Our Non-Affiliation Policy
Many scuba directory sites pretend to offer "instant booking" by acting as an OTA (Online Travel Agent), quietly adding 10%–20% concierge fees to course costs. Worse, they lack real-time visibility into local weather, sea state, and instructor ratios.
At How2Scuba:
- We never accept pay-for-placement or sponsored reviews from dive centres.
- We do not charge booking fees, concierge fees, or transaction markups.
- We encourage divers to connect directly with local shops via email, WhatsApp, or phone.
The 5 Questions to Ask Before Booking Any Dive Centre
When you contact a local dive shop, verify these essential safety and operational points before transferring a deposit:
What is your diver-to-guide ratio?
For certified guided dives, look for maximum ratios of 4:1 to 6:1. For Open Water training, reputable schools run 4:1 or smaller. Avoid high-volume "diver factory" shops running 8:1 in open water.
Do you carry 100% Emergency Oxygen on all boats and shore sites?
Emergency O2 is the first line of defence in any decompression illness or near-drowning incident. A professional operator will answer yes without hesitation.
What are the planned site depths and certification limits?
Ensure the dive shop respects your certification level. If you hold an Open Water card (18m max), confirm your guide will not lead you over a 30m drop-off or through deep chimneys like Lanzarote's Blue Hole without an Advanced course.
What cylinder valves and gas options do you provide?
Check whether tanks are DIN or INT (Yoke), and whether Nitrox (Enriched Air 32%) is available if you are certified.
What is your weather cancellation and refund policy?
In locations with swell (e.g. UK cold-water or Atlantic islands), dives can get blown out. Transparent shops offer straightforward rebooking or full refunds if conditions are unsafe.