Leap into wonderful world of scuba diving

This blog tells about my adventures around the world focusing on scuba diving adventures. I try to express not only the different sites, but also experiences and encounters with interesting people. So often the people you meet and conversations with them are the best parts of the whole traveling experience. Traveling is so much more than just moving from place to another.

I have been snorkeling since late '80s. From time to time I had thought going to scuba diving course some day, but as I tend to be interested in so many things and other hobbies, I had never really done anything to get started with scuba diving. Finally as I met my wonderful girlfriend who was already diving, I got the spark to sign into scuba diving course in Helsinki.

There are several companies in Helsinki giving scuba diving courses. I chose Sea Safety Helsinki mainly because their course schedule was the best fit for my calendar and they use the PADI certification system which is most widely used in the world. I don't claim PADI is better than the other certifications like CMAS. Later I learned Sea Safety has excellent indoor diving pool facilities in Veikkola called Sukellusareena (Diving arena), which is a great advantage for Sea Safety and makes the student experience really pleasant.

Sea Safety's Sukellusareena diving pool

Sea Safety's PADI Open Water Diving course

After registering to the course, you need to visit the dive shop and pay the 100€ registration fee. For the fee you get the theory self-education package containing theory book, theory training DVD and diving logbook.

The theory book is quite clear and easy to read with lots of photos and pictures supporting the text. The DVD contains almost the same material as the theory book. I think it's great to combine learning via reading and watching the DVD. You can easily find the best learning method for your learning style.

You need to go through at least the two first chapters of the theory before the first pool exercises. I really recommend you to do this as it helps a lot to learn and embrace all the new skills needed for diving safely.

Before the pool exercises, we had also course info at the Sea Safety's shop (Mannerheimintie 17, in the southern end of Töölön kisahalli). In the info we met Sea Safety's staff and the other diving students participating the course. We had general info of the course, for example about mandatory diving gear needed during the pool exercises and open water dives.

Kalevi, the owner of Sea Safety held also excellent preview of the different diving gear we would later learn more thoroughly. Kalevi told fascinating stories of his diving experiences which made us students really looking forward to the pool exercises.

The staff at Sea Safety is friendly and professional. You can always rely on their expertise.

Our group of diving students turned out to be surprisingly same minded, relaxed people with whom I enjoyed having the course even more.

Gear needed for the pool exercises and open water dives

You need to have a mask, snorkel, boots and fins before the exercises in the water. The mask is the most important equipment you have and it needs to fit properly to your face. Take time to try different masks and ask the dive shop personnel to help. Don't get mingy when choosing the mask - it's much better to spend a little bit more for the best fitting mask than have lousy diving experience with uncomfortable mask.

Before getting into scuba diving I had several different snorkels. Some of the snorkels have a valve close to the mouth piece. The valve is supposed to ease emptying the snorkel. In my experience, the valve can easily get leaking for example if a small piece of sand gets to the valve. I recommend to stick with the most basic and simple design with no valve. It is almost as easy to empty by blowing and it just works. Keep it simple! :)

On the next time I'll write about the pool exercises with lots of photos and videos. Please stay tuned and give feedback - what would you like to know more.