FIRST DIVE GUIDE
Want to breathe underwater for the first time, or earn your first diving certification? This guide will help you choose a comfortable place to start.
You do not need to purchase equipment or chase depth records. Understand the options, check your safety needs and learn with an instructor.
Choose DSD if you want to try breathing underwater. Choose PADI OW if you want structured training and a recognized entry-level certification.
Complete the required scuba medical questionnaire and discuss swimming confidence, equalization or other health concerns before booking.
Learn basic safety procedures, breathing and hand signals. Follow your instructor's guidance at a comfortable pace.
DSD is a guided introduction; Open Water is a complete entry-level certification course. Neither requires a previous scuba certification.
| Item | DSD Experience | PADI Open Water |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Experience scuba for the first time | Train toward an entry-level scuba certification |
| Certification | No; DSD is not a certification | PADI Open Water certification after completing all requirements |
| Our format | One guided ocean experience | One knowledge session, one pool session and two ocean sessions (four training dives) |
| Ocean instructor ratio | Up to two participants per instructor | Up to three students per instructor during ocean training |
| Equipment | Included; DSD also includes round-trip shuttle | Required course equipment included |
| Recommended for | First-timers deciding whether they enjoy scuba | People who want to continue diving and get certified |
Would you like to breathe underwater on scuba, explore on one breath, or move gracefully in a mermaid tail? Find a beginner course that matches your interests.
Swipe the cards or table to compare courses together ↔
Use a scuba cylinder and regulator to breathe underwater. Learn equipment handling, buoyancy and essential safety skills through pool and ocean training toward an entry-level scuba certification.
For new divers who want to earn a scuba certification and enjoy fun dives
Explore Open Water ↗
Explore on a single breath, without scuba cylinders. Learn relaxation, breath-hold, equalization, buddy procedures and safety through pool and ocean practice.
For people who love breath-hold diving, swimming and calm water skills
Explore Freediver ↗
Wear a mermaid tail and monofin in confined water. Practice tail movements, body control, breath-hold awareness and buddy safety in a pool setting.
For those who love mermaid movement and creative underwater skills
Explore Basic Mermaid ↗| Comparison | Open Water Scuba | PADI Freediver | PADI Basic Mermaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you breathe | Scuba cylinder and regulator for breathing underwater | No cylinder; one breath per dive | No cylinder; one breath with mermaid-tail movement |
| Key skills | Equipment, buoyancy, scuba safety and ocean skills | Relaxation, breath-hold, equalization and buddy safety | Tail movement, body control and buddy safety |
| Training environment | Knowledge, pool and ocean training | Knowledge, pool and ocean training | Primarily knowledge and confined-water (pool) training |
| Minimum age | Generally 10; junior restrictions may apply | 15; ask about Basic Freediver from age 12 | 6; guardian consent for minors |
| 2027 course prices | Weekday NT$13,500 / Weekend NT$15,500 | NT$16,000 | NT$15,000 |
| Qualification | PADI Open Water scuba certification | PADI Freediver certification | PADI Basic Mermaid certification; not scuba or freediving |
These programs develop different skills and qualifications and do not replace one another. Prices reflect current 2027 course listings; instructors will confirm schedules, equipment and eligibility.
Quarter Diving supplies the required scuba equipment for both programs. Bring your own personal essentials.
Answers to some of the questions we hear most often from first-time divers.
Not for DSD. It is a guided introductory experience, not a scuba certification. You can take Open Water to become certified.
You can participate as long as you are comfortable being in the water. Even if you cannot swim, your instructor will guide you through water familiarization and help you develop basic water confidence and skills.
PADI DSD and Junior Open Water generally start at age 10. Guardian permission is needed for minors, and age-related certification and depth restrictions may apply.
Your instructor chooses an appropriate depth based on training standards, sea conditions and your comfort. Reaching a particular depth is never the goal. Both DSD and the first Open Water ocean training dive have a maximum depth of 12 meters.
No. We provide the necessary equipment for DSD and OW training. You can decide what to buy after trying the gear.
Standard glasses do not fit inside a typical scuba mask. Ask about prescription-mask options; contact lenses can also be worn.
If Northeast Coast conditions are unsafe, we will coordinate a reschedule or apply the relevant cancellation policy rather than force the activity.
Scuba divers use a cylinder and regulator to breathe underwater. Freedivers rely on a single breath and learn relaxation, equalization and buddy safety instead.
PADI Basic Mermaid primarily takes place in confined water such as a pool. Ocean mermaid skills are covered in other mermaid course levels.
Try scuba first or begin Open Water training. See the current course and booking pages for pricing, dates and availability.
Ocean activities depend on safe sea conditions and weather. Medical screening, eligibility and training plans follow instructor assessment and applicable PADI standards.