Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Here you can find answers to questions often asked by our customers. If you have a specific question or need a bit more information, please contact us by using our contact form, email or give us a call!
Do I need previous experience?
No, you do not need any previous experience. Our Snorkelling and Discover Scuba Diving experiences are specifically designed for those who want to see the world below the ocean's surface but have never done it before.
Is scuba diving safe?
Let's be honest - scuba diving and snorkelling activities have inherent risks that might result in serious injury. But so does driving a car. At Black Sand Diving customer safety and comfort is our top priority. Our small groups and high dive guide/instructor to customer ratio ensure that everyone's safety and even the smallest risk is managed effectively. As long as you pay attention to the directions of our professionally trained dive guides and instructors, dive within the limits of your training and abilities, are a generally responsible person with regards to your own physical and mental health, then scuba diving is perfectly safe!
What is the minimum age?
There is no minimum age for snorkelling while scuba diving activities have a minimum age of 8yrs old for pool and 10yrs old for ocean dives. Courses such as Advanced, Deep & Rescue diver has a minimum age of 15yrs and you need to be at least 18yrs old for Professional Level courses. For information about specific courses, see our PADI Course page.
Can I dive if I can't swim?
You don't need to be a fast or technically skilled swimmer, but you do need to be comfortable in the water and able to keep yourself afloat without assistance. In fact, many divers are not particularly strong swimmers because scuba diving is designed to be a slow, relaxed activity, once underwater you rely mainly on buoyancy control and efficient finning rather than swimming strength. In practice, water confidence is therefore far more important than swimming ability. At Black Sand Diving our small groups ensure that any uncertainty or nervousness will be managed with empathy and patience.
What medical conditions affect diving?
Before participating in water activities, all divers must complete a medical questionnaire to identify any conditions that could affect their safety. Certain medical conditions, particularly those affecting the heart, lungs, ears and sinuses, may require further assessment by a physician experienced in diving medicine. Other factors, such as diabetes, recent surgery, pregnancy, some mental health conditions, or certain medications, may also need medical clearance before diving. In many cases, these conditions do not automatically prevent someone from diving, but ensuring they are properly evaluated helps keep diving safe and enjoyable for everyone.
What is included in the price?
At Black Sand Diving we try and keep the prices as transparent as possible and generally speaking our course prices include all the online learning materials, equipment rental and dives. For our divers who already are certified and only want to dive, specific requirements such as equipment rental and diving insurance is priced separately because every diver have their specific requirements. More information about pricing can be found here.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. We offer a boutique service which means as a dive centre, we try and keep our groups small which. In turn, our spaces tend to fill up quicker than a normal dive centre, so the sooner you book the more likely that there will be availability for your particular activity. We also have a policy that no booking can be confirmed unless at least the first day's diving have been paid for, or in the case of some diving courses, 50% of the agreed course price.
What should I bring?
As a general rule, bring what you would normally bring for a day at the beach - swimsuit, hat, adequate sun protection, towel & dry clothing. In winter it can get cold between dives so do not forget something dry and warm!
We also recommend to already wear your swimsuit when you come for the equipment fitting because we do not have dedicated changing rooms at the dive centre, only a common area. If you are a certified diver, make sure to also bring your logbook, certification card (paper or digital) and diving insurance (unless you buy insurance from us). Our customers are welcome to leave their equipment in an allocated area in our secure equipment room for the duration of the time that you will be diving with us - we will also bring it directly to the dive site for you & clean it afterwards.
Please note that there are no shops near the dive sites, so make sure you bring plenty of water and something to snack on between the dives. We do not come back between the dives!
A special note about our "No gloves" & sunscreen policy - Black Sand Diving a member of both Green Fins and the La Palma Biosfera Association. We operate within a recognised UNESCO Biosphere and we actively promote responsible behaviour towards protection the Environment especially our oceans. We have therefore implemented a strict "No Gloves" policy for diving and snorkelling activities andd we strongly encourage the use of reef safe sunscreens.
Is equipment included?
Equipment
We also recommend to already wear your swimsuit when you come for the equipment fitting because we do not have dedicated changing rooms at the dive centre, only a common area. If you are a certified diver, make sure to also bring your logbook, certification card (paper or digital) and diving insurance (unless you buy insurance from us). Our customers are welcome to leave their equipment in an allocated area in our secure equipment room for the duration of the time that you will be diving with us - we will also bring it directly to the dive site for you & clean it afterwards.
Please note that there are no shops near the dive sites, so make sure you bring plenty of water and something to snack on between the dives. We do not come back between the dives!
A special note about our "No gloves" & sunscreen policy - Black Sand Diving a member of both Green Fins and the La Palma Biosfera Association. We operate within a recognised UNESCO Biosphere and we actively promote responsible behaviour towards protection the Environment especially our oceans. We have therefore implemented a strict "No Gloves" policy for diving and snorkelling activities andd we strongly encourage the use of reef safe sunscreens.