No, we are affiliated with the Irish Underwater Council (CFT) which allows our instructors to train you from scratch and award certifications which will be recognised worldwide.
Not as much as you might think, we do recommend that you purchase your own mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits for hygiene and personal comfort. We enjoy a close relationship with Dive shops in Cork that will offer you a discounted price as a club member. You will also require a CFT logbook which is €3 and can also be bought through the club.
It depends, some medical conditions prohibit diving. All divers joining the club must undergo a medical with their GP to prove they are fit to dive. Your doctor will advise you whether or not it is safe for you to dive.
Not particularly, while there are inherent risks in diving like many other sports, with adequate training it’s possible to dive very safely. The vast majority of diving accidents occur due to lack of training or people failing to observe correct safety procedures.
Yes, while you don't need to be Michael Phelps or Jenny Thompson, you do need to be able to swim. The minimum level of swimming ability we require is that you can swim 12 lengths of our 20m environmental pool, 4 of which must be completed on your back. You must then hold your breath underwater for 30 seconds.
It depends on your qualification, uncertified trainees may not dive below 10m. 1 star divers may dive to 30m and 2 star divers and above may dive to 45m with a suitably qualified buddy.
The course consists of a series of lectures and pool work, followed by 5 dives with an instructor. Your diving will not be rushed or forced, it is largely down to individual motivation and availability, however, on average it should take between 3-5 months (including Christmas holidays etc) to reach your D* qualification.
No problem, we don't discriminate. If you’re certification is from another another organisation (PADI, SSI, BSAC etc.) we will require you to attend a few lectures and fill in some paperwork in order to cross over to CFT.