Diving for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Success

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By Fatima Zahra Sebaaoui posted on 06 July 2023 | Reading time: 4 Minutes | Last update 18 July 2023

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Does your fascination with the marine world make you eager to immerse yourself in the ocean depths? Now is the time to try diving. With this guide, your experience as a beginner will be all the more rewarding.

In France, we’re fortunate to boast stunning and diverse coastlines, each as captivating as the next in terms of marine habitats and flora. Unsurprisingly, many are drawn to diving to explore underwater wonders, discover wrecks, and encounter marine life. If that’s you, know this: it’s an experience that will change you forever and may well become a lifelong passion. That said, while the risks are minimal, diving can feel intimidating for beginners. Here, we share all the essential tips and insights to set you up for success!

What is Diving?

Humankind’s desire to explore the ocean’s depths is nothing new—it dates back to antiquity. Egyptians and Greeks used diving to recover treasures from sunken ships. Later, the Renaissance elevated diving to new heights with the invention of early prototypes of the diving suits we know today. Since then, diving has enabled astonishing scientific discoveries, deepened our understanding of marine life, and even saved lives.

Simply put, scuba diving involves swimming or staying submerged several metres below the water’s surface, breathing through specially designed equipment. This includes a compressed gas cylinder with a regulator (ensuring normal breathing), a wetsuit, fins, and a mask. Importantly, diving isn’t just recreational—it’s also used in biology, archaeology, offshore industries, photography, and more.

How to Prepare for Diving: Key Tips

1. Find a Diving School:

France has over 2,000 diving centres, including clubs and schools welcoming beginners daily. So, finding a nearby facility to safely try this aquatic activity is easy. Explore all diving activities we offer here. Choose the option that best fits your expectations, budget, and schedule.

2. Unsure? Try a Discovery Dive:

Baptism of diving accompanied by an instructor

You might feel thrilled about signing up for a diving course—only to hesitate last-minute. Which course to pick? Will you enjoy it enough to continue? Is the investment worth it? We recommend starting with a discovery dive ("baptême de plongée"). Lasting 20–30 minutes, it gives you a taste of diving. With an instructor guiding you, you’ll cover basic theory and enjoy an introductory dive to explore underwater wonders. Whether in Corsica, the Pyrénées-Orientales, Var, or even Paris, options abound.

3. Prefer a Course? Where to Begin?

Discovery of the depths of the sea during a training diving

If you’ve committed to a multi-day course but remain unsure which to choose, here’s our advice.

Consider the PADI Open Water course. This three-day programme awards an internationally recognised certification upon completion. Alongside theory, you’ll learn to dive to depths of up to 18 metres. The SDI course offers similar training.

4. Equipment: Do You Need Your Own?

All you need to bring is your swimsuit—diving centres provide all necessary gear for discovery dives or courses. From ages 10–12, rest assured centres have wetsuits and equipment tailored to your size and age. If you insist on bringing something extra, pack a smile and enthusiasm... that’s essential, if not mandatory.