10 Reasons to Learn to Scuba Dive

By

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February 2, 2017

Why should I learn to scuba dive you ask. This is a question we get asked a lot by many people here at Ocean Tribe and we’ve come up with a list of reasons why you should learn to scuba dive and gain a lifelong hobby or just maybe something to tick off on your bucket list.

1. See things that 90% of people will never see

This is a big one. When you learn to scuba dive and become a diver then you join an elite club. Only 10% of people on this planet will ever experience the wonders that you do. 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, so it stands to reason that a large proportion of the life on earth can also be found underwater. We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the oceans. It’s time for you to embrace adventure.

2. Give yourself increased travel options

Wherever there is water you can scuba dive. So no matter where you are on Earth, there are always scuba diving options available for you. Tropical paradises, sunken shipwrecks, lost civilisations, and the accompanying marine life make for interesting travel options. Suddenly it doesn’t seem so bad when you have to go somewhere if there is a diving possibility.

3. Experience weightlessness like being an astronaut

Scuba diving is actually used by NASA to train astronauts for being weightless in space. That is totally true. So every time you go scuba diving, you can experience that weightless feeling of being able to go up and down as you please with neutral buoyancy. Cool eh?

4. See a range of wildlife unparalleled on land

You can see more life in a couple of minutes on a coral reef than you would in a couple of hours in a forest or game park. There are thousands of different species of fish, coral, reptile, plants and more for you to discover and admire. And there are species still being discovered. Every underwater eco system has something to see so its time to don your equipment and get underwater to see them. It is a nature lover’s paradise.

5. Meet giants

We are all familiar with some of the biggest land animals such as rhinos and the mighty elephant. But compared so some of the creatures that live in the ocean these are very small. Huge fish and mammals that you can possibly encounter include Manta Rays, the biggest fish in the ocean the Whale Shark, and of course the ultimate giants the whales. Swimming with some of these and observing them underwater is an awesome experience.

6. Explore history

There is much history under the ocean, with the most obvious being the thousands of shipwrecks around the world to dive and discover. Every wreck on the ocean floor has a history that can be researched and adds to the excitement of a dive. In some parts of the world you can even find submerged villages and cities of lost civilisations claimed by the water. What an amazing experience being able to dive them and uncover history.

7. One-up your friends on social media

In this selfie driven world where we are always looking to see what our friends have been upto on Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and other social networks, wouldn’t it be cool for you to be able to post photos and videos of yourself diving. Your friends will see what an adventurer you are and it will definitely be a one up on those who post photos of their food and gym efforts.

8. Experience a new level of calmness and zen

Under the water no one can talk to you. The phone doesn’t ring and you aren’t sitting on social media the whole time. It is a great environment to go to and chill. Watching and interacting with marine life adds to the zen experience. As you get more experienced you will also breathe more slowly to conserve air, which aids you in calming yourself. Properly chilled.

9. Learn a whole new subject

Part of the learn to dive experience is not just learning about how to operate scuba equipment, but the history of diving, and of course about the underwater world. By appreciating the underwater world we are more inclined to protect the marine environments and species. You will actually learn where things come from and why these environments are important to the earth, even for people who never see under the water. Its a really cool subject to learn.

10. Increased photo and video opportunities

If you like taking photos on land then you will be spoiled for choice underwater. The array of life and colours is mind blowing as well as the different styles of photography available such as macro to capture the really small stuff and then being able to do scale photos of divers with giants. There are specialty courses available to introduce you to underwater photography and this is an area where you can always find more and capture more.

The list goes on and on with reasons you should learn to scuba dive such as an activity the whole family can take part in together. In fact it is much easier to think of reasons to dive rather than reasons not to. The Try Scuba Diving experience can introduce you the world of scuba diving and the Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver courses help you to earn your first diving certifications. After that there are so many different options for you in diving and ways in which you can pursue your interests underwater that you might have found a hobby for life or even a potential vocation. Learn to scuba dive today!

Dive Gear Review- Aqualung Axiom i3 BC

By

Mark

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January 24, 2017

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The Aqualung Axiom i3 is the top recreational BC in the Aqualung range. It utilises the patented Aqualung i3 inflation system and is available in the Soul i3 model for ladies. Recently I have decided that I really should upgrade my BCD from my old Scubapro Glide Pro which has served me well but I wanted to wear the same equipment stocked in the Ocean Tribe shop. As an Aqualung dealer Ocean Tribe offers the whole range of Aqualung BCs so I decided on the Axiom i3. Tell the truth I am super glad I did.

With over 4000 dives under my belt and hundreds of students certified, I did not anticipate I would like a piece of equipment so quickly. The Wrapture harness system enables me to be much more comfortable in the water (I know I couldn’t believe it either) and adjust my body position better. The first thing that I really enjoyed about the gear when putting it on was the absence of a cummerbund. This means one less strap to worry about the the new strap in the wrapture harness works well and I don’t miss the cummerbund at all. The chest strap can be adjusted to different heights on the BC which is great to avid the BC choking you if its too high or covering dry suit valves

Now the i3 had me very conflicted about whether to go with the Aqualung Axiom i3 or just simply buy the Aqualung Axiom BCD which has a standard shoulder inflator. As an instructor obviously I need to be able to demonstrate to my students in gear that is similar to theirs. The i3 system is not standard on most dive equipment so it’s not the best for demonstrating. However after trying out the i3 system simply for me as a diver I found I loved it. No extra dangling hose off the
gear, with one less thing to get caught. I can adjust my buoyancy from any position using the deflator on the i3, I don’t have to be upright to allow the BCD valves to vent. If I want to dump air quickly I use the same deflator lever pushed right the way down rather than trying to blindly find the shoulder dump valve. And no more feeling around trying to find the inflator hose. It is always in the same place. The oral inflation hose is easy to reach folded up where the inflator hose would normally be and is easier to inflate than the oral inflator on a standard inflator hose. A bit of a pain to fold up again but just touch your mouth to it and the airway opens. All-in-all I like it.

The way I combat the instruction problem of using the Aqualung Axiom i3 is to simply remove the oral inflator hose and attach a standard inflator hose when I am teaching the entry level Try Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver courses. A standard Aqualung inflator functions well on the BCD and I can use the same inflator hose no problem, so I don’t have to have specific regs for it. Yes there are a couple of differences to our rental Aqualung Wave BCs, such as the lack of cummerbund but all in all I’ve been teaching in it fine. But yes I do take off the inflator hose when I’m fun diving as I enjoy using the i3 and the extra streamlining on the gear.

I actually find its a good BCD to wear when teaching the Diver Stress & Rescue course as it gets the students thinking that there are non-standard inflation points on a BCD that as Rescue Divers they should be looking for in an emergency. As long as the inflation system is shown during the buddy check, then my buddy should also be aware of the different position of the inflator.

The Griplock tank bank is also easy to apply and holds in place well. Takes a bit of getting used to and have got my fingers snapped in it once but happy with that too. The integrated weight system is easy to remove and replace and it also has two non-ditchable weight pockets on the tank band.

However there is that old saying in life that nothing is perfect and the Aqualung Axiom i3 is not different. Despite having 5 D-rings and the scooped out pockets in the front lobes for the octopus and gauges, the zipper pockets on the BC are tiny. I can just about fit my gloves in one and a rolled up SMB in the other. There is one foldable larger pocket on the right-hand side but on the left the space is taken up by the i3 inflator mechanism. The lack of a backplate with grip handle too makes it harder to hand up out of the water when we are taking the gear off before exiting.

But honestly I am far from disappointed with my Aqualung Axiom i3 BC, and would go so far to say that it is the best BC I have ever used. The annoyance of having to change the inflator when teaching entry level student’s is compensated for by the comfort of the jacket. If the inflator hose is going to be that big a deal for you then I would invest in the Aqualung Axiom BC which has the standard hose and most of the same features. But when I’m diving for myself or with more advanced divers I love the i3 inflator. I understand all the arguments about it being non-standard and by complicating it something extra that can go wrong. But in reality if it fails then I can still attach a standard inflator as a short term solution before I repair it. If you are looking to invest in a new BC then I would recommend you try the Aqualung Axiom i3 out (or the Aqualung Soul i3 for ladies).

Ocean Tribe stocks the Aqualung Axiom i3 and the other buoyancy compensators in the Aqualung range.

Special Offer- Learn to Dive in Kenya Group Discount

By

Mark

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January 9, 2017

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Special offer: Learn to Dive in Kenya. Happy New Year from all at Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach Kenya. To celebrate the new year we are offering a special offer for learning to dive courses up until the end of February. For groups of 5 or more people we are offering the SSI Open Water Diver course for just $350/ person.

This offer includes.

SSI Open Water Diver Course (The most popular entry level scuba diving course)
Digital Interactive Open Water Diver materials, accessible online or via the Dive SSI app. You will always have the most up-to-date manual. See more about SSI digital learning here.
Full Equipment Rental – All of our rental equipment is new lines equipment from Aqualung.
4 ocean dives as part of the course on the fabulous reefs off Diani Beach. At this time of year it is possible to see all the marine life plus turtles, rays and even a whale shark if you are lucky.
All fees to SSI paid and SSI Open Water Diver certification valid anywhere in the world.

This is a great opportunity for families or groups of friends to learn to dive together. Diving is a wonderful way to bond with people and share fabulous experiences together. The dive tribe is even better when you learn amongst friends and can then have an extra activity you can all take part in on future trips to the coast. Kenya has some of the most wonderful coral reefs and marine life in the world. Take advantage people as its one of diving’s best kept secrets.

For those of you who are worried that they don’t have the time to devote to this, don’t be. The SSI digital learning system means that you can do all of the classroom and knowledge learning on your own time via the Dive SSI app on iOS and Android tablets and phones or online in your member portal on DiveSSI.com. The actual diving part of the course consists of a half day in the pool learning your dive skills and then two mornings out on the reef doing the four Open Water dives. For those who are really pushed for time we can arrange to do the pool training for you in Nairobi, so your required time at the coast is down to just the weekend.

There is something in diving for most people such as great underwater photo opportunities for those interested in photography. SSI diver specialty courses which you can take to pursue your specific interests in diving include- Photo and Video, Perfect Buoyancy, Deep, Wreck, Night, Full Face Mask, Navigation, Sea Turtle Ecology, Shark Ecology, Coral Identification, Search and Recovery and more.

If you are looking to book accommodation in Diani for the duration of your course then Ocean Tribe can help arrange this to suit any budget. Come on and take advantage of this special offer! Get a group of your friends or family together and sign up for the Open Water Diver course today. You will see more wildlife in 5 minutes on the coral reefs than you will in 5 hours in the Mara. Come and experience wonders.

Cheapest Diving Internship outside South East Asia

By

Mark

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January 4, 2017

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[two_third]Are you looking for the cheapest diving internship to become a Divemaster or diving instructor? Well the cheapest diving internship does not always mean the best. However that being said a large proportion of the World’s diving instructors source and come through a cheapest diving internship in South East Asia. Ocean Tribe offer an alternative to the cheapest dive internship (s) with very competitively priced dive internships at our fabulous Diani Beach base up to SSI Divemaster and Instructor levels.

The Go Pro diving internships in Kenya have been designed with the goal of including everything that a student needs to become a good Divemaster or scuba instructor. We recognise that people do not want to work their way through an internship only then to be told that there are hidden costs which must be paid before they can graduate as an instructor. As such our Go Pro Dive Internship packages include

All required dive courses are included
All materials and fees to SSI including applications are included
Self-catering accommodation for the duration of your internship is included
Dives are included (and some interns log well over 100 during their internships
A full set of brand new scuba diving equipment to keep is included.

There is also the option for dive interns to customise their package to include certain Specialty Diver courses and
instructor ratings that they wish to achieve, and the option to purchase non-diving activities as add-ons to the internships. In a country as awesome as Kenya, these add ons include, kiteboarding, sky diving, mountain climbing on Mt. Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro, white-water rafting, canoeing, micro lighting and of course the world-famous Kenyan African safaris.

It doesn’t matter what level of diver you currently are, even if you are a beginner. Ocean Tribe have a scuba diving internship in Kenya for you. Our internship packages include Master Diver, Divemaster, Open Water Instructor and shorter specialist internships such as Digital Underwater Photography and Videography and Marine Environment Specialist.

Ok so we have established that we offer all the courses, but what is the place like in comparison to the islands of Koh Tao, Phuket, Bali and other South East Asia destinations by comparison? After all these are where the supposed cheapest diving internship is to be found. Well Diani Beach where the Ocean Tribe dive centre is located is reguarly rated one of the top 10 beaches in the World, with its long white powder beach and azure ocean. There is no ‘concrete jungle’ to speak of with all the beach accessible from the hotels and houses and paths from the main road which is situated half a mile back from the beach. It truly is paradise. But that being said there are still beach bars, and clubs to be able to go and have a good time and enjoy the other side of the dive life.

And the diving? Well Kenya is one of scuba diving’s best kept secrets with fantastic coral reefs with large corals playing host to a fabulous array of marine life.
In comparison to over-dived spots in other parts of the world the coral is remarkably intact and just off the reefs you have the chances to see whale sharks, manta rays , dolphins and other larger fish and mammals. There are a number of wreck dives in Kenya as well as cavern diving and deeper dive sites. Ocean Tribe are constantly trying to find further dive sites so we do exploration dives reguarly to see if we can unearth more gems of dive destinations.

Other ways in which the Ocean Tribe scuba diving internships in Kenya stand out are our commitment to specialist dive training to enable our graduates to be able to offer more as dive professionals when you go out to look for a dive job. These include:

DDI Disabled Divers International Instructor Training
Web Design and Social Media Marketing Workshop
Job seeking assistance following graduation

The DDI Instructor course is a particular specialty of ours in that Ocean Tribe owner and Instructor Trainer Mark Slingo is also the Director of Training and Marketing for DDI and a recognised specialist in this field. He also is an accomplished website designer so teaches this segment to graduates so that they can market themselves and offer another service to dive centres looking to employ them.

To see a full list of what dive internships in Kenya are available at Ocean Tribe scroll over the packages menu above and select from the list depending on what diver level you are or visit the Packages landing page. We are delighted to answer any enquiries you might have and every internship comes with attached frequently asked questions on the internship details page. We hope that you will consider beginning your scuba diving career in Kenya on a scuba diving internship and have the time to appreciate this beautiful country both on land and below the ocean surface. We might not be the absolute cheapest diving internships, but we do offer the full package and we believe you get what you pay for![/two_third]

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Special Offer – Free Aqualung Mask & Snorkel When You Learn to Dive

By

Mark

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December 27, 2016

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Incredible special offer when you learn to dive. Are you in Diani Beach over Christmas and New Year? Have you thought about taking your SSI Open Water Diver Course to learn to dive in Kenya? Get that diver licence which enables you to dive anywhere in the world with a buddy up to 18m deep.

For anyone who takes the SSI Open Water Diver Course or SSI Scuba Diver Course over the Christmas and New Year period up to 5th January, Ocean Tribe will be including a free Aqualung mask and snorkel set to start off your dive career with some your own diving equipment.

Your scuba diving mask is one of the most important pieces of equipment you have as a diver. After all we go underwater to see things right? Having a comfortable mask enables you to enjoy your dive more. It also means that you don’t have to worry about poor uncomfortable rental masks offered by some dive operations. The snorkel complements the set as part of your total diving system. And you can use it to go snorkelling when you want.

The mask and snorkel is normally the first piece of equipment purchased by divers when they begin to get their own equipment. We believe you should start as you mean to go on.The masks on offer are top-of-the-range Aqualung masks and you can pick a matching snorkel from our selection to go with it.

Learning to dive takes 3 days if you use the SSI digital learning system, enabling you to do the theory work wherever you want. Thus means that we are straight in the pool from when you get to the dive centre and then out on the ocean the following two mornings for the ocean dives. Recent sightings at the local dive sites include massive turtles, guitar sharks, octopus, moray eels,and reef sharks. Even giant whale sharks have been sighted by divers and snorkelers in the last week. What are you waiting for? Sign up today. Call us on 0700934854 to book your diving and experience the wonders of Kenya’s underwater world.

Dates for Dive Instructor Training in Kenya 2017

By

Mark

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December 23, 2016

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Happy Christmas from Ocean Tribe

By

Mark

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December 23, 2016

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Ocean Tribe would like to wish all Tribe members and future scuba divers a very happy Christmas and we hope you can make it to Diani for a dive.

It has been a year of change at Ocean Tribe with the move from Nairobi to Diani Beach and there are exciting times ahead as Ocean Tribe opens up our SSI Instructor Training Center and running the SSI diver system full time.

We look forward to welcoming you to dive Kenya in Diani in 2017 and please do contact us with any enquiries you have about dive trips, snorkeling trips, dive courses, professional diver courses and dive internship packages in Kenya.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Make a Career Change to Scuba Diving for the Best Job in the World

By

Mark

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December 22, 2016

0

Do you ever get bored of the working in an office on a 9-5 job? Is it time for a career change? Do you want a chance to work in a tropical paradise? Do you want your customers to tell you you have the best job in the world? Well if the answer to all of these questions is yes then a scuba diving internship in Kenya is for you.

Our carefully structured dive career internships give you the skills and experience to come out a well rounded dive professional, with a qualification that you can use anywhere in the world that there is water to dive in. Obviously this gives you images of trivial destinations but you can also use them in colder water as well. It is a license to work wherever you want.

Ocean Tribe offer scuba diving professional internships to the levels of SSI Divemaster and SSI Open Water Instructor. For those of you who want to become even more qualified as a SSI Instructor the. We offer the instructor continuing education internships to the level of SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor, Divemaster Instructor and SSI Dive Control Specialist Instructor.

You can start these internships from any level. There is a package for you, even if you have never dived before.

The internships also include other skills that you might require as a dive instructor such as basic web design to promote yourself, and job seeking assistance to help you look for work when you have completed your internship. They include a range of special diver courses so you learn different types of diving and find out which types of diving truly interest you such as wreck diving, underwater photography or search and recovery diving.

Africa is a fantastic place to do your diver training and begin your diving career. There is so much to do, both near our dive bases in Diani Beach and further inland, from African wildlife safaris, adventure sports, climbing the mountains of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, and much more.

Embrace the chance to work in paradise. Check out our different scuba internship packages today.

Do Your Full Face Mask Diver Course in Kenya

By

Mark

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December 17, 2016

0

girls fiving oTS guardian full face mask

Ocean Tribe are delighted to announce that we now offer the PADI Full Face Mask Diver Course in Kenya. On this course you can learn to dive with a full face mask equipped with communications units, enabling you to communicate with your buddy or even the boat while submerged.

Full face mask diving is used for a number of reasons. These could be for example protection from the outer environment, such as contamination or extreme cold (it is often seen used in commercial and public safety diving in this function). Our Instructor Trainer Mark uses full face masks primarily for students with physiological considerations as the mask keeps a breathable airspace in front of a diver at all times. This has enabled Mark to take divers diving who might not have been able to accomplish it otherwise, such as quadruple amputee Daniel on his DDI Open Water Diver Course.

Proper use of communications to relay any problems combined with security of the five strap head harness system add a degree of safety not found in standard SCUBA equipment.

The main reason recreational divers like to take the full face mask diver course is the use of communications underwater. Ocean Tribe uses OTS (Ocean Technology Systems) Guardian full face masks, equipped with buddy phone underwater communications units. The microphone positioned inside the mask equipped with the earphone covering your ear, enables you to have full communications underwater. OTS Guardians have been used on numerous projects including Hollywood movies and wildlife documentaries by the underwater crews.

Obviously the reason for taking the PADI Full Face Mask Diver course is to learn how to safely operate the equipment with the different safety considerations and emergency procedures that apply when using the equipment.

The course can be completed in 1-2 days and incorporates a pool training dive where you become familiar using the mask in confined circumstances before we go out for 2 reef dives using the OTS Guardians.

The PADI Full Face Mask Diver rating can count towards your PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.It is open to Open Water Divers and above and a really rewarding course to take. Contact us at Ocean Tribe to book your PADI Full Face Mask Diver specialty course today.

Ocean Tribe is now an SSI Instructor Training Center

By

Mark

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December 17, 2016

0

Scuba Dive Diani, Kenya

10 Reasons to Learn to Scuba Dive

Dive Gear Review- Aqualung Axiom i3 BC

Special Offer- Learn to Dive in Kenya Group Discount

Cheapest Diving Internship outside South East Asia

Special Offer – Free Aqualung Mask & Snorkel When You Learn to Dive

Dates for Dive Instructor Training in Kenya 2017

Happy Christmas from Ocean Tribe

Make a Career Change to Scuba Diving for the Best Job in the World

Do Your Full Face Mask Diver Course in Kenya

Ocean Tribe is now an SSI Instructor Training Center

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