How to choose a dive shop in India, and how to spot an unsafe one

The short version

Check four things before you pay: the instructor's current credentials, the group size, the safety kit on the boat, and which shop will actually run your dive. A good shop answers all four plainly and in writing. An unsafe one goes vague, hurries you, or wants cash before it has told you its name.

It takes about ten minutes, and most of the questions can go in an enquiry before you travel.

Check the agency and the instructor

Most Indian shops list PADI or SSI. A badge on the wall shows a shop is linked to an agency. It does not show that the person taking you underwater is currently allowed to teach. Ask for the instructor's name, the agency and their level.

For PADI you can check it yourself. PADI says Pro Chek is "a tool for anyone to verify the membership status of a PADI Professional Member." It shows the name, highest core professional rating, current status and the year membership was last renewed. PADI also says the information is not all-inclusive and does not reflect some specialised credentials or insurance requirements, so it is a first check, not a guarantee. For SSI, ask for the instructor's name and membership number, then confirm with SSI.

Level matters. PADI says an Instructor leads a Discover Scuba Diving experience that includes an open water dive, while a qualified Divemaster may conduct a pool-only session. If you are paying for a sea dive, ask who the instructor is, not just who the guide is.

Ask which licence the shop holds in its state, too. India's Ministry of Tourism says safety at adventure tourism sites is primarily the responsibility of State Governments, who are asked to ensure operators follow licensing norms. Its release sets no scuba-specific rules, so ask to see the paperwork.

Briefing, medical questions and group size

PADI describes a short session before the water covering diving basics, the equipment and communication. On a boat, DAN says the crew should brief you on the vessel, including where the oxygen and first aid supplies are, and give a site briefing covering entry and exit, depth, visibility and currents.

You should be asked about your health. PADI has you fill out a medical questionnaire, and depending on your answers you may need a doctor's statement. SSI requires an Introductory Fit To Dive Screening. A shop that skips the questions is skipping a safety step. If any answer is yes, see a doctor before you travel and tell the shop.

Group size is where shops differ most. SSI publishes ratios for beginner programmes. Try Scuba, ages 10 and up, is 8 students to one instructor in a pool and 4 to one in confined water. Basic Diver is 4 to one in confined and open water, rising to 6 to two with a certified assistant. PADI's pros blog says its ratios are the maximum an instructor could take in ideal conditions. The PADI page on Discover Scuba Diving gave no figure, so ask the shop for its number: how many people per instructor, in the water, on my dive?

Depth is a second check. PADI gives 6 metres for the pool session and 12 metres for the optional open water dive of Discover Scuba Diving. SSI gives 40 feet in open water for Basic Diver. A first-timer being sold something deeper should get a reason.

Equipment and the boat

DAN advises noticing the state of the shop. Is rental gear old, unclean or showing serious wear? Do staff answer fully, or go through the motions? It suggests asking other divers about their experience. One warning sign may mean nothing, but DAN says several together raise your risk.

On the boat, DAN advises asking to see the oxygen unit. All the parts should be there and working, and the cylinder full. A safety-focused operator should be willing to show clean, organised, working oxygen and first aid supplies. Also ask:

• Is there enough oxygen for more than one diver, for as long as it takes to reach shore?
• Are the crew trained in first aid and oxygen use?
• Is there a written emergency plan?
• If the site is far out, how does the crew reach the main office?
• Is there a life preserver for everyone aboard, and will someone physically count the divers?

Insurance

Ask whether the shop's insurance covers you during the dive, and get the answer in writing. PADI notes that Pro Chek does not reflect insurance requirements, so a lookup will not tell you.

Check your own cover as well. DAN says some insurers cover scuba injuries but many do not, and some cover hyperbaric treatment but not the cost of getting you to the chamber. Getting an injured diver to shore is generally in the hands of the boat's crew. Ask your insurer before you go.

Reading Google ratings with review counts

Every dive shop on Coral Circuit shows its Google rating next to the number of reviews. Read them together. A 5.0 from 12 reviews tells you less than a 4.7 from 800. Then open the lowest ratings and read what went wrong. Short dives, rushed briefings and surprise charges matter. Weather does not.

A rating is not a safety audit. Use it to shortlist, and the questions here to decide.

The agent and tout problem

Some sellers resell dives they do not run. They take your money and may hand you to whichever boat has a space, so you do not learn who dives you until the jetty. It is the beach tout from our Goa water sports guide: a seller who takes your money for a counter he does not run, where nobody can be found when something goes wrong.

The fix is one question: which dive shop will run my dive? Book with the shop whose name is on the boat. Get that name, and the instructor's, in writing before you pay.

Questions to ask before you pay

• Which shop and instructor, under which agency?
• How many divers per instructor, and how many minutes underwater?
• Is the price per person, and is GST included?
• What does it cover: kit, boat, photos, transport?
• What happens if weather cancels?

Our safety guide and cost guide have more background.

Red flags

• No shop or instructor name, only a first name and a phone number.
• Cash on the street to hold a slot, with no receipt.
• No briefing and no health questions.
• No figure for divers per instructor.
• Worn or dirty gear, and reluctance to show the oxygen unit.
• Pressure to decide now, or a price that moves with how you look.

DAN's advice is to trust your instincts: if something feels wrong, find another operator or cancel the dive.

Next step

Open dive shops or scuba diving in India, compare ratings and review counts, and pick a shop. Tap Check availability. Tell the shop your date and group size, and ask the questions above. They reply by phone or email. Nothing is paid now.