For dive centres

Try dives: getting the routine right

A try dive has the worst ratio of effort to risk in the whole business: the guest stays an hour, has no training at all, and yet the centre carries the same exposure as with an experienced diver - often more.

Why the paperwork matters most here

A certified diver has been through training where health questions and risks came up. A try diver has not. They do not know that equalising with a cold is a problem, and they cannot judge whether their asthma is relevant. Which makes the briefing here anything but a formality - it is the actual protection, for them and for you.

What has to be settled before the water

Health questions. The same questionnaire as for certified divers. A "yes" means a doctor's certificate, even for ten minutes in shallow water.
Age and consent. Minors need a guardian's signature, and agencies set minimum ages. Which ones apply is for your organisation to say.
Risk and liability in a language the guest understands. A holidaymaker signing a form in a language they do not read has confirmed nothing.
Swimming ability and experience. Ask, even if no form requires it. It is the answer that helps the guide in the water most.
Emergency contact. Especially for guests who walked in from a hotel alone, nobody else has a number.

The usual gap

Try divers often turn up on impulse: the guest is at the desk at ten and wants to be in the water at eleven. That is exactly when the paperwork gets cut short. A flow the guest completes on their own phone in two minutes while the gear is prepared removes the argument entirely.

Bringing in agency forms

Most organisations have a dedicated try dive form - one sheet combining briefing, health and signature. These can be absorbed into a digital check-in: uploaded once as a PDF or photographed, after which every try diver is presented with it automatically and signs digitally. The only requirement is that you hold the agency's rights to use it.

After the dive

Two things are worth doing and cost nothing. First, mention the no-fly time - many try divers are cruise or package guests flying home soon. Second, ask whether they want to continue. A try diver who already has a profile is back in seconds next time, or for the course, instead of filling in everything again.

Frequently asked questions

Does a try diver need a medical questionnaire?

Yes, the same one as certified divers. They have had no training in which health risks were covered, which makes asking more important here, not less. A "yes" means a doctor’s certificate.

What is the minimum age for a try dive?

Age limits are set by the training agencies and differ by programme and depth. What binds you is your agency’s rule. Under 18, a legal guardian always signs as well.

How do we handle this quickly for walk-in guests?

Let the guest fill in on their own phone while the gear is prepared - QR code at the desk, two minutes, done. All that is left at the desk is the review.

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