Three Days to Becoming an Open Water Diver
There are some holidays that are all about switching off, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying a slower pace of life. Then there are others where you decide to try something completely different, step outside your comfort zone and come away with a new skill. Summer in Kaş, on Turkey's beautiful Mediterranean coastline, turned out to be a little bit of both.
I'd always been fascinated by the underwater world, but learning to scuba dive had been something I'd thought about rather than actually done. That changed when I found myself in the incredible coastal town of Kaş, where the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Mediterranean provide the perfect setting to take the plunge and learn to dive.
With three days set aside to complete my Open Water Diver course, I was about to discover a whole new world beneath the surface.
Discovering Kaş, Turkey
Kaş is one of those places that seems to have everything going for it. Tucked away on Turkey's southern Mediterranean coast, it's a relaxed little harbour town surrounded by dramatic mountains, traditional whitewashed buildings, colourful bougainvillea and some of the clearest blue water you'll ever see.
Kas has a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere, with narrow cobbled streets filled with independent shops, rooftop restaurants and little cafés. Fishing boats and diving boats bob around in the harbour, while the waterfront is lined with places to sit and watch the world go by.
During the summer months, the town comes alive with visitors enjoying the sunshine, swimming in the sea and exploring the coastline. But Kaş is particularly well known for scuba diving, attracting divers from all over the world thanks to its excellent visibility, fascinating underwater landscapes and abundance of marine life.
It seemed like the perfect place to finally learn.
Day One – Getting to Grips with the Basics
The first morning started with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation. Learning to dive is a little different from most holiday activities. You're not simply jumping into the sea with a mask and snorkel; you're learning how to breathe underwater, control your buoyancy and operate equipment that allows you to explore an entirely different environment.
After meeting the instructors at Nautilus Diving and getting introduced to the rest of the group, we started with the theory and basic principles of scuba diving.
There was quite a lot to take in. We covered how the equipment works, underwater communication signals, pressure changes, equalising your ears and some of the important safety procedures that every diver needs to understand.
Then came the equipment. Game on.
Wetsuit, BCD (buoyancy control device), regulator, air cylinder, weight belt, mask and fins. It looked like quite a collection of kit, and getting everything fitted and adjusted took a little getting used to.
The first practical session took place straight off the back of the boat unlike most other places that are in swimming pools, where we began learning the essential skills. Breathing through a regulator underwater felt strange at first. Your natural instinct is to hold your breath, but scuba diving is all about relaxing and breathing continuously. I repeat, NEVER STOP BREATHING.
We practised clearing water from our masks, recovering our regulators if they came out of our mouths and understanding the signals used to communicate underwater. Some tasks trickier than others but staying calm is the aim of the game here.
Something as simple as removing and replacing your mask becomes a completely different experience when you're submerged underwater and trying to stay calm.
But gradually things started to feel more natural.
By the end of the first day, I'd started to understand the equipment and was becoming more comfortable breathing underwater. It was only the beginning, but the thought of heading out into the open sea the following day was becoming increasingly exciting.
Day Two – Exploring Beneath the Surface
Day two was when things really started to get interesting.
After a hot early start, we headed out from Kaş harbour on the dive boat. The sun was shining, the sea was beautifully calm and the Mediterranean looked almost impossibly blue.
There is something special about heading away from the harbour on a diving boat, knowing that the real adventure is waiting beneath the surface.
Once we reached our dive site, it was time to get kitted up. Pulling on the wetsuit, checking the cylinder and securing all the equipment was gradually becoming part of the routine.
Then came the moment of stepping off the boat and entering the water.
Descending beneath the surface for the first time in the open sea was an incredible feeling. The noise of the boat and the outside world gradually disappeared, replaced by the sound of your own breathing through the regulator.
Everything felt different.
The water was wonderfully clear, sunlight filtered down through the surface and fish moved effortlessly around the rocky underwater landscape.
We continued practising the skills we'd learned the previous day, while also getting used to controlling our buoyancy and maintaining a comfortable position underwater.
Buoyancy control was probably one of the biggest challenges. It's not quite as simple as swimming around. You need to learn to control your breathing and make small adjustments to stay at the right depth without constantly floating towards the surface or sinking towards the seabed.
There were moments when it all felt surprisingly easy, followed by others when I seemed to be bobbing around like a balloon.
But that's all part of learning.
Between the practical exercises, there was time to appreciate the underwater scenery. Kaş has some fantastic diving sites, with rocky reefs, underwater formations, caves and interesting marine life. There are even historic wrecks and artificial underwater attractions in the surrounding area.
The visibility was fantastic, making it easy to appreciate just how beautiful this part of the Mediterranean is beneath the surface.
By the end of the second day, I was feeling much more confident. The equipment no longer seemed quite so complicated, breathing underwater was becoming second nature and I was beginning to enjoy the experience rather than concentrating on every little movement.
There was still plenty to learn, but the idea of becoming a qualified diver was starting to feel like a real possibility.
Day Three – The Final Dives and Getting Certified
The third and final day arrived surprisingly quickly.
After two days of learning, practising and getting comfortable underwater, it was time to complete the remaining course requirements and demonstrate that we could dive safely and independently within the limits of our training.
There was a mixture of excitement and a few nerves as we headed back out on the boat.
We completed our final open water dives, working through the required skills and putting everything we'd learned into practice. By now, things were beginning to come together.
Checking equipment, communicating underwater, controlling buoyancy and keeping an eye on our depth were all becoming much more familiar.
The biggest difference was how much more relaxed I felt underwater.
On the first day, simply breathing through the regulator had required concentration. Now I was able to look around, enjoy the surroundings and appreciate the experience of being beneath the Mediterranean.
Of course, the instructors still kept a close eye on everything, making sure we completed the necessary exercises correctly and followed all the safety procedures.
There is a real sense of achievement when you realise just how much you've learned in such a short space of time.
After completing the final dives and having everything signed off, the moment finally arrived.
I'd passed!
Three days after arriving in Kaş as a complete beginner, I had achieved my Open Water Diver certification.
It was a fantastic feeling and one of those holiday achievements that feels genuinely rewarding. Not only had I learned a completely new skill, but I'd also discovered an entirely new way of exploring the world.
Life Beneath the Mediterranean
One of the biggest surprises about learning to dive was just how peaceful it can be once you become comfortable underwater.
Above the surface, the world is full of noise and movement. Underwater, everything slows down. You're focused on your breathing, your surroundings and the gentle movement of the water.
It's almost meditative.
The Mediterranean around Kaş offers a wonderful introduction to scuba diving. The clear water and generally excellent visibility make it a great place for beginners, while the variety of dive sites means there's plenty to discover as your experience grows.
Even during a short introductory course, you get a glimpse of what's possible beneath the surface.
And that's probably the most exciting part. Getting certified doesn't feel like the end of something; it feels like the beginning of a completely new adventure.
There are so many places around the world I'd now love to explore underwater, from tropical coral reefs to shipwrecks and marine reserves.
Exploring Kaş Above the Water
Of course, learning to dive wasn't the only highlight of spending time in Kaş.
When we weren't out on the dive boat, there was plenty of time to enjoy everything this lovely Turkish town has to offer.
The harbour is the perfect place to spend an evening, with restaurants serving freshly caught fish, traditional Turkish dishes and plenty of meze. Watching the sun go down over the Mediterranean with a cold drink and a good meal was a pretty perfect way to finish a day of diving.
There are also plenty of opportunities to swim, snorkel, take boat trips and explore the beautiful coastline.
The nearby beaches and swimming platforms provide easy access to the sea, while the surrounding mountains and ancient Lycian sites make the area ideal for anyone who enjoys a little adventure away from the water.
Kaş has a great balance between being a lively summer holiday destination and somewhere that still feels relatively relaxed and authentic.
It's easy to see why so many people return year after year.
Was Learning to Dive in Three Days Worth It?
Absolutely.
Going from having no diving experience to gaining an Open Water Diver certification in just three days was an incredible experience.
It wasn't always easy. There was plenty to learn, some skills took a bit of practice and there were moments when I had to remind myself to relax and trust the equipment.
But that's what made completing the course so satisfying.
The instructors were patient and supportive, the conditions around Kaş were fantastic and the whole experience was far more enjoyable than I'd imagined.
If you've ever considered learning to scuba dive, I'd thoroughly recommend giving it a go. You don't need to be an expert swimmer or have any previous diving experience, although you do need to meet the course's swimming, medical and safety requirements.
Most importantly, you need to be willing to learn, listen to your instructor and take things at your own pace.
Three days might not sound like a long time, but it's amazing how much you can achieve.
Final Thoughts – A New Adventure Begins
Looking back, learning to dive in Kaş was one of the highlights of summer in Turkey.
What started as a bit of curiosity turned into a completely new hobby and a qualification that will hopefully take me to some incredible places around the world.
There is something quite special about discovering a world that has been sitting right beneath the surface all along.
From those first slightly nervous breaths underwater to completing the final dives and receiving my Open Water Diver certification, the whole experience was memorable from beginning to end.
Kaş provided the perfect backdrop, with its sunshine, turquoise water, friendly atmosphere and fantastic diving opportunities.
Three days, a few underwater wobbles, plenty of learning and one brand-new qualification.
Not a bad way to spend a summer holiday in Turkey.
And now I've got the diving bug, I suspect this is just the beginning!
