Dive Waterplanet Cyprus

Come to my island, come to my sea....!

Maybe you have come to Cyprus for a month, for some years or maybe you are planning to stay here forever. In any case you will be trying to make the best of your life and time on Aphrodite's Island. Surely one of the best ways to do that is to learn scuba diving! Consider that you may not always be living less than an hour away from a warm and clear blue sea….so why not take the plunge with me and learn more about one of the most amazing things you can do in a lifetime, while enjoying the hot summer weekends in Cyprus?

You don't have to be Jacques Cousteau to enjoy the beauty of the sea. The area around Cape Greco is perfect for learning how to dive, in an afternoon you can experience what it feels like to be gliding through a school of fishes over a mystery seascape, or take a weekend and you are likely to be a certified PADI Scubadiver by Sunday's sunset.This coming long summer, from May to end of October, I will offer the PADI's Discover Scuba Diving experience, the Scubadiver course and the Open Water Diver course. If you are already a certified diver, but you need to refresh your skills, you are also most welcome to come with me to the beautiful waters of Cape Greco.

Or if you want to upgrade to the level of 'Advanced Open Water diver', we can work out a fine weekend schedule with 5 adventures dives as well. Another option to increase your skills is following a Specialty course, such as deep diving, navigation, nightdiving, multilevel diving, EAN/nitrox, fish identification or the highly recommendable 'peak performance buoyancy course'.

Ton Mandemaker

The Chapel

This site is called the Chapel because the entry point is near a small chapel on top of a cave. After putting on our equipment we follow the path down and enter with a giant stride. There are 2 routes to choose from, either to the left or to right. The depth can be between 15 and 30 meters, depending on the objective of the dive. We may see sponges, underwater vegetation, different kinds of scorpion fish and other local fish as wrasses, flounders and flutemouths.

Alex from Portugal making the best of a day in the blue waters around Cabo Grecko

The Caves

One of the best dives on the Cyprus coast. On this dive we'll be passing through caverns and caves. There is a beautiful light falling in the caves from the blue waters surrounding them, so torches are not needed. Pass back over a cave diving through the bubbles escaping from the cave below. Some unusual formations may be seen as well as some pretty looking moray eels...
Maximum depth of the site is 12 meters. Depending on the situation we may decide at the end of the dive to exit from an underwater cave!

Come to my island, come to my sea...!

You don't have to be Jacques Cousteau to enjoy the beauty of the sea. The area around Cape Greco is perfect for learning how to dive, in an afternoon you can experience what it feels like to be gliding through a school of fishes over a mystery seascape, or take a weekend and you are likely to be a certified PADI Scubadiver by Sunday's sunset.This coming long summer, from May to end of October, I will offer the PADI's Discover Scuba Diving experience, the Scubadiver course and the Open Water Diver course. If you are already a certified diver, but you need to refresh your skills, you are also most welcome to come with me to the beautiful waters of Cape Greco.

Or if you want to upgrade to the level of 'Advanced Open Water diver', we can work out a fine weekend schedule with 5 adventures dives as well. Another option to increase your skills is following a Specialty course, such as deep diving, navigation, nightdiving, multilevel diving, EAN/nitrox, fish identification or the highly recommendable 'peak performance buoyancy course'.

Ton Mandemaker

Specialty Courses, becoming a Master Scuba Diver

Martina from the Czech Republic meeting the fishes during her
'peak performance bouyancy' specialty

Either as an Open Water diver or an Advanced Open Water diver you can enroll in Specialty Courses. These courses focus on specific issues of your capabilities as a diver. The corresponding 'Adventure Dives' you have logged during your Advanced Course may be credited as the first dive of each specialty course.

The available Specialties are:
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Deep Diver
Underwater Navigator
Multilevel Diver
Underwater Naturalist
Fish Identification
Enriched Air Diver
Night Diver
Boat Diver

To become a Master Scuba Diver, you will have to pick up 5 Specialty Courses (among which Deep Diver and Underwater Navigator), the rescue diver course and log a minimum of 50 dives. It's a great challenge to engage in, and it gives you focus in your diving plans while enjoying to become an allround diver!

Advanced Open Water Diver

The Advanced Open Water diver course can be perfectly fit into a weekend. A total of 5 training dives (over 2 days) on different subjects will get you upgraded and certified to dive to any recreational divesite. We will surely do one deep dive to approximately 30 meters and a navigation training dive. The other 3 dives are free to choose from PADI's available 'adventure dives'. For example the naturalist dive, multilevel dive and the great peak performance buoyancy training would complete your 5 required training dives.

Before coming down to Protaras you will have to study the corresponding chapters of the 'Adventures in diving-Manual' at home or during work when nobody is watching you. This way we can optimize our serious-fun-time at the beach.

Anders from Denmark during his AOW course, doing a 'multilevel dive'

The Advanced Open Water course is priced at € 270, which includes the PADI certification costs. You do need to have the Adventures in Diving Manual that you can also use later on if you want to continue picking up 'specialty certificates' on the path to becoming a 'Master Scuba Diver'.

If you prefer to take things step by step, or limited in your available time, you could consider going for the Adventure Diver certification. To earn this, take 3 'adventure dives' after having your Open Water certification. You can upgrade anytime later to Advanced diver by making 2 additional 'adventure dives'.

* If you have had health issues such as history of ear or lung problems, fainting, claustrophobia you will need a doctors statement to enroll. If you are having a cold diving needs to be postponed .

Send a message to divewaterplanet@hotmail.com if you want to know more about or sign up for an Advanced Open water Course.

Open Water Diver Course (or upgrade)

OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE

The Open Water Diver course can be done in 3 or 4 days. A long weekend would be ideal to start with the course on the first day and by sunset of the 3rd day you can drive home smiling with your certificate in your pocket. If bussy schedules require so, it is also a good option to cut the course in 2 parts of 2 days, and you would pick up the Scuba Diver certificate at the end of the first weekend.

We will have to make 5 confined water dives (in secluded bays) and 4 open waterdives. Before coming down to Protaras you will get to watch an instructional DVD and have to submit corresponding 'knowledge reviews'. After qualifying on PADI's performance requirements you will receive the PADI Open Water certification, which will allow you to go diving with your buddy to a depth of 18 meters. The Open Water Diver course is the most choosen course to enter into the amazing world of diving. It is a lot of fun and a great confidence builder, hope you will not start with a too big ego, because it will surely grow further over the weekend!

Cristina from Portugal had been inactive as a diver for some years, so decided to take a refresher course taking her through the 20 skills of the Open Water Course

The Open Water Diver course comes at a price of € 380, which includes the PADI certification costs. You do need to have a Manual which costs € 45.

UPGRADE FROM SCUBADIVER
To upgrade from Scubadiver to Open Water diver you will be doing 2 additional confined water dives and 2 open water dives as well. Together with the theory of the last 2 chapters of the Open Water manual will get you certified to rent equipments and dive with a buddy to 18 meters.

* If you have had health issues such as history of ear or lung problems, fainting, claustrophobia you will need a doctors statement to enroll. If you are having a cold diving needs to be postponed .

Send a message to divewaterplanet@hotmail.com if you want to know more about or sign up for a Scuba Diver Course.

Divesite Green Bay II

We enter the water at the outside of the Greenbay area. Through shallow waters we make a small tour through a mystery rocky seascape with some small caves. After that we turn back to move through a grass bottom area, bit by bit getting deeper untill we hit a drop off to the white sands. From there we 'climb up' the rocks where we will meet the schools of fishes of the Green Bay I suroundings.

What my student divers said

Alex from Portugal (Advanced Diver): After his Navigation and Multilevel Specialties, Alex is seen here funetuning his buoyancy skills on the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty .

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Darren & John from Ireland (Open Water Divers) loved the warm waters of Cape Grecko. Darren commented: 'a safe and wonderful experience, from a highly professional teacher.'

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Magda from Poland (Scuba Diver):

Now I have something great to do, not just laying on the beach!

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Oleh from Ukraine (Scuba diver): I love it, I want more, it's addictive!

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Mark from Cyprus (Scuba Diver):

Thanks for letting me experience diving! It was great fun, it is amazing and I am looking forward to do the Open Water Course.

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Hana from Germany (Open water Diver):
It was my first dive after 5 years and I was a little nervous, but Ton created such a relaxed and safe atmosphere that it was no problem to regain confidence. The spot he had chosen was really beautiful, the water crystalclear and only few other divers were there. In the water we were immediately surrounded by a big group of fish, so many that we could hardly take pictures where you could see us!

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Mark from Netherlands

(Advanced Diver,
now Underwater Navigator)
I did the Navigation Specialty with Ton. It was an excellent way of gaining more knowledge and skills, especially also the theory parts and exercises on land before going in the water. The 2 dives are not just additions in my logbook, but surely they will increase my pleasure in diving in the future!

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Mario from Netherlands(Advanced diver, now Underwater Navigator):
I'm a diver since 1994 but last January (2009) I did the Navigation Specialty, together with Mark. It is a great way to get more conscious of your surroundings whilst being under water. The exercises are built up slowly and are a great way to get used to finding your way with the use of a compass and objects under water. It's a good course to learn how to find your way (and back!).

End November 2008 I took the buoyancy Specialty, it is one of the basic Specialties that everybody should do. Knowing how to control your buoyancy and being aware of the way you can control your buoyancy with your breath ones you’re trimmed perfectly is a great experience. It makes you feel comfortable and relaxed and improves the quality of your dives.

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Pim:
During my time as an intern at the Embassy, I took the opportunity to go diving at ´Green Bay´. Because it was my first dive ever, Ton made sure that I watched the instruction video and that I felt absolutely comfortable before going in the water. It wasn´t long before we had finished the exercises in shallow water that Ton took us to a depth of up to 12 meters. The water was beautiful and there were so many fish all around us. This experience certainly got me hooked.

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Wim (Discover Scuba Diver):
never had a plan to go diving, but Ton convinced me to try it at least one time. Ofcourse he knew if I did, I would be amazed be the feeling of moving three-dimensional through the clear sea. My first words after coming out: 'wow, that's amazing!', and then 'when can we go again?'...

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Isidro from Spain (beginner, now Scuba Diver):
Regarding the experience last Saturday, it seemed to me I was in a movie, it was really incredible. I was astonished to dive next to plenty of fish who just paid no attention to us, as if we were other fish ourselves. There is something mysterious but at the same time very attractive under the sea, it makes you feel how much beauty is hidden down there for you to discover. It´s been a sensational and breathtaking experience that has definitely changed my view of the sea.

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Natalie from the UK (beginner, now Scuba Diver):
My first diving experience was exhilarating and far more fun than I had imagined. I also felt comfortable with the training and secure with my instructor, so I was not worried as I thought I might be. It was a great experience and I can't wait to get out there and do it again.
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Anders from Denmark (Open Water Diver, now Advanced Diver):
"I have had a great time taking my Advanced Divers Course with Ton, always making me feel very comfortable with the dives and exercises. I received professional instructions and learned a lot while at the same time having loads of fun. My best recommendations for Ton, for anyone thinking about going below in Cyprus."

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Evelien (Discover Scuba Diver):
"The scuba-diving program I participated in was absolutely amazing and I enjoyed every second of it! As soon as you're underwater, it's like you have entered a whole new world.
I can't wait until it gets hotter in Cyprus, so that I can do it again! "
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Christophe (Discover Scuba Diver):
"Catherine and I went to dive with Ton in the Green Bay, Cyprus, in autumn 2007. Neither of us had ever dived and we had been told about Ton by a common friend. The experience went very well and both Catherine and I have fond memories of this day! "
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John (Discover Scuba Diver):
"I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was impressed with his attention to detail and to my safety, combined with a relaxed demeanor."

Puerto Galera

The area around Puerto Galera with it's many coves and beaches is a national marine park. It's in these waters that I first had a look of what lays beneath. My logbook mentions Monkey beach as Dive number 1, on 21th december 1993; after doing my backroll off the 'banka' (outrigger boat) I discovered giant clams, sea fern, blue starfish, basket sponges, brain coral, moorish idols, parrot fishes, organ pipe sponges and clownfishes, according to my written testimony.

Read more about Puerta Galera.

Zenobia wreck

A couple of minutes outside Larnaca's fishermen's harbour, lies the wreck of the Zenobia, a Swedish ship that went down with a cargo of some 108 Volvo trucks. It's one of the top dives of the Mediterranean. I have dived the Zenobia at daylight as well as on a nightdive. Have a look at a video to see how the expert wreckdivers see the ship.

Koh Tao

Koh Tao is just about as good as life can get! Besides the laid back athmosphere, jungle, Thai food you can as well have great cappucino and croissant..It is also probably the best place in the world to take (further) divetraining. Many interesting divesites around, all just within short distance from the villages. The only disadvantage may be sometimes there are just too many divers, but hey....divers are nice people!

Read more about diving Koh Tao.

Similan Islands

The Similan Islands is a group of nine islands in the Andaman Sea, on Thailands' west coast. The best -or in fact the only reasonable- way to see the coral reefs around the islands is to go on a live-aboard for a couple of days. Read more about diving the Similans.

Sail Rock

Sail Rock is a solitary underwater mountain more or less halfway between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. It takes about an hour to get there from either of these islands, or some 2 hours from Koh Samui. The bottom goes down to some 40 meters around the rock. The pretty heavy currents around Sail Rock attract loads of bigger fish, such as baracuda's, trevally's and on a lucky day even a whale shark may pass by.

Kota Kinabalu, (Borneo) Malaysia

Just in front of Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah on Malaysian Borneo, a group of islands has been destined as the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. There are some beautiful white sand beaches on these uninhabited islands. Completely covered with jungle, this area is a perfect setting for an adventurous tropical holiday. Read more on diving Kota Kinabalu.

Pulau Redang, Malaysia

Pulau Redang is located east of peninsular Malaysia. This beautiful paradise island is surround by many divesites, which can all be reached within 10 minutes by a small speedboat. You will see enormous schools of barracuda's and turtles, some of them huge. Read more about diving in Redang.