Learning how to dive
Have you always wanted to learn scuba diving? This is possible at Ad Fundum! We offer scuba diving education that ranges from swimming pool lessons to outdoor dives in the deep blue. On this page you’ll find a preview of what you can learn at our club, as well as an overview of the costs associated with diving!
Dive safely at Ad Fundum
With the right education and training, diving is a relatively safe sport. At Ad Fundum, you will receive extensive training with a strong focus on safety. Our solid training program will guarantee your safety under water. You will always dive with a ‘dive buddy’, which will make your dive safer and more fun. Before you dive outdoors, you will have to pass a scuba dive medical examination to ensure that your body is fit to dive. Don’t worry, this usually does not pose a problem, not even if you have for example a mild form of asthma.
Learning to dive is no rocket science
Diving is a skill you need to master. Once you have acquired this skill, diving will become second nature. In our dive training program you’ll practice the right techniques. In our experience, anyone can learn how to dive. You don’t even have to be an excellent swimmer or snorkeler. If you are able to swim some lanes in the pool, you should not have any problems with diving.
Diving indoors
Our training program starts in October and lasts until spring. You will start with theory lessons that is usually given prior to the snorkeling training. During theory lessons you learn about diving equipment, safety, health issues, diving techniques and so on. In the pool we will teach you how to snorkel and you will learn the basic scuba diving skills. The snorkeling training helps you to get comfortable with swimming and breathing under water. In addition, you will have pool lessons with scuba gear so you can familiarize yourself with the equipment. This ensures that you feel comfortable with diving before you start making outdoor dives.
Diving outside
When you have completed your indoor training, which is usually around April, you will be ready for the real deal! Your outdoors scuba diving education will commence in one of the freshwater lakes in the vicinity of Groningen. During these Ad Fundum Weekends, you can work towards your first diving license at your own pace. Ad Fundum Weekends will be organized during the diving season, which lasts from April to October. On top of this, we organize frequent diving trips to Zeeland where you can further advance your diving skills, for example, by diving in tidal waters or in (much) deeper waters.
License
Ad Fundum is part of the Nederlandse Onderwatersport Bond (the “NOB”, the Dutch Association for Underwater Sports). As the NOB is affiliated with the international organization CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques), our diving licenses are accepted worldwide. CMAS can be compared with other international organizations like PADI, NAUI and SSI. Do you already have a license from one of these organizations? You can continue diving with us at a predetermined CMAS level and can even commence your education in the CMAS system.
Costs of diving
Diving is unfortunately not the cheapest sport out there. Luckily it makes up for that by the amazing feeling of being able to explore the underwater world! Moreover, as a student diving association, we try to make diving as affordable as possible for you. Our annual membership fee is € 70, if you want to do your diving education at Ad Fundum, you’ll also need to be a member of the aforementioned NOB. This costs € 51.75 per year. In sum, you can learn how to dive and, as soon as you have your license, dive as much as you want for approximately €122 per year! Moreover, as for any student sports association in Groningen, you need to be a member of the ACLO.
Overview annual costs of Ad Fundum membership:
- Membership fee of € 70 per year
- NOB membership of € 51.75 per year
There are some one-time expenses as well though, you for instance would need some diving stuff like a logbook, license cards and a medical examination if you are a new diver. For each diving level (you start with your 1-star, then your 2-star, etcetera) you will need a new license card, which costs € 27.50. A logbook costs about € 30 euro. Medical exams range between € 50 and € 70, but each year we arrange a group visit to a diving physician for a group discount! Some health insurers even reimburse you for the costs of this check-up.
The most expensive part of diving is however in the gear you need. The really expensive stuff you can borrow for free from the club, the tank, BCD, diving computer and regulators for instance. However, since the water in the Netherlands is rather cold, you will need a two-layered 7 mm wetsuit, gloves, shoes, outdoor fins, a mask and snorkel, a knife, lead and a lead belt. This is the most basic diving gear you will always need when diving in the Netherlands (and many other countries). Due to our contacts with some decent second-hand shops, you are probably able to obtain all of this for something between € 200 and € 300! The only thing then missing is a diving lamp, which you’ll definitely want at some point, but you can do your first few dives without to see how you’ll like it!
Luckily the bulk of these expenditures are not needed when you start your diving career with us, only when you go outside you need more than a mask and a snorkel, which is usually around April. So plenty of time to save some money before you’ll have to purchase your gear! :)