F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions
Check our F.A.Q. about scuba diving or about the Divehop booking process.
Find all the answers you need here!
SCUBA DIVING
Scuba diving is an underwater swimming activity involving the use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA). The breathing equipment is used in order for a person to be able to stay underwater for a longer period of time and explore the sea in depth and length, not possible in any other way.
Underwater Greece offers a unique combination of elements making it one of the most ideal places to scuba dive. Its crystal clear waters offer the highest clarity underwater and the marine life is abundant in most places and not dangerous. But the most special aspect of diving in Greece is the uniqueness of its diving spots. Apart from multiple caves and caverns, there are hundreds of visitable wrecks and relics in the surrounding Aegean sea, some dated even from 5th century BCE, as well as fighter airplanes to submarines and commercial boats. Visit out Blog for more articles about scuba diving in Greece.
Scuba diving has no age limit, as long as the health requirements are met. For kids the starting age for trying scuba diving is 8 years old and at 10 years old for a certification course. Younger kids may still try a snorkeling excursion with the help of a certified instructor.
To scuba dive safely, you must not be extremely overweight or out of condition. Diving can be strenuous under certain conditions. Your respiratory and circulatory systems must be in good health. All body air spaces must be normal and healthy. A person with heart trouble, a current cold or congestion, epilepsy, asthma, a severe medical problem, or who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs should not dive. If taking medication, consult your doctor and the Instructor before participation in this program. Upon your arrival at each diver center you will be asked to fill out a medical questionnaire before your dive. We strongly advise you read the full Medical Statement & Questionnaire before you make a booking.
Yes, scuba diving is enjoyed by thousands of people around the world every day and it’s considered a low-risk activity. As long as all health requirements are met and you follow safe and correct diving practices you have nothing to worry about.
A bathing suit and a towel is all you need to bring with you when going for a dive. All equipment and wearables are provided for you at the dive center and are included in the price. Most dive centers offer water on site. You are welcome to bring your own gear, subscription mask, or fins if you have any, but it is not required. You are advised to wear sunscreen before you dive.
No, most marine animals in Greece are not dangerous. Sightings of a shark or other life threatening species in the Aegean sea are extremely rare. It is highly unlikely that you will have a “dangerous” encounter. Your instructor will explain to you how to interact with marine life in an observatory way which means you will experience some great encounters with many wonderful species. Check out our blog article for the most common encounters in Greek waters.
For a beginner the first dives can be between 5 and 12 meters, depending on your comfort level. If you are a certified diver it depends on the diving site and your certification level. You can always talk to your instructor if you are anxious about depth.
The average first dives usually range from 30 – 40 minutes but some first timers dive for 1 hour. It depends on how quickly you breathe your air. You won’t know until you try but one thing’s for sure, your air consumption will improve the more you dive.
Yes, absolutely. One option is to dive wearing contact lenses, the daily disposables are the best for you in case you lose one during your dive. If you are not a contact lens wearer, the prescription mask is a great option for you.
No, you don’t need to be a strong swimmer or an athlete to scuba dive, but some degree of comfort in the water certainly helps. Non-swimmers are allowed to dive as long as they do not have health issues, but there are limits to what non-swimmer can do. Non-swimmers are only allowed to make simple intro dives with an instructor and cannot get a full scuba license if they cannot swim.
The primary difference between snorkeling and scuba diving is that snorkeling only allows you to swim at the water’s surface, while scuba diving lets you descend deeper into the sea and breath underwater. Snorkeling only requires a mask and fins, whereas scuba diving requires additionally a breathing apparatus and a body suite.
A dive is one that does not provide a certification level from a diving agency, such as PADI or SSI. A diving course is a diving lesson which includes theoretical and practical exercises and offers an official certification at the end. Dive centers offer both options for people either wanting to simply dive for fun or for people who want to get certified or level up.
Certified dives are those who require a certain certification level from an official agency (such as PADI or SSI) in order to complete. Wreck dives, dives in bigger depths, or longer lasting dives etc. need a certain level of expertise and most likely a certification level. If you book a certified dive you will be asked to provide your certification number upon your arrival at the diving center.
It depends on the certification you want and the time you have available for diving. To complete any certification level you need to complete a specific number of dives, some practical exercises and theory, which you can do online. For the first certification level you will need a minimum of two days to complete all necessary activities.
Getting certified is more than just a fun experience to add to your holidays. You will become an official member of the global scuba diving community and you will be able to use your certification to dive anywhere in the world regardless of where you got certified.
If you want to be a certified diver you need an official agency to “certify” you. All dive centers are obligated to affiliate to one or more agencies in order to issue valid certifications. PADI and SSI are two of the world’s prestigious scuba diving agencies and your best options for getting a universally recognized certification. In Greece you can find dive centers which are affiliated to either one and sometimes both agencies.
Their main differences lie in their training methodology and course structure. If you want to know more about each agency visit their official websites at PADI and SSI.
Freediving is breath-hold diving, being in and under the water whilst holding one’s breath. You only use a mask and fins but unlike snorkeling you don’t stay only on the surface, instead you use breath-holding techniques to stay underwater for longer periods of time while exploring your surroundings.
BOOKING
No, we do not charge any extra fees for booking, we receive our commission by the dive centers. In fact we make it our goal to provide the lowest prices in the market by offering exclusive discounts which you can only find at divehop.com.
1. Enter your location at the home page search bar
2. Check the available dive centers, narrow down your search using filters and choose the dive center that best suits your needs.
3. Choose the dive you want to have and click “Book”
4. Pay only a deposit to book your dive and keep your flexibility.
Dive centers work on a first-come-first-served basis so the earlier you book your dive the safer it is that your dive will be confirmed. In order to ensure the dive centers confirmation of your booking, all dives are not available within 15 hours before each time slot, unless last minute booking is applicable by the dive center.
If you wish to change the date and/or time of a confirmed booking, please contact the dive center directly, either through your account messaging feature, or by email. If you want to book a different dive or a different dive center you have to cancel your booking and make a new booking. If your change request or cancellation is within the free cancellation time frame we will issue a full refund for your deposit. Please read our full Cancellation Policy.
Booking your dive in advance is your best bet to ensure its completion. Scuba diving is an activity that has many variables, unlike most outdoor activities, such as weather conditions, equipment conditions, staff availability, level of difficulty of a dive, experience of the group members etc, therefor it is never 100% ensured. However it is highly flexible and can be easily rescheduled if not completed. That is why we only ask for a deposit to confirm your booking and not the full amount up until you have completed the dive you booked.
You should receive a response email from the dive center of your choosing within 24 hours from booking your dive. If you did not receive one please let us know through our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
There are many internal and external variables that affect a dive centers availability for a specific dive, most of which can not be determined far in advance, such as weather conditions, equipment conditions, staff availability, level of difficulty of a dive, experience of the group members etc.
By asking the dive center to confirm your booking we are ensuring that the center is able to provide you with the dive you booked on that specific day and time. If for any reason your booking can not be confirmed by the center you will be given alternatives on the date and time, and the possibility of a full deposit refund.
Cancellation of a booking is free up until 48 hours before the start of the activity booked and the paid deposit of 15% will be returned to the user in full.
Last Minute Cancellation or No-Show:
In case of cancellation of a reservation within the last 48 hours before the activity starts, or fail to show up for the dive, the full deposit is withheld and divehop.com reserves the right to make additional charges to the credit or debit card provided during the booking process. This charge will be processed to compensate the dive center for the lost opportunity to fill your spot, as they allocate their time and resources based on your confirmed booking.
Last minute bookings, when available, do not have a free cancellation policy.
Refunds:
a) When a booking is canceled within the free cancellation time frame.
b) When the Dive Center cancels a booking and there is no rescheduling approved by both parties.
c) When the weather or other external, environmental, political or other conditions lead to forced cancellations, without rescheduling.
Please review our full Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Before booking any dive you should review the official Medical Statement & Questionnaire .
In the event of an unforeseen medical reason that prevents you from participating in the dive, you may be eligible for a waiver of the full charge. Please read the requirements and criteria for the medical waiver.
Most wrecks are located at a big depth, therefore wreck dives require a certification level. As there are many factors to consider for a wreck dive, such as weather conditions, level of other group members, depth and distance, etc. it is difficult to ensure the specific dive in advance. If you are a certified diver and wish to do a wreck dive exclusively we recommend contacting us before you book.
Each dive center has their own diving spots which have been mapped and tested by the instructors before hand, some of which may be shared with other centers in the area while some may not. The diving spot for each dive is chosen by the dive center based on a number of factors, such as the difficulty of the dive, the depth, the certification level of the divers, or the weather conditions. It is not easy to determine in advance which specific spot will be visited, but you are free to ask the dive center if you have a specific spot in mind.
Yes, you can. You have two options for diving with friends and family, one is that you all follow the least experienced member so that you experience the same dive together. The other option is that you all dive at the same time but in separate groups, each one at their own level and with their own group guide, if that is applicable by the dive center.
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