Learn to Scuba Dive on Hvar This Summer

For me, I could just sit on the new terrace all day long with a cold beer and watch the world go by, but most people who come along to the Viking Diving Centre just below Hotel Podstine come for the fabulous underwater experience in Hvar's water. Working with a very friendly and professional team, the Viking diving experience is for many one of the highlights of their visits to Hvar.

Never dived before, or looking to take your skills to the next level? In addition to a range of tours, Viking offers a full range of courses, from beginners as young as ten upwards. Check out their site for their complete offer, and read on below for an overview of their courses.

And don't forget to check out the terrace. It's great! 

 

PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to breathe underwater? If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it.

While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world.

There is nothing like breathing underwater for the very first time. It takes a little getting used to – after all, human beings weren’t designed to do that – but after a few minutes of awestruck wonder, most participants realize how easy scuba diving really is. The fun part? It’s all fun!

Plus, you can get credit! As our Discover Scuba Diving program includes an actual scuba dive in open water, your experience may count toward PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver certification, putting you a step ahead of the game when you decide to go for it.

What You Learn

You learn the basics you need to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. One thing you’ll learn is that you really can breathe underwater and whether you like doing that or not.

The Scuba Gear You Use

You’ll use all the basic scuba gear including a mask , snorkel and fins, a buoyancy compensating jacket that also carries your scuba tank, a scuba regulator to breathe from and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply. You’ll also wear a scuba wetsuit and a weight system.

The Learning Materials You Need

Just your willingness and undivided attention

Prerequisites

To take Discover Scuba Diving, you must be at least 10 years old

Your Next Adventure

Once you complete a Discover Scuba Diving program, you’ll want to check out:

Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver certification courses
Scuba Diver
PADI Scuba Diver Course

Short on time and long on the urge to become a certified diver? The PADI Scuba Diver certification might just be for you. This course requires less time than the PADI Open Water Diver course, covering only the first three of five sections of knowledge development and training dives, resulting in a limited certification

This certification allows for ample dive experience and is a good warm-up for the Open Water Diver course, if that’s your ultimate goal. PADI Scuba Divers are qualified to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Divemaster, Assistant Instructor or Instructor to a maximum depth of 12 metres / 40 feet

The Fun Part

The Scuba Diver certification opens the door on the underwater world for anyone who’s thought that a course would take too long or be too difficult

Upgrade to Open Water Diver whenever you want! With less time than the Scuba Diver course takes, you can make the jump to Open Water Diver certification and start scuba diving independently whenever time allows or you’re up for more

What You Learn

All the basics of scuba diving through knowledge development, a set of scuba skills in the water and an appreciation for the underwater world that will keep you coming back for more bottom time every chance you get!
During the course you’ll cover material and practice skills related to topics such as:

Buoyancy skills including comfortable ascents and descents, and breathing underwater.
Staying warm underwater, streamlining your swimming skills and buddy diving techniques.
Diving environments and aquatic life you’re likely to encounter.
Preventing common problems underwater.
An introduction to boat diving.

The Scuba Gear You Use

All the basic scuba gear is included with your course: a mask, snorkel and fins, a buoyancy compensating jacket that holds your scuba tank, a scuba regulator that delivers air, a scuba wetsuit that keeps you warm, a weight system and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply will also be used.

The Learning Materials You Need

PADI offers a variety of home-study materials for the Scuba Diver, providing a comprehensive overview of basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you’ll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Then you’ll jump into the water to practice these skills with your instructor. Once you’re a certified diver, use the course materials as a reference guide for future diving adventures.

The Prerequisites for This Course

To take this course, you must be 15 years (or 12 years old for Junior Scuba Diver certification)

Your Next Adventure

You may want to step up to Open Water Diver certification at your first opportunity

Open Water Diver

Get Certified! Take a Scuba Lesson with the PADI Open Water Diver Course

Get your PADI scuba certification. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, discover new adventures or simply see the wondrous world beneath the waves, this is where it starts.

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba course, and has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle.

What You Learn

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge Development to understand basic principles of scuba diving
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills
Open Water Dives to review your skills and explore!
You'll also learn to use basic scuba gear including a dive planner and standard accessories.

Prerequisites

To enroll in the PADI Open Water Diver course you must be 15 years or older (or 12 years old for Junior Open Water Diver certification)

The Scuba Gear You Use

All the basic scuba gear is included with your course: a mask, snorkel and fins, a buoyancy compensating jacket that holds your scuba tank, a scuba regulator that delivers air, a scuba wetsuit that keeps you warm, a weight system and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply will also be used.

The Learning Materials You Need

PADI offers a variety of home-study materials for the Scuba Diver. You are obliged to buy a book and/or a multimedia DVD-ROM, but you may also choose eLearning, a computer-based access to the manual and video integrated into guided online learning.

PADI’s Open Water Diver materials cover what you need to know about basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you’ll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Then you’ll jump into the water to practice these skills with your instructor. Later, as a certified diver, use the course materials as a reference guide for future diving adventures and to review what you learned.

Advanced Open Water Diver
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

Exploration, Excitement, Experiences.
They’re what the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about. The Advanced Open Water Diver course helps you increase your confidence and build your scuba skills so you can become more comfortable in the water. This is a great way to get more dives under your belt while continuing to learn under the supervision of your PADI instructor. This course builds on what you’ve learned and develops new capabilities by introducing you to new activities and new ways to have fun scuba diving.

You’ll hone your skills by completing five adventure dives that introduce you to:

Underwater navigation
Deeper water diving (typically anywhere from 18-30 metres/ 60-100 feet)
A sampler of three more Adventure Dives of your choice: wreck diving, night diving, peak performance buoyancy, AWARE-fish identification, boat diving and much more.

Prerequisites
To take this course, you must be:

A PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
15 years old (12 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver)

What You Learn

The knowledge and skills you get in the Advanced Open Water Diver course vary with your interest and the adventures you have, but include:

Practical aspects of deep diving
Physiological effects of deeper scuba diving.
More ways to use your underwater compass
How to navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time
How to better use your dive computer and Recreational Dive Planner (RDP)
And much, much more, depending on the Adventure Dives you choose

The Scuba Gear You Use

You use all the basic scuba gear including an underwater compass. Depending on which three adventure dives you pick, you may also try out a dive computer, a dive light, lift bags or other specialty gear.

The Learning Materials You Need

PADI’s Adventures in Diving Manual and DVD provide information on more than 16 types of specialty diving. You’ll use them as a guidebook to improve your diving skills and prepare for new experiences and adventures.