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A dive center is the base location where
recreational divers usually learn
scuba diving
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface air supply. The name "scuba", an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", was coined by Chris ...
or make guided dive trips at new locations. Many dive centers operate under the guidelines of ISO 24803, in which case the facilities must meet the ISO minimum standard for a service provider for recreational diving.
Shop
Divers commonly refer to dive centers as dive shops. It is normally a shop selling
diving equipment
Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers to make diving activities possible, easier, safer and/or more comfortable. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other purposes which is found ...
equipped with a
diving air compressor
A diving air compressor is a gas compressor that can provide breathing air directly to a surface-supplied diver, or fill diving cylinders with high-pressure air pure enough to be used as a breathing gas. A low pressure diving air compressor us ...
to fill the
cylinders. The dive center usually offers the facilities to repair and maintain
scuba gear
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface air supply. The name "scuba", an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", was coined by Chris ...
.
Diver training and guided dives
Professional recreational
diving instructor
A diving instructor is a person who trains and usually also assesses competence of underwater divers. This includes freedivers, recreational divers including the subcategory technical divers, and professional divers which includes military, co ...
s are often associated with, or employed by, a dive center. The center may be located near a swimming pool and
open water, where training and guided dives can be conducted. Some operate boats or road transport and offer guided dives at
recreational dive sites
Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this c ...
in the vicinity. Classrooms are often available for
diver training
Diver training is the set of processes through which a person learns the necessary and desirable skills to safely dive underwater within the scope of the diver training standard relevant to the specific training programme. Most diver training ...
which may include training according to ISO 24801-1
Supervised diver, ISO 24801-2
Autonomous diver
Autonomous diver is an international minimum standard for entry level recreational scuba diver certification. It describes the minimum requirements for basic training and certification for recreational scuba divers in international standard ISO 24 ...
and ISO 24801-3
Dive leader
Dive leader is the title of an internationally recognised recreational diving certification. The training standard describes the minimum requirements for dive leader training and certification for recreational scuba divers in international standar ...
, and other courses according to the
certification agency to which they are affiliated.
Dive Leader ISO 24801-3
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Organization
Dive centers may be affiliated to one or more diver certification agencies
This article lists notable underwater diver certification agencies. These include certification in cave diving, commercial diving, recreational diving, technical diving and freediving. Diver certification agencies are organisations which issue ce ...
to offer their beginner, advanced, professional or specialty courses.
See also
*Pro shop
A pro shop is a sporting-goods shop within a public or private-membership amateur sporting activities facility of some kind, most commonly a golf course, where it will typically be located in the country club building. In the case of golf pro s ...
, fulfilling similar functions in other sports
* Dive centers near eco hotels
References
External links
Diving organizations
Recreational diving
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