What is the difference between Diving and Snorkeling?

SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. This means that you are carrying your source of breathing gas (cylinder) and the air delivery system (includes Regulator). Since you can breathe underwater, you go down, stay underwater and then surface to end the dive. Snorkeling is when you are breathing atmospheric air at surface with you face in water through a bent pipe, one end in mouth, other out of water. If you want to go underwater, you will have to hold your breath.

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Can I also book a package with other watersports like, jetski, parasailing and banana ride along with Scuba here on this site?

I will be frank here. You cannot. I teach only diving. However, I have nothing against these activities and will be happy to share contacts of other operators who do. You don't even have to mention my name to them as I am doing it out of goodwill. However, I take no responsibility of their operations.

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I have dived before and it only cost me a couple of hundred rupees. Why is your price in thousands?

The pricing depends on many factors. A dive in not so clear green waters can cost more than a dive in crystal clear blue waters because of the logistics involved. For eg. the boat engine sees no difference and burns fuel as per distance and not on how you may percieve water quality. Also, I do not do bulk business focussed on taking boats full of customers each day for a dip with complimentary food and other goodies. I want people to learn diving. So, if you are looking for a fun excursion in water, I do not fit your requirements. Just so that you know, a dive is considered loggable if you are atleast 15 - 20 minutes (or breathed atleast 1400 litres of air which you need to learn to calculate) on Scuba mostly deeper than 5 metres. It is a matter of choice. My students on successful certification will be able to show their certification anywhere in the world. Diving is expensive and it is expensive even for me because I have myself spent in lakhs of rupees and yet not been able to take a single member of my family diving with me. I can afford to send them there where the diving is for a few hundred bucks but then I know, it is not a dive.

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The water does not look very clear. Are there corals or anything to even see in some of the dive sites you take people to?

Most people think of crystal clear blue waters with spectacular coral reefs when they think about diving. I agree. The reason that people dive is to see wonderful things. But, that is not the only reason to dive. For one, there can be a very beautiful wreck teeming with aquatic life in coastal waters where the water is less clear. Also there can be rich aquatic life driven by phytoplankton instead of corals. Most estuaries do not have very clear water but are filled with life. I am not saying that I will take you diving in the estuaries but maybe close to them where you will also see some corals.... Diving happens where there is water, be it a lake or polar seas. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Also beyond seeing, there is this amazing feeling of weightlessness. You will most likely have to spend much lesser to dive than going to space or booking a flight to do parabolic maneuver.

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Is the course duration mentioned enough to be certified?

The course durations mentioned are based on the what works for most. Some people may need more time, while some grasp very quickly. Your enrollment is for the course. Certification is only when you have satisfied the performance requirements. The pricing is based on the instructor hours and the cost of the resources required to run the course within the specified duration. Do not worry too much. I will most likely finish your course within the mentioned duration, However, I will need you to be honest with the pre-requisite requirements and also give your best efforts to overcome any difficulty if faced. If, for some reason, we are still not able to satisfy certification requirements, we can keep the course open and you can come back again to finish within a year. Obviously, there will be some fee for the additional training days which we can discuss based on the case. Again, like I mentioned, we are able to finish the course within described duration most of the times.

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I am getting a cheaper offer somewhere else, can you reduce your cost?

I am sorry. No. Undercutting is very bad for the industry and results in poor quality. You may not even realize this. Also, just like you have ambitions in your professional life, maybe owning a car, house, financial security, etc., we are professionals too who have invested a lot of money to be able to do what we do. In fact, many times, we end up spending more than what we earn. I do not think this is fair. I am not looking to buy a Ferari, but atleast a decent earning to take care of my rent, bills, membership fees, insurance etc. Please do not punish people for following their dreams.

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What will be available to eat and drink on the boat?

I will carry some basic refreshments based on availability. Maybe some sandwiches, samosas, baked items and fruits. I try and carry the freshest items and source them from good vendors but it is not always possible to satisfy everyone. What one person absolutely loves, other may completely dislike. I advise that you too carry something based on your liking to ensure you do not end up not eating due to unavailable food preferences. I am charging for the course. The refreshments are complimentary. Again, do not worry thinking that I will not give you quality food items. I am a foodie myself and generally carry enough food that most people like.

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Why should I choose The Journey Beneath?

Well, most people choose Dive Centres of their preferred dive agency. There is absoultely nothing wrong with that. You somehow ensure that you get good quality equipment, facilities and education this way. When you choose The Journey Beneath, you choose an experienced instructor to teach you at one of the most convenient locations to you, using one of the best facilities available at that location.​

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