FAQ

All year round! There is no real peak season for diving in Kauai. There are different reasons to dive during the different seasons. For example, if you are interested in possibly seeing whales, whale season is January.

Well, believe it or not the answer is yes and no. If you just want to try diving (an introduction), then the answer is no. But if you plan on getting certified, then the answer is yes. Part of the certification course is a 200 yard freestyle and a ten minute tread. Now before you shave your body to get ready, remember there is no time limit on the swim. Is it difficult to learn to dive? Not for most people (if my wimpy sister can do it, anyone can!). The class is designed to teach you the skills that you need to be a safe diver. As long as you can swim (see above) then you can dive.

Generally the answer is no but that’s up to your doctor. If you have asthma then you need to consult your physician. If he gives you the OK, simply have him sign the medical release form and bring it with you.

Yes. You can begin the certification process at home. You can either take a PADI SCUBA course at a dive shop near you or you can do a PADI eLearning course to prepare before you get to Kauai. Remember, the amount of time you spend in a classroom depends on how much you study!

Most certifying agencies require that you be at least 12 years old (with PADI it’s 10) when you start your scuba diving course. You will normally receive a junior certification which can be upgraded to a full certification when you are 15 years old.

Absolutely. Diving for the most part is safe but there are rules and precautions that need to be taken. Being certified gives you the tools to dive to any depth and be safe. Even dive less the ten feet can be dangerous on SCUBA if you don’t know what you are doing. Most companies won’t even sell you gear without that card. But if you just want to do a shallow dive and experience the feeling, then you can do a Discover Scuba Diving program. This program requires no experience and includes a dive with an instructor. How long does it take? The certification process is 3 days. The introduction to SCUBA is 4 hours.

Absolutely! If you wear glasses, the solution is a prescription mask. You can purchase your own ahead of time and bring it with you or we can rent one to you. Regarding contact lenses…our owner Jeannette, has been wearing contacts for years while diving and has never lost a single one. If you do happen to lose a contact lens in the ocean, however, trying to find it would be a b… well let’s just say it would be tough.

Time underwater depends on how long the tank of air lasts and that is dependent on depth and how comfortable you are in the water. For most people 45 minutes is the average time but we have had some divers that can take that out to an hour. In the movies and TV, divers are always running into sharks and eels.

No. although the movies and Baywatch want you to think that the underwater environment is dangerous, it’s not. Sharks and eels, while intimidating, are not a threat to divers. Heck… some of our best friends are sharks (we can introduce you to “Stumpy” on your dive if you’d like).

No. although the movies and Baywatch want you to think that the underwater environment is dangerous, it’s not. Sharks and eels, while intimidating, are not a threat to divers. Heck… some of our best friends are sharks (we can introduce you to “Stumpy” on your dive if you’d like).

Sure! Try out the Discover SCUBA diving program. It’s fun and safe and the dive counts toward your certification. All it takes is a sense of adventure and the rest is up to us.

Our goal at Fathom Five/Ocean Quest is to make you not only comfortable about diving but excited. Give us a call or email us and we will be happy to answer your questions.