COVID-19 / Coronavirus
Here you will find details of our responses to the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic, including information about what we are busy doing during these times, and details of the service offerings we are able to provide
11/05/2020 - Aquatic Adventures policy changes in light of easing of restrictions during the continuing Coronavirus pandemic
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Following the announcement of the first round of changes to the Covid-19 response in Victoria, our management issued this second statement
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A quick summary is as follows:
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We are open for air-fills, equipment rental (including long-term options), sales, servicing & courses, and we are still available on the phone and via email to answer all your questions.
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The shop in Rowville will be open exactly as it has been throughout the crisis to date - details can be found below regarding hours and access. We will, however, be removing the restrictions regarding drop-off & pick-up windows.
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There will still be a minimum 24hr turnaround on all tank fills to ensure disinfection protocols can be maintained.
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The trying on of equipment will now be possible, however there will be a $5 cleaning fee to cover disinfection.
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We will continue to run theory for dive courses via online learning only, with the dives to be organised at a later date when we can guarantee a safe environment for all the students and staff.
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We will not be organising any club activities, until at least the end of May 2020, when the Premier will announce the next round of changes.
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For those who want to dive with a guide, we can help organise this from amongst our dive professionals, however it will be contingent on staff agreement
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If you find yourself experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms, we ask that you get yourself tested, and please do not be offended if we politely refuse you entry & service in-store until such time as you are given a clean bill of health.
26/03/2020 - An open letter to all our valued customers, staff & friends....
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To read the full statement issued by our management on 26th March 2020, in response to the onset of the Coronavirus crisis, please click on the PDF button below:
A summary of the key changes to our operating policies, until such time as the crisis has passed, is as follows:
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From Monday 30th March 2020, Aquatic Adventures store in Rowville will not be open for walk-in business.
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All guided club dives and Friday evening “Club Nights” will be cancelled until further notice ☹
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Staff will be on-call during normal business hours. Customer access to the store will be restricted to a “By Prior Appointment Only” basis. Calls may divert off-site so please be patient if we need to make our way back to the store to assist you.
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No more than 2 customers will be permitted in-store at any one time.
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There will be a restricted time window each week during which time tanks for filling, equipment for servicing, and rental gear can be dropped off. The drop-off window will be Monday 9am-2pm.
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No equipment will be accepted into the store outside of the drop-off window.
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There will be a 2nd restricted time window for picking up tanks, serviced equipment, or pre-booked rentals. The pick-up window will be Friday 2pm-9pm.
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All tank fills, servicing & rentals must be paid for in advance.
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The standard price of an air fill has risen from $12 to $15.
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Aquatic Adventures will not be accepting any cash transactions - all payments must be made via PayPass or bank transfer
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The trying on of any equipment will not be permitted, unless you are willing to pay a cleaning/disinfection fee.
Online courses
During the lockdown, we will be offering online courses to help you progress your diving. These will include both "Dry" and "Wet" courses, the difference being that the "Dry" courses can be 100% completed without any dives, whereas the "Wet" course will require you to complete the in-water elements once the lockdown is over.
Here are the custom "Dry" courses we have developed:
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Enriched Air Diver & Nitrox Plus - this is a more in-depth version of PADI's standard Enriched Air Diver course, going into greater detail regarding the planning of Nitrox dives. You will still earn the same certification, but at the end you will have a much better understanding of why and how to dive safely with Nitrox.
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Gas Blender & Inspect & Fill - learn the process behind filling Scuba cylinders, including how to blend Nitrox and even Trimix fills. The course will cover all the elements of both the PADI TecRec Gas Blender curse, and also the Nationally Recognised Inspect & Fill course, providing you with both qualifications at the end.
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Project AWARE & Coral AWARE - These courses focus on how you can make a difference for ocean protection every time you dive or travel. Through group discussion and visual presentations you’ll learn all about the ecosystems which make up our oceans, and the issues surrounding them. We’ve combined elements from both the current and the previous versions of these courses, to give you a richer experience and a more thorough course.
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Emergency Oxygen Provision - learn the skills to administer oxygen in an emergency. By combining the PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider course with the Nationally Recognised Basic O2 Provider qualification this is a dual certification course that teaches an invaluable skill for all divers.
Here are the "Wet" courses we will be offering over the next few weeks. We can complete all the theory online, and then do the dives once the lockdown has lifted:
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Deep Diver
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Drift Diver
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Night Diver
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Search & Recovery Diver
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Underwater Naturalist
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Underwater Navigator
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Self-Reliant Diver
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Tec 40
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For scheduling details and pricing, please visit our "Online Course Schedule" page
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PADI have also offered a discount on some of their eLearning courses, to help stave off the boredom of isolation.
You can sign up for these courses through our website by visiting our PADI eLearning Courses page.