What You Say About Us
We decided to learn diving in cold water (4 degrees C!), which was tough as new starters, but Lisa and Richard supported us throughout the PADI Open Water course making it really both fun to do and still keeping us focused on the course detail.
The course was really very enjoyable and we both felt safe and confident that we were being taught by competent experienced divers. We intend doing more courses and diving with Dive South in the very near future. I would recommend Lisa and Richard to anybody wishing to start learning to dive. Very many thanks to all the rest of the team that setup the dive equipment and supported us during our training.
Steve and Luke Watkin
Dive South are an excellent dive school who are very understanding and friendly. They are a very encouraging and likable bunch of people who like to make sure that you enjoy yourself. Lisa kindly gave up her time to spend an extra evening at the pool to help me feel more confident in the water, so that I did not have to rush the skills, at no extra cost paid to the dive school.
They are very reliable and good teachers, who understand how unnatural it feels to breathe under water at first. They have kept in touch and encourage regular diving with updates and dive and social invitations after gaining my Open Water qualification.
I learned to dive so that I could dive in Crete, and believe it is one of my most rewarding achievements to date. I am definitely considering doing my advanced open water with Dive South, so I can dive ship wrecks with the guys.
Simon Burch
I recently passed my PADI Open Water course with Dive South, having booked myself and my boyfriend onto the course, as we are going travelling for a year and wanted to get qualified before leaving. I initially chose this company because of the informative website and their flexibility, as I work on Saturdays and we were able to do all our dives on Sundays. Everyone was friendly, professional and helpful from the first email to the final dive. I never felt pressured to do something I wasn't ready to do but at the same time made to feel safe and able to carry out skills.
My first dive in the sea was daunting and a bit cold but after a couple of tries I descended to a slightly murky but exciting underwater world. I'd never really thought about what I might see under Swanage pier but I was pleasantly surprised to find shoals of fish, shrimp and even a big blue lobster! Whenever I struggled with a skill the instructors would have the time to help me through it and build my confidence enough to qualify as an open water diver. We are now looking forward to doing our advanced course and carrying out lots more dives around the world. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn to dive to choose Dive South to help them enter an exciting underwater world!
Natalie Hole
I did a try dive in Dahab and began my PADI Open Water Course while on holiday in May 09. Due to lack of time I did not complete it in Dahab. I searched many dive companies in and around this area so that I could do the rest of my skills to become an Open Water Diver. I was talking to a friend one day and she mentioned Dive South.
Being a lady of more mature years and a bit scared of the newness of diving I wanted to feel secure and confident with someone who would be sympathetic to my needs!!
Well, I think I got the best instructor there is on this planet. OK, I'm biased but you know what I mean. My instructor and co diver were excellent, patient, respectful and informative. Although diving is serious they were so much fun without compromising any safety issues. Everyone I met at Dive South gave me so much encouragement and made me feel comfortable, I felt totally safe.
Jenny Adams
We came along to some Dive South Sunday sessions in the pool to see if our sons, then 9 and 11, would take to sub-aqua. I had not dived for some time and needed a skills review. The friendly welcome we received and the instruction were both fantastic. Both our boys really enjoyed learning to use the equipment, were soon very comfortable underwater and completed the Seal Team Course.
We then had the confidence to book a PADI Junior Open Water diver course for them during an overseas holiday (to start the day after our younger son turned 10) and the boys went on to enjoy diving in the sea with us. Many thanks Dive South!
The Pullman family
Shelagh and I chose the Dive South team for our PADI open water qualification. We were planning to dive in Greece, so we attended an open water referral course, which saved us a lot of time on holiday. We found everything to be very professional and the course content was a perfect fit for the Greek dive school.
It was on our return that we were surprised; Dive South ensured that we kept diving. We were invited to attend pool sessions and other diving opportunities, where the "comfort blanket" of several highly trained divers in the water, was a great reassurance for our first UK sea dives.
Nick Parsons
I was given Dive South's contact via a friend of mine who learned to dive with Dive South a few years back. So earlier this year myself and a friend signed up with Matt, Rich and Lisa from the Dive South team to do our Open Water Diver Course. We had a fantastic time with all the team and found that they were all really patient with us and took their time to make sure we learned the course and were confident both in and out of the water. After a freezing set of Open Water Dives it was great to dive in Oz later this year. I look forward to my Advanced Open Water Diver course now! Thanks guys!
Tim Bevington
I was so pleased to have completed the Advanced Open Water qualification with Dive South. They were so flexible, professional, helpful and fun to learn from. They have a love of diving that is completely infectious. I would absolutely recommend anyone to learn to dive with Dive South.
Miles Gillespie