From paddler to PADI diver

Armed with an apple ‘for teacher', it is then time to head into the classroom. Here the Pavilion's instructors demonstrate tremendous patience, conducting ‘knowledge reviews' and simple multiple choice tests in a very relaxed atmosphere.

It is well worth noting here that a couple of evenings are best set aside for homework for each classroom section - there's considerable ground to cover and it shouldn't be rushed.

After a couple of classroom sections and the final exam - nothing to get worked up over, a simple final multiple choice test - it's time to start earning your water wings.

After being taught how to assemble your equipment, something that becomes second nature by the end of your lessons, it's time to head to the pool for the only physical test of the whole course - a 200m swim.

Fortunately you're not expected to break any of the records set by Michael Phelps, but have all the time in the world. After that it's time to strap on your weight belt, BCD, fins and mask and wait dutifully on the edge of the pool for the signal of your ever attentive instructor.

Neil Armstrong's small step onto the surface of the moon may have been a giant leap forward for mankind, but your first ‘giant step entry' into Cousteau's kingdom equals that taken by any interplanetary explorer.

Breathing underwater feels a little alien at first, but is incredibly liberating. Within seconds you've regressed through millions of years of the evolutionary cycle and are chugging away on your regulator like an amphibious version of Dart Vader.

Becoming quickly accustomed to your regulator, equipment and environment, you sudddenly realise how comfortable you are and a quiet grin spreads across your face - you are diving!

With no more than three divers per instructor at the Pavilion Dive Centre, you always benefit from the full attention of your instructor, who incredibly manage to conduct a full 45 minute lesson underwater using simple predetermined sign language.

The first couple of pool sessions includes completing basic diving drills: purging your regulator (expelling excess water from the breathy tube thing!); clearing a flooded mask by blowing out through your nose; reading your guages and breathing from your buddy's alternate air source in the event of yours running out.

By the time you arrive for your second session, the instructors will be on first name terms, and with any luck you'll draw Russian Helena - who will joyfully instruct you in ‘Purfekting Ze Blast Teknik' in a cool James Bond villain accent.

Throughout your final pool sessions you'll be removing and replacing kit with consumate ease; learning how to aid other divers; swimming around with no mask and breathing from a free-flowing regulator like a regular mermaid, or... mermale?

While the pool sessions are great fun and you learn the basics very quickly, it is the anticipation of your first open water dive that really gets the adrenaline going. The Pavilion Dive Centre have a number of local dive sites earmarked suitable for beginners (including their own artificial reef), so decide on the appropriate location on any given day after considering the prevailing conditions.

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