You’ll come across many dive companies around Sri Lanka and every dive operator will tell you to go diving with them. Here are some tips you should check before going diving and WHY to choose Divinguru for your scuba holidays in Sri Lanka.

There is many dive centres around Sri Lanka offering different quality of services. Do your own research, read reviews and ask questions! Are you looking for professionalism, safety, small group size, lowest prices or extra attention? Make an informed choice about which dive store you use, not just the first one you see on the beach.

Reputation is important when it comes to choosing the right dive centre. Read online reviews and ask other travelers. It’s always good to get first-hand information. Listen to divers feedback about their diving experience, safety, standards and rented equipment. Always try and find reviews of the equipment if you are going to be hiring gear and about the instructors if you are doing a course. If you want to double check that you are in safe hands, you can also use PADI’s Dive Shop Locator to check a shop’s credentials.

Price should never be a deciding factor when choosing a scuba diving centre. Just because a store is offering low prices it doesn’t mean that they are the best. You always get what you pay for and there is a reason why they are cheaper than the others. (If they are super cheap compared to the competitors, ask yourself why.) Have this in your considerations when choosing your dive center. Never forget to put your personal safety above the desire to save money.

There is no problem to travel on budget, it’s worth to ask for discounts! You can often get a deal for multi-day dive package, early bird discount or even for having your own equipment.

You need to know what to look for when choosing a dive center. When you have chosen a store don’t be afraid asking the dive center staff some questions. They are there to help you make the right choices and they want you to feel safe. If you do come across staff that’s unwilling to give you answers, you can walk away anytime. Think about what you need to make you feel safe and ask questions relating to it.

1. Check for a dive agency affiliation (PADI, SSI, etc.)

2. Is the dive centre PADI registered and renewed?

3. Ask the Divemaster (“guides”) and Instructors for their certification cards.

4. Do the dive centre and Instructors have an insurance.

5. Do foreign Instructors have a valid work permit for Sri Lanka?

6. How many Divemasters and Instructors do they have, where are they from and what languages they speak?

7. Do they check your qualification cards and medical form?

8. Are there any additional costs you should be aware of.

9. Does the equipment look well maintained on close inspection?

10. Ask how often they service their rental equipment.

11. Ask whether you can see the latest test certificates (e.g. are the tanks pressure tested?)

11. How often they change filters in their compressor?

You do not have to be a professional when it comes to knowing how to evaluate a dive center. You need to trust your eyes and your ears and listen to your instincts. If you were asked to step into a boat that looked unsafe you wouldn’t do it. If equipment looks unsafe you shouldn’t use it. Each destination has plenty of dive shops for you to go into and look around.

Now that we’ve explored the essential factors in choosing a dive center, let’s have a look why you should go diving with Divinguru Sri Lanka and enjoy your scuba holidays underwater without any hassle.

Who are we?

We are DIVINGURU – SRI LANKA, authorized PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resorts at the south coast in Unawatuna, 2 km from Galle and at the north east coast in Nilaveli, 10km north from Trincomalee town.

All our Diving Centres are on our own properties and credited as PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Resorts. Our first dive centre in Unawatuna is PADI certified since 2005 and our dive resort in Nilaveli since 2010. It costs a certain amount of money to run a professional Dive Centre. If we start cutting corners on price, then we would also be forced to cut corners on safety and services provided.

Our goal is to create safe place for divers to experience the underwater world. We have successfully created a well know brand which people recognize as a safe and professional diving centre with high standards and good reputation among divers in Sri Lankan diving industry.

Divinguru Sri Lanka is approved by the Board of Investment and the Tourist Development Authority of Sri Lanka.

Insurance

While scuba diving insurance is not mandatory in Sri Lanka, everyone wants to feel safe (not only) while diving. Our Diving Centres are fully PADI Group PRRA Combined Liability Insured for Public Liability, Product Liability and Professional Liability. Divinguru Sri Lanka, PADI 5 STAR IDC DIVE RESORTS are fully insured for Diving for Beginners, Fun Dives, PADI Courses, Snorkelling Trips, Whale & Dolphin Watching and other related Water Sport Activities.

Additionally all our PADI Dive Instructors and PADI Divemasters have also their own PADI Professional Dive Insurance.

We are Insured for Public Liability with USD 12 Million each claim, Product Liability with USD 12 Million each claim, for Professional Liability USD 3 Million each claim, Criminal Defense Costs USD 185 Thousand each claim and Crisis/Media Management each USD 92 Thousand each claim. We are the ONLY Diving Operator in Sri Lanka who provide this insurance cover with these high amounts for each claim. View the Summary of Insurance Cover for Combined Liability Insurance.

Diving with US!

We are diving in small groups with max. 5 divers plus one PADI Divemaster or PADI Dive Instructor. Our diving courses and dive trips are run in small groups to ensure a personal service. We evaluate the dive conditions every morning and consider the best place to dive according to the visibility, experience of whole group and marine life. We are honest regarding the ocean conditions. When the weather and sea conditions are not good, we don’t dive.

Divers safety is our main priority! Our dive briefings cover all safety and standard procedures. In addition, our diving base has a stationary Oxygen Supply and portable DAN System that are available on diving boats. All our boat captains, diving guides and Dive Instructors are all trained in first aid assistance and have an EFR certificates.

We own around 30 full sets of well maintained diving equipment of all sizes, mostly SCUBA PRO. Our Regulators and BCDs are permanently or at least every six months serviced.

All our Scuba Diving Tanks are visually inspected annually and the mandatory professional pressure test is done through Ceylon Oxygen after every 4 – 5 years.

All our seven small diving boat are running with environmental friendly YAMAHA 4 Stroke 40 HP Boat Engines.

We are using first class BAUER compressors (made by BAUER, Germany) to fill speedy our 12 L Aluminum Tanks with DIN or INT connectors. We are changing our ORIGINAL Oil and Air filters regularly as well as the ORIGINAL BAUER filter cartridges to ensure outstanding purification of breathing air. For children we also provide 8 L Aluminum Diving Tanks

We provide for Enriched Air NITROX for certified EANx divers FREE OF CHARGE on request if suitable to diving site!

We hope these tips have given you a bit more confidence in making an informed decision when choosing the best dive shop.

Meet the Professionals, Dive with US!