PADI Scuba Diver Course
Thursday, December 18th, 2008The PADI Scuba Diver Certification
In case your visit to Koh Tao is too short this time, and you don’t have the full 4 days left to complete an Open Water diving course (OWD), the PADI Scuba Diver Course might just be the right solution for you!
Or maybe you would simply feel safer, and more comfortable, while diving under the supervision and guidance of an experienced diving professional to accompany you at all times. In any case, when circumstances change, the Scuba Diver Certification can be upgraded to a regular PADI Open Water Diver Certification later on in any PADI Diving School worldwide.
What you need to begin with
To obtain the PADI Scuba Diver Certification, one needs to be at least 10 years old. Further on a good physical health is required for scuba diving, which means you should be reasonably fit to learn scuba diving * and you have to be a sufficient swimmer. Other than that you need a swimsuit or shorts some sunscreen and at least 2 1/2 days time. (Don’t worry, it’s not going to take the whole 2 1/2 days off of your holiday calendar, there will still be time to explore Koh Tao, or to spend on one of the islands beautiful beaches)
What you can expect from the PADI Scuba Diver Course
Other than in the previously mentioned Discover Scuba Diving Course, where the goal was to provide an enjoyable afternoon under water without loosing much time on technical instructions, the “PADI Scuba Diver” lessons will take your personal underwater experience and the knowledge about your new hobby, to a completely new dimension.
During these lessons your scuba diving instructor will teach you the fundamentals and the basics of scuba diving. You will learn how to use your diving equipment and you will learn essential skills and important techniques of scuba diving and underwater behavior.
To complete the requirements of your PADI Scuba Diver certification you need to read 3 Knowledge Development Sessions out of the PADI Open Water Diver book, complete three underwater water session in shallow water and two open water dives! Open Water Dives means, we go out in the sea to a maximum depth of 12 meters and see some fish! Here you can explore the reef and watch some colorful tropical fish and some really strange creatures! Hey, and for the first time in your life you won’t have to be worried about breathing under water anymore. Up to this point, breathing under water has already become completely normal for you!
About PADI Scuba Diving Courses
All PADI scuba diving courses are performance based which means that you have to “show mastery of a skill” before you move on to the next skill, saying; that we’re going to take it slowly step by step until you feel comfortable with each new task and skill. This will assure that you will safely learn to dive in a most comfortable and relaxed way.
* Please Note: To proof that you are in good health for scuba diving, you should be able to answer all 34 questions in the Medical Questionnaire with “NO”. In case you have to answer one of the questions in the medical form with “YES”, you will have to see a physician to make sure that there is no health concern for you while scuba diving. (Please ask him/her for a written statement to bring with) To view the Medical Form, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your Computer. If you don’t have Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free here.
The EFR (Emergency First Responder) course offers you an innovative way to learn both CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and First Aid, which could help to save a life, or at least, it will give you the knowledge and the confidence to know how to react and what to do in case of an emergency.
Emergency First Response, Primary Care (CPR) provides participants with the knowledge of how to respond in case of life-threatening emergencies. The EFR course focuses on primary care through a combination of knowledge development, skill development and realistic scenario exercises to make sure participants have the confidence and the ability to provide immediate help when help is needed.
As the Dinosaur in the shop, Klaus has worked for 10 years in Big Bubble and taught a bunch of people how to breathe under water.
Lorena comes from Switzerland and she is living her dream. As a Divemaster at Big Bubble, and meanwhile also as a diving instructor, Lorena will take you on a super cool underwater adventure. Lorena speaks Italian, German and English, so no matter who you are or what you are doing, she is going to have fun with you on the boat and in the water. She is passionate about fish species and is always trying to find something new. In the morning Lorena is like speedy Gonzales you can really see here Italians roots. She worked before as nurse and she brings this professionalism from nursing to diving. Come and join Lorena at Big Bubble and you will see that she is a happy bubbly person and then you will be on a super cool underwater adventure too.
Coming from Grimsby, in England, Chill “knows” fish! (Albeit fried in batter and served with chips and mushy peas!) He is a real Grimbarian! After traveling the world for 12 years and working in any job that would pay for the next part of the journey, Chill settled here over 4 years ago, when he came to Big Bubble and realized a career in diving would be far better than working for a living!
Jessie is our resident Dutchy and company clown. He was born in Holland and spent several years in Spain, accounting for his year-round tan. Jess has lived and worked in Koh Tao on and off for around 4 years. He started his diving career in Koh Phangan where he studied to become a Divemaster, then moved to work in Koh Tao. He has also worked as an underwater videographer.
Kat did her Divemaster training in Koh Tao in 2001 and after becoming an Instructor she started a world-working- tour, teaching scuba diving in Thailand, the Philippines, in Mexico, Honduras, Egypt and in Indonesia.
Afraid of Sharks ? HE WAS TOO!!! Tom, our Bavarian Hill-Billy came to Koh Tao the first time 1993 and stuck here since then. The first 6 years we had a hard time to get him in the water. He was very scared to get eaten by the numerous Great Whites around here Koh Tao. In 2000 we tossed him in the water and forced him to do his Open Water Diver Diving Course. And suddenly he changed, and his life changed too! – Sharks became his friends and his diving skills became exceptional and in 2002 he did his Diving Instructor Course. Since that time he taught more then 850 students scuba diving on different levels. Also his German improved a lot, but you can still hear his Bavarian roots. In Thai they say – Chai Yen – what means ‘cool heart’; he is calm understanding and very skilled. Twisting words is one of his favored hobbies. Today he says: “If you don’t want to see sharks.. just close your eyes”. 
Mio is our Longtail Driver, he is the one who will bring you with our Longtail to the Big Boat. Sometimes he is a bit grumpy but he has a good heart and is one of the most experienced Longtail Captains on the Island. Mio works with Big Bubble since … nobody can really remember…! Since more than 15 years has he been driving scuba divers and snorkelers around Koh Tao.
Kwan is the good soul in our dive shop and travel office. She will arange all boat, bus, train or flight tickets to any destination to make sure you have no problems and can enjoy your holiday without any booking hassel. Kwan is also responsible for all administrative tasks in our dive resort. So if you want to pay your fun dives or 
Pi Deng is the captain of our Big Boat and he is the one who will make sure that you arrive safely on all dive sites we go to. He lives on the boat, cooks his food there and has his family is visiting him occasionally.
Chip is our boat technician, he is the one who is filling the tanks for your dives with clean fresh sea air. If you need help to get in or out of the water he is happy to be there for you. Since he is always smiling, Chip takes also a stunt part on almost every dive video.
