Actual Underwater Time, 4 Hours In Sheltered Water, 1 Boat Dive Plus Two More Free Boat Dives After Graduation.

Diving Medicals

For your own safety you must have a medical before doing the diving course, conducted by a doctor qualified to conduct 'Diving Medicals' There are many doctors on the Central Coast,

Dr Ron Dilger
90 Avoca Drive
Kincumber
02 4369 5156

Dr Russell Spinks
Cnr.Mangrove Rd. & Narara Valley Drive,
Narara
02 4328 2811

Dr David Simpson
Terrigal Medical Centre
Terrigal 2260
Ph 02 4385 3150

City

Dr Amy Ho,
38 Pacific Highway,
St. Leonards.
02 9906 2544

Dr Ray Tocker,
155 Belmore Rd.,
Randwick,
02 9399 9399

For a diving medical examiner near you please phone us.