Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Microdiving Course Becomes UK’s Cheapest Ever Scuba Qualification

June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Would-be scuba divers can now receive full training and an internationally valid qualification in one day for £149. This is for the Microdive RYA 3-Metre Basic Diver course which is now a qualification required by all UK powerboat racers. This price drops even lower to £120 when the training courses are booked for groups of four or more. The new charges are claimed by Microdive Ltd to be roughly one third of the price of a traditional scuba course while also taking a fraction of the time needed to obtain the diving certification.

   The government-approved course qualifies students to Microdive independently to 3-metres wherever in the world they choose. It is seen as the first step in a progression of training that might lead ultimately in stages to the deepest and most advanced diving possible. The price reduction has been inspired by the recent introduction of the Basic Diver course and is intended to remove every obstacle that might deter someone from learning to dive.

   The RYA is endorsing Microdiving as a valuable skill for all of its members regardless of the type of boating they undertake. The ability of yachtsmen and motor boat users to get beneath their craft in an emergency or to undertake maintenance is now recognised as an important seafaring qualification for everyone. The dramatic price reduction of the one-day training courses reflects their popularity by giving those who complete it a skill that they will possess for life.

   Rob Hart, the creator of Microdiving, said; “We believe that we have now completely democratised the undersea world so it can be experienced and enjoyed by anyone. Before the advent of Microdiving the exhilaration of being weightless in such a beautiful environment was reserved for just a dedicated few. Until now only people with the time, the money and the commitment needed to study for weeks to qualify to dive to 18 metres could experience the wonders that lie hidden below the surface of our oceans. By removing the obstacles of time and cost it is now possible for anyone to dive if they want to.”

   Because Microdiving is conducted in shallow water, knowledge of complex decompression theory and related safety procedures is not required. This is how it has been possible to reduce the training curriculum without depriving trainees of the knowledge they need for diving safely.  

   Students enrolling for the course receive a training pack that contains the all of the theory they must know before entering the water to begin diving to 3-metres. They are first required to read this in their own time and answer a questionnaire that will demonstrate their understanding of the main theories of shallow water scuba diving that they have read about. This is followed by an in-pool session when students use the latest Mini-B scuba systems to be taught the techniques needed for diving safely to a depth of 3-metres. The course is completed by a dive in open water such as the sea or the lakes at the National Dive Centre or Andark Diving. The successful completion of the open water dive will conclude the training and secure the qualification for the new diver.

For more information visit; www.microdive.com and www.mini-b.com

-ENDS-

Note to editors
Microdive Ltd is a scuba diver training agency approved by the UK government Health and Safety Executive.

For sales information contact:
Robert Hart, Microdive Ltd, Mini B Shallow Water Scuba Products Ltd. Unit 2, Kings Close, Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0QZ, United Kingdom.   Tel: 01268 681167