Learn to Dive - PADI Open Water in Cyprus

Have you ever wanted to learn to dive or even just wanted to have a go and see what it feels like breathing underwater?

Now is the time to "Dive-In" to the PADI Open Water Diver course, the most popular dive program in the world! This is your ticket to a lifetime of adventure. 

And there is no better place to learn to dive than Cyprus, with its clean shallow water, good visibility and lack of tides - not to mention the sunshine, it is perfect for your first time breathing underwater.

Throughout the course, you'll learn the basics of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. You will also earn a PADI Open Water Diver certification that is recognised worldwide. You earn this rating by studying the theory online in the comfort of you home, then in Cyprus by completing five dives in pool-like conditions and by making four open water dives.

As a certified PADI Open Water Diver you have the freedom to dive with a buddy independent of a professional. If you already tried a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience or are PADI Scuba Diver certified, check with your instructor to see how credit from these courses may apply to the Open Water program. 

Your underwater adventure can begin as soon as today with the PADI eLearning Open Water Diver online study which you can access, along with any other PADI online courses by clicking PADI eLearning. You can then view and learn at home, at your own pace, and save time studying on holiday. 

Contact us for details and prices. We pride ourselves on teaching only small groups, so you have personal attention from one of our PADI Instructors.

Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit, and comfortable in the water can achieve a PADI Open Water Diver certification. At some point in the course, your PADI Instructor will ask you to demonstrate the ability to swim 200 metres/yards  and you need to complete a medical form to get you on your way. If you are between 10 and 14 or have a child between these ages, there is a PADI Junior Open Water Diver program available.

So contact Dive-In Larnaca today on +357 24627469 or email larnaca@dive-in.com.cy or visit www.dive-in.com.cy to find out more and open the door to a whole new world.

Rebreather (CCR) Diving in Cyprus

Chris Demetriou, TDI APD CCR Instructor Trainer at Dive-In Larnaca firmly believes that rebreather diving is “the way to go”.

Chris has amassed thousands of hours on his units, starting off on a Draegar Dolphin in the late 90s he moved to the APD units in 2002 and has never looked back. He has also dived on Submatix, KISS and Poseidon units but has had at least one APD unit throughout. He is now the APD dealer for Cyprus.

Rebreathers are silent

For Chris, diving is about wrecks, but traditionally with each exhaled breath Open Circuit divers release a large burst of noisy bubbles. The effect of this can dislodge rust and silt in a wreck, losing a great photo opportunity, a no bubble rebreather dive reduces the effect significantly. Giving you longer to admire and explore the fascinating world of sunken ships.

For those whose interest is more with the living things in the water then rebreathers really come into their own – especially if photography is your thing. Rebreathers allow you to get up close and personal with even the smallest sea creatures without a cloud of bubbles sending them darting away.

Rebreather diving is warmer

The gas breathed on Open Circuit is cold due to pressure reduction before you inhale. On a rebreather you are breathing oxygen replenished exhaled air, so the gas is warm rather than cold. Meaning on an average dive you will be warmer diving on a rebreather than on Open Circuit – can't be bad!

Rebreathers are gas efficient

The most significant advantage that rebreathers offer is greatly increased gas efficiency, which means lower gas costs – especially when you reach the mixed gas (Trimix level). To be able to do a dive and not be limited by gas supply is brilliant. The two hour dives we have done around the Zenobia followed by a swim to the Alexandria prove that rebreathers win hands down for gas costs.

Rebreathers deliver the ideal gas

A rebreather ensures you are breathing the best gas mix for depth you are at, at all times during the dive. That means that even on long dives you could end up with significantly less decompression time than your Open Circuit buddies

Rebreathers are great for exploration dives

With the APD Evolution+ and Inspiration you can get a 3 hour bottom time from the scrubber, which makes it ideal for exploration diving and can make for shorter surface intervals. Which means you spend more of you day diving and less on the surface off-gassing.

Maintaining Rebreathers 

It does take longer to setup a rebreather and to thoroughly clean it after a dive, but this time is not significant and with practice can soon be done in the same time as setting up an Open Circuit rig. And any increase in set up time is far outweighed by the increase time you can spend on the dives.

Chris is passionate about CCR diving and willingly shares his knowledge and experience with his students and fellow CCR divers. All the staff at Dive-In Larnaca are CCR divers (even the admin staff).

Dive-In Larnaca offers TDI Rebreather (CCR) courses on APD units from Air Diluent (30m depth limit) to TDI Adv Mixed Gas courses at 100m and TDI APD Rebreather Instructor courses to Mixed Gas level. We also offer guided CCR dives on the wreck of the Zenobia. For more information see our website www.dive-in.com.cy or email Chris or Sheri at larnaca@dive-in.com.cy and let the silent dives begin.

Why dive in Cyprus?

Cyprus is an ideal place to learn to dive and learn to dive. We can take beginners to dive on the South Eastern coast of Cyprus where there are gently shelving dive sites such as Green Bay and Sheep Dip. Qualified divers can enjoy other dive sites along the South Cyprus coast such as Tunnels and Caves, Chapel and Cyclops.

For those visitors to Cyprus who want to learn to dive or just try diving then the South coast around Agia Napa is perfect. Training dives can be done in the sheltered bays and your first Open Water dives can be done there too.

Cyprus is also fortunate to have the wreck of the Zenobia in Larnaca, which is one of the top wrecks in the world and just a 3 minute boat ride from our dive centre. The top of the wreck is at 17m and the seabed is at 42m. Dive-In Cyprus organises dives for individuals or groups, for Recreational or Technical divers both outside and inside the wreck. The good visibility and lack of currents makes it a great dive site for a day out, a long weekend in Cyprus or for a week long diving holiday.

The water temperature varies from 15 degrees in Jan – Mar up to 24 degrees in July –September.

A drysuit may be necessary during the winter months of November to April, in July - September a 5mm wetsuit is generally enough. For the rest of the year a 7mm wetsuit or a semi dry should be adequate. 

So contact us on +357 24 627 469, or larnaca@dive-in.com.cy or visit www.dive-in.com.cy