That wonderful state of weightlessness…

This enchanting world features a wide variety of colours. In the daytime, when the sun is shining brightly, it is blue, turquoise or emerald. On cloudy days, it turns dark blue, grey or even black. Diving in itself is a sensation. It deliciously calms you down, you feel relaxed, see your life and the world around you from a different perspective; you just feel great. Fears, anxieties and aversions disappear, you start to believe in yourself and yet you are taught discipline and humility. You can be captivated by silence, hearing only your heartbeat and breath, you can feel the life with every inch of your body and forget about everything left on the surface. Drifting in the depths, in a state of weightlessness, we do not have to hurry anywhere. We discover new opportunities and our senses can run wild.

Amber-Divecenter on Brač Island, Croatia

Not everyone will be a diver, but everyone can try. Where to begin? Obviously, you can start right away with taking a basic diving course. However, the best way to give it a try is an introduction dive offered by each diving organisation. It should introduce you to the world of diving and encourage you to dive in the safest and most friendly way possible.

Since there are absolute contraindications to diving, first you have to visit a medical examiner of divers who is authorised to issue a certificate of fitness to dive. As for children’s diving, it is believed they should be at least 8 years old to start recreational diving (in shallow water and accompanied by an instructor). A medical examiner should consider them to be physically, mentally and emotionally able to explore an underwater world and there should be no medical contraindications to it. A child has to be at least 10 years old to receive the first diving grade. For healthy women, the only contraindication to diving is pregnancy.

Amber-Divecenter on Brač Island, Croatia

All diving organisations have appropriate standards and training programmes suitable for each age group and diving grade.

Once we have decided to take a basic diving course, what remains to be done is to choose how and when to do it. Actually, it all depends on us. If there is a diving club or centre nearby, it is worth visiting it to find out what they offer.

A lot of people decide to take the course when they are on holidays with their families. Many centres offer such an opportunity, including our Amber-Divecenter located on picturesque Brač Island, Central Dalmatia, Croatia. Being on holidays, you can make your dreams come true. To do this, you’d better take longer holidays; one week may not be enough.

Amber-Divecenter on Brač Island, Croatia

Do not worry, with our training programme you will not get bored with endlessly repeated exercises while learning to dive. Practical training in the sea will let you adapt to the new environment right at our centre will give you an opportunity to watch all preparations for diving you will soon have to make yourself.

When all exercises in shallow water and theoretical knowledge have been mastered, we are swimming out to see! A short dive briefing is given, the equipment is packed – all is buttoned up. In the morning, we take to the sea with a divers group. While the boat is travelling on water, we have time to get used to it, to learn boat diving procedures. Stress is inevitable, especially for those who have never been on a diving boat before. To reduce stress, course participants always go down last, when none of the “true” divers is watching, laughing and commenting. On the next day, all are already “true” divers, there is a relaxed atmosphere on the boat, nobody stresses out, you can get a tan. The practical part passed, smile on your face, you are really pleased with yourself; this is the best reward for learning on holidays. There is only diving theory test to be passed and handshakes to be exchanged with the instructors, sealed with a red-hot fin. Sheer pleasure.

And then, everything changes. Just like hundreds of fellow divers around the world, we cannot imagine our lives without diving. There are new, wonderful dives and memorable moments in the company of friends who share our passion ahead of us.

You are welcome to join us.

www.amber-divecenter.com

Grazyna Maciejewska

Grazyna Maciejewska

Took up diving in late 1970s, when it was still in its infancy and the equipment was as scarce as hens’ teeth. She glued the first wetsuit herself, helped by her husband. They are still diving together and for the 17 years, have been running Amber-Divecenter on Brač Island, Croatia; the island they once fell in love with and it has stayed that way ever since.

| January 2019 |