Specialist scuba training aids in leadership skills

If you have always wanted to explore the underwater kingdom, whether through snorkelling or scuba diving, then enlisting the aid of a trained instructor is your best bet. The ultimate freedom, deep within the depths of the ocean, is best experienced when diving.

Enter the PADI Open Water Diver Course. This course is the most popular scuba diving course in the world and the first step to scuba diving and a lifetime of memorable experiences. It introduces you to endless underwater adventures and is widely recognised and respected throughout the world.

Orca Industries

Orca Industries is your one-stop diving and outdoor specialist – making the experience all the more simple, as everything can be found at one place. And if it is not available, Orca will find it for you.

The company was officially opened in 1993 by Duncan Pattenden, his speciality being scuba diving training and mountain climbing; and over the years, his passion has become his life.

He has been in the industry since 1983 and has accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge, which he is always happy to share.

Open-water diving is definitely unlike anything you have ever tried before. It is pointless trying to explain the experience, as the explanation given would not do it justice. It is better left experienced by yourself.

The Open Water course will teach you the basics of scuba diving, which involves education on pressure, volume and density of water, which influences the physical body when diving.

The course enforces knowledge on the dangers of diving that may occur, and you learn everything you need to know to ensure safety – for yourself and the environment.

Once the knowledge reviews are covered, you are taken to “confined water” (swimming pool), where you can practise what you have learnt in the knowledge-based sections, in a safe and controlled environment.

You experience the feeling of weightlessness underwater (like an astronaut) and will become aware of all bodily changes such as water pressure, volume and density increases or decreases (when you go deeper or shallower). You will practise all the skills that will be required to ensure maximum fun and safe diving. On average, this takes two days to complete.

When the instructors are satisfied with your skills and you have met all PADI requirements according to standards, you may proceed to “open water” (sea dives), where you will be allowed the opportunity to apply all skills learnt in the sea, while enjoying the splendour of the underwater world.

After completing the Open Water diving course, you will be a certified scuba diver, and will be able to dive anywhere and anytime in the world, within the limits of your training.

Diving training does not stop there. It continues from Open Water to Advanced, Rescue, Dive Master, Instructor, Master Scuba Diver, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and various speciality courses, to name but a few.

Skills acquired

Although scuba diving is one of the most enjoyable and extreme sports available, it offers a unique opportunity to learn valuable lifeskills. It has been noted that many of the participants of the sport develop strong leadership and interpersonal skills, in addition to diving expertise.

To take part in athletic activity, one needs the entire body and mind to be present.

Learning about rules, the implementation thereof and the need to respect them, are important lifeskills for any individual. The opportunity to learn about healthy competition on a safe level may also be important in one’s personal development. This could lead to further learning about winning and losing and how that translates into leadership skills.

Working hard as a team, doing well and receiving recognition gives all participants a sense of achievement and a boost for their self-esteem. Having these emotional needs met goes further into developing confidence and independence.

From a social aspect, the participants are able to learn communication skills and the importance of co-operation with one’s sporting peers. They can experience peer association, how to solve conflict, and learn how to accept responsibilities.

A healthy lifestyle may be learnt in consistent developments through sport at an early age.

Co-ordination, agility, speed and strength may all be developed during the participation of team sports.

Having an active lifestyle could assist a young person in being able to reject the pressures often associated with peers and the experimentation with alcohol and drugs. Later on in life, a young person could be more inclined to continue with an active lifestyle, having had the opportunity to take part in sport earlier in life.

One of the valuable benefits of team sports is that they provide an arena in which to grow on a social, emotional and physical level. Through team sports such as diving, one can acquire important lifeskills and develop a sense of self-worth. All these attributes can aid in the growth of a stable, secure and happy individual.

You learn leadership skills through both classroom and independent study, and the skills your learn through diving can be applied throughout your life.

“Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players,” said Larry Bird, former American NBA basketball player and coach.

Diving as a career

Once you decide to do professional diving as a career, work will become an adventure and something to look forward to every day. As a professional diver, one is not restricted to one place, but can work wherever the ocean takes you.

Taking people diving every day will enable you to experience many new places, meet many interesting people, and learn new cultures. Lead a life of adventure and discovery!

Although being a professional diver requires plenty of hard work, it is also very rewarding. As a professional diver, you will be able to share your knowledge of diving and the oceans with those who are eager to learn.

Get started on your journey of learning and discovery through specialist scuba training. Once you have, you will find that you want to venture deeper and deeper.

Orca Industries Diving & Training Centre

Orca is a professional PADI Dive Centre and offers CMAS and SASCA certified training courses.

The Diving & Training Academy offers PADI Diver Training from Open Water to Advanced Open Water courses.

The Academy recommends the following key courses to anyone who wants to become a confident scuba diver and who wants to get the most out of diving:

• PADI Open Water

• PADI Advanced Open Water

• PADI Rescue Diver

• Dive Master

It offers the following SASCA & CMAS courses:

• SASCA Skippers C & Skippers Course

• CMAS Compressor Operator Course

Explore Cape Town

Robin Sauls of Orca Industries will be heading up the exciting Explore Cape Town event, set to take place in October this year. This event will take 24 participants through an Amazing Race-type adventure, with 18 stops throughout Cape Town.

Should you be interested in more information, either to become a sponsor or a contestant, contact Sauls on (021) 671 9673 or 083 959 5197.

Orca Industries

Tel: (021) 671 9673

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web: www.orca-industries.co.za

Address: 3 Bowwood Road, Claremont,

Cape Town

Debbie van der Weel