Can I dive without taking any course?
While having a diving training is not necessary for buying diving equipment, the lack of it can lead to dramatic consequences. In the course of the training, the student acquires knowledge and skills that will allow him or her to understand the processes in his or her body during the dive and thus apply the right techniques. The truth is, of course, that all the knowledge is on the Internet – unfortunately, in addition to valuable information, there is also false information that is dangerous to health and life, which an untrained person is not able to distinguish.
Will my certificate be valid worldwide?
Yes, IDF certificates are recognized all over the world.
Is diving safe?
Recreational diving is much safer than many other popular sports like skiing.
Do I have to undergo a medical examination before starting the course?
The course starts by completing a medical questionnaire. If the answers are affirmative, you should consult a doctor before starting the course. If the questionnaire answers are negative, it means that you do not have typical contraindications to diving – a medical examination is not required in this situation.
Do I have to be able to swim before the course starts?
You should feel at ease in the water, be able to stay afloat and move around for a short distance – we call this the ability to swim “enough”. The final assessment of swimming skills will be made by the instructor conducting the training based on the IDF Training Standards provided to him.
Do I need to have my own equipment before starting the course?
Having your own equipment is not a requirement to join the course in the vast majority of diving centers. Usually it is only recommended, for hygienic reasons, to have your own ABC equipment – a mask, snorkel and fins.
Why are there so many courses?
The courses are divided thematically in such a way as to help you gradually gain experience and push the limits of your abilities in a way that is in line with the latest pedagogical knowledge. The division of the courses into thematic modules also optimizes the time needed for their implementation – so that you can take the next steps during one or several weekends, without spending your entire vacation.
Can First Aid Response be replaced by another first aid course?
FAR can be replaced by another first aid course with a similar program or by a diploma (doctor, nurse or paramedic).
Why is the Navigation Diver degree required to take the AOWD course?
The ability to navigate is very important for diving safety. The IDF Navigation Diver course also includes the ability to use a surface marker buoy. In addition, the IDF Navigation Diver course is 4 additional training dives that improve the level of competence of the Advanced Open Water Diver candidate.
Why is the Night Diver required to take the AOWD course?
At a depth of 30 meters in many regions of the world the ability to communicate with light is necessary. In addition, the IDF Night Diver course is 2 additional training dives that improve the level of competence of the candidate for the AOWD degree.
Why is the Nitrox Diver required to take the AOWD course?
The IDF Nitrox Diver course is a large dose of knowledge about the effects of diving on the human body – mainly in the field of decompression, oxygen toxicity, carbon dioxide toxicity or inert gas anaesthesia. This knowledge is important for a diver who wants to dive to a depth of 30 meters.
Why does the AOWD course only consist of 2 dives?
To join the IDF Advanced Open Water Diver course you need to do 10 dives on the IDF Open Water Diver course, 4 dives on the IDF Navigation Diver course, 2 dives on the IDF Night Diver course and 2 dives on the IDF Nitrox Diver course. This means that a diver starting the IDF AOWD course has 18 training dives and ending with 20 training dives. This is more then in the other training agencies.
What is limited decompression on IDF Master Diver?
Limited air decompression is the decompression time that a diver can generate using only twinset, side mount or single cylinder configuration with a side tank (filled with air). According to the rules of safe diving planning it is therefore about 10-15 minutes of decompression (depending on air consumption). The IDF Master Diver is not trained or authorized to accelerate decompression with nitrox.
What was the IDF Master Diver degree created for?
IDF Master Diver is a course to fill a large gap that exists in many agencies between AOWD diver and Divemaster. It is a training to summarize the recreational path, which goal is to raise and systematize the diver’s skills to a level that will allow him/her to effectively and safely learn on technical, cave and professional paths. The observation indicates that admission to advanced paths of AOWD training for divers does not guarantee that during the course of cave or technical courses the instructor will not have to spend time (to the detriment of the quality of training) to make up for deficiencies in diving skills such as propulsion techniques, maintaining neutral buoyancy, releasing signal buoys, etc.