FAQ-Diving courses
What I need to know before to enroll in a PADI Open Water Diver course ?
Minimum age: 12 years
Students under the age of 15 who successfully complete the course receive the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which can upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver after reaching this age.
Physical conditions
Before enrolling in the course, each participant must verify that they have no contraindications to diving. The first step is to carefully read the attached Medical Diver Questionnaire below.
If you answer NO to each question of the medical form, it is sufficient to bring a medical certificate of suitability for non-competitive sporting activity no older than one year (at the start date of the course). The answer YES, to one or more questions on the form, requires the approval and signature of a doctor in the appropriate section on the back of the diving medical questionnaire.
Swimming skills
Before completing the PADI Open Water Diver course, you will need to demonstrate to your Instructor that you are able to swim without problems for 200 meters / yards (or 300 meters / yards with mask, fins and snorkel) in open water. There are no time limits to perform this exercise and you can use any recognized style of swimming you want. You will also need to show that you are able to stand on the surface for 10 minutes, again using any technique you prefer.
Last update on 27. April 2024 by Portofino Divers.
Clarifications on PADI "Junior" diver certification
PADI’s Junior Open Water Diver course is similar to the adult certification program and prepares kids to become full-fledged divers when they are of age. To begin the program, students must be at least 10 years old and be able to swim.
To ensure that young divers don’t exceed their limits, the Junior Open Water certification comes with restrictions. Divers 10-11 years old must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian, and dives cannot exceed 12 meters. Divers 12-14 years old must dive with a certified adult and dives cannot exceed 18 meters. After the age of 15, depth and buddy restrictions default to those of a regular PADI Open Water Diver. Divers who were initially certified as a junior diver and wish to receive a new card that simply says “Open Water Diver” can order a replacement from their PADI Dive Center
Last update on 27. February 2016 by Portofino Divers.
How soon can I fly after a dive ?
For the depths and times of the Try diving program you can fly after 12 hours if you participate in just 1 dive and after 18 hours if you participate in 2 dives in a day, according to International diving rules.
Last update on 1. January 2018 by Portofino Divers.
Do I have to own the equipment to participate in the GUE Fundamentals course ?
Prior to the commencement of class, students should consult with a GUE representative to verify equipment requirements.
However students are not required to have their own equipment as rental of all the components of the GUE recreational diving configuration is included in the course fee. This allows the student to try out the equipment prior to making any purchases and to avoid acquiring substandard equipment which not fulfills GUE’s requirement
Those who want to participate in the course using the GUE configuration for technical diving without having their own, can ask us for a quote for the rental of the following components, these parts are mandatory only to achieve the Tech pass
- Double tank configuration (harness, wing for doubles, regulators kit for doubles)
- Primary light system
- Back-up lights
- Drysuit
Last update on 17. February 2024 by Portofino Divers.
Do I have to own the equipment to enroll in PADI Tec courses ?
Prior to the commencement of class, students should consult with our PADI representatives to verify equipment requirements.
Students are not required to have their own equipment to participate in the PADI Tec Basics and Tec 40 courses. All the components of the equipment configuration for technical diving is available for rent at our facility. This allows the student to try out the equipment prior to making any purchases and to avoid acquiring substandard equipment which not fulfills the minimum standard requirements.
Those who wish to participate in the first Tec course without owning their own can ask us for a quote for the rental of the various components such as:
- Double tank configuration (harness, wing for doubles, regulators kit for doubles)
- Primary light system
- Back-up lights
- Drysuit
However, it is advisable to bring your own equipment, with the exception of cylinders, to participate in the next level courses: Tec 45 and Tec 50.
Last update on 15. February 2024 by Portofino Divers.
Who is the PADI Tec Basics course intended for?
The PADI Tec Basics course is an optional program, recommended for PADI Advanced Open Water Divers, or equivalent certification levels issued by other training agencies, who wish to be introduced to the skills and equipment used in technical diving.
This course is not a required path to transition from recreational to technical diving, it is an optional course that helps divers become acquainted with new equipment and hone fundamental skills. The PADI Tec Basics course is aimed at the recreational divers who wish to improve their basic skills and have a greater chance of success in the PADI Tec 40 course.
Last update on 17. February 2024 by Portofino Divers.
Am I ready for the PADI Tec 40 course?
The PADI Tec 40 course is dedicated to developing advanced diving skills, consolidating them and gaining a first experience of decompression diving. Mastering basic skills is essential to participate in a technical diving course and to obtain the best results from the training. Basic diving skills are those fundamental skills that every diver should have gained in recreational diving courses: buoyancy and trim, propulsion and maneuvering techniques, equipment management, communications, emergency procedures and situational awareness.
To make the most of your time during the Tec 40 course, It is important that you have some diving experience and that you have improved the basic skills learned in previous courses.
To immediately use the appropriate equipment configuration without compromising your stability in the water, you need to have good control of your buoyancy and position in relation to the environment and your teammates, as well as mastering the correct propulsion and maneuvering techniques.
For the diver looking to improve basic diving techniques, the PADI Tec Basics course introduces double-tank equipment setup, skills and procedures used in technical diving. It is an optional course that helps divers become familiar with new equipment and hone fundamental skills before moving on to the PADI Tec 40 course.
Last update on 17. February 2024 by Portofino Divers.
Will I use trimix in PADI courses?
PADI recommends that technical divers maintain an END (Equivalent Air Depth) ≤30 meters and a gas density of less than 6.3 g/l (the air equivalent of 38 meters); however, it does not mandate the use of trimix for Tec courses. Given current helium prices and supply issues, the use of trimix mixtures is recommended but optional, depending on diving conditions and circumstances.
Although our instructors recommend the use of trimix starting from the Tec 40 course, it is possible to carry out this course using air as a breathing mixture at depth. In the subsequent levels, Tec 45 and Tec 50, the use of trimix becomes mandatory.
Last update on 17. February 2024 by Portofino Divers.