Are there any hidden fees?#
Nope. We are 100% transparent with our pricing model - what you see is what you pay.
Do I need to know how to swim?#
TL;DR: yes.
Our priority will always be your safety. And this is why, for you to be a safe scuba diver we believe you need to know how to swim. Imagine accidentally falling overboard in the middle of the ocean with no gear on. Or slipping off some slippery rocks while scouting ahead for entry points. Being able to swim is important. But it’s ok if you haven’t learned how to swim yet - feel free to get in touch and we’re happy to recommend some excellent swimming teachers.
Do I need to own any equipment to begin?#
We recommend everyone that starts a course with us to at a very least own a good-fitting dive mask. This is as much for hygiene purposes as it is for your comfort, as finding a mask that truly fits your face is a bit of a journey and we want you to be as comfortable as possible. Here’s a blog entry on how to choose a well-fitting dive mask.
Next in the order of importance comes stuff that’s in direct contact with your skin: wetsuits and booties. Everything else can, in our opinion, come after.
Finally, because we strive to offer the best possible experience, all our courses feature an included personal shopping session where we help you choose the best gear for your needs.
Is my deposit refundable?#
Our full deposit policy is available in the TODO T&C, but here’s the gist of it:
- Cancelations with more than 30 days before the start get 100% of the deposit
- Between 30 and 15 days before the start you receive 50% of the deposit
- Cancelations within less than 15 days before the start are not eligible for a refund
Should we be forced to cancel/postpone a course, your deposit will immediately be refunded.
Can I buy training as a gift?#
Of course! We do acknowledge that not everyone may be as excited as we are about diving, so our gift cards do not come with a pre-booked timeslot and are 100% refundable.
Please get in touch in order to purchase a gift card.
Is diving risky?#
Like many other activities, diving does carry inherent risks. These risks can, however, be mitigated through proper training, planning, and adherence to safety procedures. Our focus on risk management and self-sufficiency aims to empower divers to handle potential hazards effectively.
Here are the safety precautions we take for all our diving activities:
- We have printed, well defined emergency plans for every location in our standard practice
- We always carry a first aid kit and emergency oxygen
- Being able to activate emergency services on a moment’s notice is important, so we always carry a satellite-based communications device
- All our pre-dive briefings include information on emergency procedures, even if it’s just our home reef or even the pool
- During all our open water dives we carry at least one signaling buoy, cutting device, satellite emergency beacon
- We maintain our rescue, CPR and oxygen provider skills by regular practice
I have a medical condition, can I still dive?#
There are a number of medical conditions that require a doctor’s sign-off prior to diving, as well as some that unfortunately are not compatible with diving. We discuss this topic in your intro call in greater depth, but in case you’d like a preview here is the SDI medical questionnaire we use.
What if I’m not sure this is for me?#
We get it, we’ve been there. You’d love to become a diver, but you’re not sure if you want to make the investment in a full course without having experienced it a little.
Our SDI Scuba Discovery session is the perfect answer for that. You get to experience your first breaths underwater with a much lower time investment (about half a day) and more importantly, that time won’t be wasted if you decide to go to the full SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course.
Must all my training be in Romania?#
We love diving in the Black Sea, but we do realize it’s not always a year-round diving destination.
As a result, we do offer training in other (warmer) locations where over the years we have made strong connections with reputable dive centers that we know will provide comparable services. Keep an eye on our social media for our travel plans.
We will also travel to other locations upon request, knowing that this would mean that on top of our regular fees that would also entail travel and accommodation costs.
What’s the minimum age?#
This depends on the course you’re after, but in most cases that’s 18 or 12-15 with parental consent. Take a look at the standards section in each course to learn more.
Are there any fitness requirements?#
We do start every course with a swim test, where you will be required to swim for 200m continuously using any stroke. That is not timed, but you need to be able to swim the full distance without stopping or holding on to anything.
Is diving compatible with smoking and/or drinking alcohol?#
Look, we’re not here to tell you how to live your life. We do have pretty strong recommendations when it comes to diving however - as such:
- We ask that you abstain from smoking immediately before and after diving - more info on why we do that is available here
- You can find recommendations on (not) mixing diving with drinking here and it’s safe to say that at the very least you should not consume alcohol before diving and always make sure you are properly hydrated.
My company gives me a sport/stay active allowance, can I get an invoice?#
You not only can get an invoice, but you will always get an invoice. We run a tight operation here at Blue Pulse and that means complying with all local laws and regulations. Just let us know if you’d like the invoice issued directly to your employer.
What methods of payment do you accept?#
We accept credit card, RoPay and wire transfer payments, in RON, using our bank’s daily official exchange rates.