Strong swimming skills are the first step to scuba diving in Singapore. Once you are comfortable in the pool, a whole underwater world opens up, from the reefs around Singapore’s Southern Islands to the world-class dive sites a short flight away.
Why learn to swim before you dive?
Most entry-level scuba courses ask you to show basic water skills before you start: a continuous swim of around 200 metres and about 10 minutes of floating or treading water. Swimmers who are relaxed in the water use less air, control their buoyancy better and enjoy their first open-water dives far more. If you or your child can’t swim yet, swimming lessons are the best way to get dive-ready.
Where to scuba dive in Singapore
- Pulau Hantu: Singapore’s best-known local dive site, with hard and soft corals, nudibranchs, seahorses and pipefish.
- Sisters’ Islands Marine Park: a protected marine park with rich reef life and guided dive programmes.
- Kusu and Lazarus Islands: shallow reefs that suit new divers and macro photographers.
- Weekend trips: Tioman, Aur, Dayang and Pulau Redang in Malaysia, or the Riau Islands in Indonesia, are popular getaways for Singapore divers.
Local waters have limited visibility (often 2 to 5 metres), so many divers train in a pool in Singapore and complete their open-water dives on a trip. Browse dive centres, courses and trips on scuba.com.sg.
Getting certified
Your first certification is usually an Open Water Diver course from an agency such as SSI or PADI. It combines online theory, pool sessions and four open-water dives, and lets you dive to 18 metres with a buddy anywhere in the world. Children can start junior courses from age 10. From there you can move on to advanced, rescue and speciality courses.
Tips for your first dive
- Practise relaxed breathing and floating in the pool first.
- Get a medical check if you have asthma, heart or ear problems.
- Choose a reputable, certified dive centre with small class sizes.
- Don’t fly within 18 to 24 hours after diving.
Ready to take the plunge? Visit scuba.com.sg, Singapore’s scuba diving directory, to compare dive schools, courses and dive trips.
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