Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Mar 30th 2010, 3:44 am
#1
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Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
I would like to get my PADI Open Water diving qualification in Dubai before a holiday in September. I am researching who to do it with and so far have found Al Boom diving school and the diving school at Atlantis. Both charge 2350 Dirhams for the four day course so I guess this is the going rate.
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Mar 30th 2010, 5:00 am
#2
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,889
Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
I would like to get my PADI Open Water diving qualification in Dubai before a holiday in September. I am researching who to do it with and so far have found Al Boom diving school and the diving school at Atlantis. Both charge 2350 Dirhams for the four day course so I guess this is the going rate.
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Mar 30th 2010, 5:38 am
#3
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
I would like to get my PADI Open Water diving qualification in Dubai before a holiday in September. I am researching who to do it with and so far have found Al Boom diving school and the diving school at Atlantis. Both charge 2350 Dirhams for the four day course so I guess this is the going rate.
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Mar 30th 2010, 4:36 pm
#4
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
I have the same question actually, researching and seeking PADI Open Water Diving qual and have only found info on Al Boom...any insights would be great!
Cheers.
Cheers.
Mar 30th 2010, 5:38 pm
#5
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Well, I have also found out that Jumeirah Beach Hotel does courses. Basically you can do a 'familiarisation' dive for an hour in the pool there for 275 Dirhams and see if you like it, then if you do you can proceed to the PADI course.
Also, you can do the theory side of the PADI qualification with them online, as an e-learning course, in your own time which takes 6 hours and I think costs about 500 Dirham.
Once you have done this, then you can go on to the pool training which is 3 x 2 1/2 hr slots at a time convenient to you (e.g. you can do it at 7pm) then you go on to a day or two open water in the sea, which is 8am to 12pm. All this costs 1500 Dirham so you can do the whole thing for 2,000 Dirham.
All 3 options (Al Boom, Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel) seem to me to be much the same but the time flexibility and online learning for the theory of Jumeirah Beach Hotel is attractive to me. I've also had a couple of personal recommendations to individual dive instructors so I thought I'd try them too and make a decision once I've spoken to them.
Thanks to everyone for their input and advice it is much appreciated!
Also, you can do the theory side of the PADI qualification with them online, as an e-learning course, in your own time which takes 6 hours and I think costs about 500 Dirham.
Once you have done this, then you can go on to the pool training which is 3 x 2 1/2 hr slots at a time convenient to you (e.g. you can do it at 7pm) then you go on to a day or two open water in the sea, which is 8am to 12pm. All this costs 1500 Dirham so you can do the whole thing for 2,000 Dirham.
All 3 options (Al Boom, Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel) seem to me to be much the same but the time flexibility and online learning for the theory of Jumeirah Beach Hotel is attractive to me. I've also had a couple of personal recommendations to individual dive instructors so I thought I'd try them too and make a decision once I've spoken to them.
Thanks to everyone for their input and advice it is much appreciated!
Mar 30th 2010, 5:52 pm
#6
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Boom, boom, boom, Al Boom!
Several diving schools exist on the East coast in Fujairah, Dibba and Khorfakkhan. Cheaper. They usually offer a package where you do the online lessons beforehand and get your PADI certificate in a two-day weekend course.
Several diving schools exist on the East coast in Fujairah, Dibba and Khorfakkhan. Cheaper. They usually offer a package where you do the online lessons beforehand and get your PADI certificate in a two-day weekend course.
Mar 30th 2010, 5:57 pm
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Well, I have also found out that Jumeirah Beach Hotel does courses. Basically you can do a 'familiarisation' dive for an hour in the pool there for 275 Dirhams and see if you like it, then if you do you can proceed to the PADI course.
Also, you can do the theory side of the PADI qualification with them online, as an e-learning course, in your own time which takes 6 hours and I think costs about 500 Dirham.
Once you have done this, then you can go on to the pool training which is 3 x 2 1/2 hr slots at a time convenient to you (e.g. you can do it at 7pm) then you go on to a day or two open water in the sea, which is 8am to 12pm. All this costs 1500 Dirham so you can do the whole thing for 2,000 Dirham.
All 3 options (Al Boom, Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel) seem to me to be much the same but the time flexibility and online learning for the theory of Jumeirah Beach Hotel is attractive to me. I've also had a couple of personal recommendations to individual dive instructors so I thought I'd try them too and make a decision once I've spoken to them.
Thanks to everyone for their input and advice it is much appreciated!
Also, you can do the theory side of the PADI qualification with them online, as an e-learning course, in your own time which takes 6 hours and I think costs about 500 Dirham.
Once you have done this, then you can go on to the pool training which is 3 x 2 1/2 hr slots at a time convenient to you (e.g. you can do it at 7pm) then you go on to a day or two open water in the sea, which is 8am to 12pm. All this costs 1500 Dirham so you can do the whole thing for 2,000 Dirham.
All 3 options (Al Boom, Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel) seem to me to be much the same but the time flexibility and online learning for the theory of Jumeirah Beach Hotel is attractive to me. I've also had a couple of personal recommendations to individual dive instructors so I thought I'd try them too and make a decision once I've spoken to them.
Thanks to everyone for their input and advice it is much appreciated!
Ethos83 - The e-learning and weekend package sounds very enticing - any recommended names / contacts / websites that I can look into further?
Mar 30th 2010, 6:17 pm
#8
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
https://www.padi.com/elearning-scuba...n/default.aspx
You sign up for the online course, and doing so you name a diving school of your choice for the open water dives.
The cheaper one in Khorfakkhan is http://www.diversdown.ae/
You sign up for the online course, and doing so you name a diving school of your choice for the open water dives.
The cheaper one in Khorfakkhan is http://www.diversdown.ae/
Mar 30th 2010, 6:18 pm
#9
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Give Chris Chellapermal a ring at Nomad Adventures in Dibba (on the Oman side)
www.discovernomad.com
I think he accepts the online course, he then offers an all in package of doing the practical bit with accommodation and food for a reasonable amount. He has a little eco village with a pool and you get to do the open part in water where you can see further than 5m.
www.discovernomad.com
I think he accepts the online course, he then offers an all in package of doing the practical bit with accommodation and food for a reasonable amount. He has a little eco village with a pool and you get to do the open part in water where you can see further than 5m.
Mar 30th 2010, 9:20 pm
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Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Give Chris Chellapermal a ring at Nomad Adventures in Dibba (on the Oman side)
www.discovernomad.com
I think he accepts the online course, he then offers an all in package of doing the practical bit with accommodation and food for a reasonable amount. He has a little eco village with a pool and you get to do the open part in water where you can see further than 5m.
www.discovernomad.com
I think he accepts the online course, he then offers an all in package of doing the practical bit with accommodation and food for a reasonable amount. He has a little eco village with a pool and you get to do the open part in water where you can see further than 5m.
Thanks for the link!
Mar 30th 2010, 9:28 pm
#11
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Posts: 656
Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
I would like to get my PADI Open Water diving qualification in Dubai before a holiday in September. I am researching who to do it with and so far have found Al Boom diving school and the diving school at Atlantis. Both charge 2350 Dirhams for the four day course so I guess this is the going rate.
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
Does anyone have any advice about who is good and is this an acceptable price? I don't think I want to go for the cheapest thing around as I'd rather pay and be safe but any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Cheers!
I have to say though that they were a very professional outfit and i was quite impressed. At no point in time did i feel uncomfortable in the water or unsure of what i had to do.
Biggest problem now is getting more dives in as the guys i used to go with have left now.
Mar 31st 2010, 5:13 am
#12
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Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
Re: Where to get PADI Open Water diving qual in Dubai?
Give Chris Chellapermal a ring at Nomad Adventures in Dibba (on the Oman side)
www.discovernomad.com
I think he accepts the online course, he then offers an all in package of doing the practical bit with accommodation and food for a reasonable amount. He has a little eco village with a pool and you get to do the open part in water where you can see further than 5m.
www.discovernomad.com
I think he accepts the online course, he then offers an all in package of doing the practical bit with accommodation and food for a reasonable amount. He has a little eco village with a pool and you get to do the open part in water where you can see further than 5m.
Well, I have also found out that Jumeirah Beach Hotel does courses. Basically you can do a 'familiarisation' dive for an hour in the pool there for 275 Dirhams and see if you like it, then if you do you can proceed to the PADI course.
Also, you can do the theory side of the PADI qualification with them online, as an e-learning course, in your own time which takes 6 hours and I think costs about 500 Dirham.
Once you have done this, then you can go on to the pool training which is 3 x 2 1/2 hr slots at a time convenient to you (e.g. you can do it at 7pm) then you go on to a day or two open water in the sea, which is 8am to 12pm. All this costs 1500 Dirham so you can do the whole thing for 2,000 Dirham.
All 3 options (Al Boom, Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel) seem to me to be much the same but the time flexibility and online learning for the theory of Jumeirah Beach Hotel is attractive to me. I've also had a couple of personal recommendations to individual dive instructors so I thought I'd try them too and make a decision once I've spoken to them.
Thanks to everyone for their input and advice it is much appreciated!
Also, you can do the theory side of the PADI qualification with them online, as an e-learning course, in your own time which takes 6 hours and I think costs about 500 Dirham.
Once you have done this, then you can go on to the pool training which is 3 x 2 1/2 hr slots at a time convenient to you (e.g. you can do it at 7pm) then you go on to a day or two open water in the sea, which is 8am to 12pm. All this costs 1500 Dirham so you can do the whole thing for 2,000 Dirham.
All 3 options (Al Boom, Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel) seem to me to be much the same but the time flexibility and online learning for the theory of Jumeirah Beach Hotel is attractive to me. I've also had a couple of personal recommendations to individual dive instructors so I thought I'd try them too and make a decision once I've spoken to them.
Thanks to everyone for their input and advice it is much appreciated!
I also saw NOMAD advertising a cheap deal that includes 2 days of doing the confined/open water dives. Check their website - you do the theory online.
The other operator in Khorfacan you should consider is Seven Seas - they are the longest established and are very reasonable.
I have only dived with Al Boom once. Their insutction might be great, but I wasn't impressed with the way they ran their fun/general dives...
When I got certified, I managed it in 3 days - it was hard work but I did it. But it wasn't here and it seems like a long time ago... good luck
