It's diving season again, and I always get a flood of calls asking about diving.
The most common question: "Hi, do you teach diving there?"
I smile and reply: "Yes, we do! What would you like to know?"
The customer continues: "I'd like to ask how much your courses cost."
I keep smiling: "Our beginner scuba diving course takes three days and costs NT$13,000."
The customer asks proudly: "Can you give us a discount? We're a big group — there are two of us!"
(I could practically feel the pride bursting through the phone.)
I put away my smile, keeping a firm but gentle tone, and replied: "I'm sorry, our prices are set, but if the two of you sign up together, we can offer a NT$500 discount."
The customer said with a hint of disdain: "But other shops are cheaper! Can't you match their price?"
My inner voice said: "Then why aren't you calling them?" — but I still replied calmly and firmly: "You're welcome to shop around. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!" (The final "questions" went up about 8 octaves.)
I can get hundreds of calls like this in a single summer. I'm a consumer myself, so I completely understand that price is always the number one concern.
But beyond price, I really hope you'll take the time to compare what makes each shop different.
There is no single "best" dive shop. The options are incredibly varied. Besides price, when planning a dive trip you should pay attention to these three dimensions: "Dive, Life, Style." This will help you judge, in your own heart, whether every dollar you spend is worth it. I truly believe that by asking around and having a few conversations, you'll find the diving education center that's perfect for you.
3 Dimensions for Planning a Dive Trip
1. "Dive": The Diving Itself
When it comes to the core of diving, there are 3 things you must pay attention to:
A. Certification System
Which diving certification agency does the shop use?
The cost difference here can be significant (NT$1,000–1,500). Currently, PADI (certification agency) holds the largest market share, with other systems such as SSI (certification agency) / SDI (certification agency) / CMAS, and more. Different systems have different teaching methods and rules, but the ultimate goal is the same — to learn to dive. It's a bit like language proficiency tests (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC) — they all ultimately measure your English ability.
Every system has its pros and cons, so choose based on how you plan to use your certification. Also consider: is the certification fee included in the tuition? Does earning the certification follow standardized teaching requirements?
Normally, a certification system will require each student to complete one confined water session (pool or calm water) and four open water dives (real ocean).
In short, you'll use at least five scuba tanks / cylinders, plus the required teaching skills.
B. Instructor-to-Student Ratio
How many students does one instructor take? I think this is the most important question — and the first one you should ask.
PADI (certification agency) teaching standards allow a maximum of eight students per instructor, but only under the premise that confined water training went very well and ocean conditions on the day are extremely calm.
Managing eight students is incredibly challenging, so each shop adjusts based on their own philosophy. At our company, the policy is strictly two students per instructor; if a booking exceeds that, we will decline the client.
If one instructor takes four students and one student falls behind, the other three have to stop and wait. One-on-one is of course the ideal, but it comes at a higher cost.
Another thing to check: will the instructor be changed at any point during the course? It's best to have the same instructor for all three days. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, we do not recommend switching instructors.
Your instructor knows your progress best. If you switch to another instructor, they have to get to know you and you have to adjust to them — this significantly reduces teaching efficiency.
C. Diving Equipment
The very first lesson of learning to dive is getting to know your equipment, so find out upfront what's included (soft gear: mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, booties / hard gear: regulator, BCD, scuba tank / cylinder, weight system). Also ask: does the shop provide a dive computer and a surface marker buoy (SMB)? (The newest PADI (certification agency) curriculum includes both dive computer and SMB usage, so these two items can help you gauge whether the shop is using the updated curriculum.)
How many days does the equipment rental cover (normally 3 days)? How is pricing handled for extra days (e.g., make-up lessons)? (The going rate for a full gear rental is NT$1,000 per day.)
2. "Life": Travel & Lifestyle
I often say that diving is more than just diving — it's about experiencing a different way of life and a different kind of vacation. So the travel elements are something students care a great deal about.
A. Meals
Everyone travels differently. Personally, I place a huge emphasis on food.
A great meal can keep me happy for a long time and adds a lot of value to the whole trip.
So ask the shop whether meals are included. At our company, we provide lunch during training days. If you're staying with us, breakfast is also included.
For dinner, an instructor will take you out to experience local cuisine (at your own expense).
B. Accommodation
Although most of your time when learning to dive will be spent at the ocean or underwater, the quality of your accommodation is also important for your learning.
Most dive shops at the beach offer accommodation — en-suite rooms, shared-bathroom standard rooms, and dormitory-style backpacker rooms. Some dive shops include accommodation in the course fee, so it's worth clarifying all of this in advance.
C. Other (Transportation, Insurance)
For transportation, I'd suggest clarifying two separate aspects:
First: how do you get from your home base to the dive shop? (For example, if you live in Taipei, how do you get to Kenting?)
Second: how is transportation handled during the training period after you arrive at the dive shop? (For example, how do you get to dinner after class?)
For insurance, besides standard travel insurance, does the shop offer diving-specific insurance? After all, scuba diving is an activity that carries inherent risks.
3. "Style": The Type of Dive Shop
Diving is an activity that is very much about people, so I strongly encourage you to have a chat with your instructor before the course begins, and to get a feel for how the dive shop operates. You'll definitely be able to find the teaching style that suits you best.
A. Freelance Part-Time Instructor vs. Established Dive Shop
You don't necessarily need to find a large dive shop to learn to dive.
The advantage of an individual instructor is that they can dedicate more practice time to students, the curriculum is more flexible, and the experience feels more personalized. However, compared to a full operation, the back-end resources are not as extensive, and they may not be open 365 days a year. Many things need to be worked out directly with the instructor, and a fair degree of mutual accommodation is required.
So if your schedule is tight, you may find yourself with some limitations. In that case, a larger dive shop with stronger infrastructure and systems will probably be a better fit.
B. City Shop vs. Beachside Shop
City-based dive shops typically use 3–4 evenings for pool sessions and classroom lessons, then head out for ocean sessions on the weekend. Their advantage is usually a richer selection of travel services and diving equipment, and you can pop in for a chat on regular days — so the relationships between instructors and students tend to be warmer and more familiar.
Beachside shops have been popping up more and more in recent years. These typically run three to four full-day courses. The advantage is that vacation feeling, plus much greater convenience for actual diving.
C. Style & Personality
This last factor is, in my opinion, the most important of all. Every shop and every instructor has a different teaching style and different strengths. For instance, some instructors specialize in freediving, others in technical diving or sidemount diving — the skills you can pick up vary widely. Some are fantastic photographers or videographers. None of these things show up in a price comparison.
Take some time to have a conversation with the dive shop you're considering. I believe you'll know during that conversation whether that instructor is the right fit for you. After all — when the person is right, everything falls into place; when they're not, everything just feels a little off.
The Most Important Thing When Planning a Dive Trip Is Finding Your Favorite Dive Shop
Diving is truly an activity that can change you. So before you start learning, spend some time reading up online, and make sure you ask every question you have before you head out — that way you can avoid any misunderstandings and save all your energy for the diving itself.
Take a good look at these three dimensions — "Dive, Life, Style" — and you'll definitely find the diving education center that's right for you. They'll guide you to witness the beauty of the ocean and fall hopelessly in love with the sea.
Related Links:
