Have you ever wondered what it's like beneath the surface of Lake Geneva, one of the largest lakes in Western Europe?
Would you like to know what kind of fish inhabit the waters of this huge natural basin? Or have you ever considered whether there might be any wrecks worth exploring beneath the huge 580km2 surface area?
Of course, you can find the answers to these questions…and more… by studying the numerous books written about the lake, or just browsing the internet. But what better way to discover the facts behind Lake Geneva than exploring the waters for yourself, with the aid of a fully qualified, highly experienced diving instructor?
As a PADI OWSI (Open Water Scuba Instructor), EFRI (Emergency First Response Instructor) and MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer), Stefan Meincke runs a variety of diving courses and activities at his small diving school near Geneva, called GO Dive. He offers 1 on 1 lessons, as well as small group classes for both adults and children from the age of 10 years – indeed he runs almost every recreational diving course that PADI has to offer. He also organizes guided dives of Lake Geneva by day or by night for those who are already certified.
Asked how he got into the diving business, Stefan told knowitall.ch, “I moved to Geneva with my wife, who came here for professional reasons, and as it was tough here to continue working in my previous profession as a musician, I followed my other passion, which is diving! I was surprised how great diving in a lake can be and how well the lake is suited to give diving lessons. So, in 2010, I set up “GO Dive” with just a few suits and a handful of tanks.”
He continued, “GO Dive grew and grew - so well that I nowadays spend up to 6 days/week in summer at the lake under water and now have my own filling station to recharge tanks and at least 30 suits for women, men and children in all sizes. All equipment is of course regularly revised according to Swiss law. “
All diving courses take place at Hermance Plage, which is located about 15 minutes from Cologny in Switzerland, just before the French border. According to Stefan, Hermance is an ideal location for his diving business with parking close to the lake, changing rooms for divers, hot showers, a café and, most importantly, perfect conditions for all diving practices including shallow water areas, a slope, deeper levels, protected swimming space, infrequent boat traffic, and wonderful underwater scenery with lots of fish, plants and other interesting things waiting to be explored!
We contacted a couple of Stefan’s clients to find out about their diving experiences and what struck us most about Stefan’s diving school is the personal service he offers his customers, giving each one as much time as they need to acquire the necessary skills for diving. Alex Kohls told us, “I can highly recommend GO Dive as a friendly, professional and very service-oriented dive center for Lake Geneva. Over the years, I have done several dives and courses with Stefan and among others did my rescue diver qualification with him. He teaches in English and German, his lessons are great fun and at the same time very professional. I know several friends, who only started diving because of Stefan’s positive and encouraging attitude that finally convinced them to give it a try. In addition, he is extremely flexible and always manages to address specific client needs such as a personal pick-up at the client’s home, and individual scheduling requirements, etc.”
Stefan does not charge any equipment rental fees, nor does he ask students to buy equipment for his diving lessons. All courses and programs are provided with full diving insurance, equipment and learning materials. Stefan also conducts all classes in Lake Geneva, not like many other dive clubs and schools, which use public pools. In Stefan’s view, it is a much better experience for students to be in ‘real nature’ and see underwater life from the very beginning of trying to take their first breaths under water.
A key point to remember when studying the range of courses that Stefan offers is that the PADI qualification has worldwide recognition. So whilst Lake Geneva may not be quite so warm and colorful as the Caribbean, it certainly has its own appeal, and any certificates earned through diving in Lake Geneva will be valid wherever you choose to dive in the world afterwards.
So who are GO Dive’s typical customers? Stefan told us, “Most of my customers live in the Geneva area and are usually international. I offer classes in English and German and, as many international residents have the same struggle with the French language as I do, they appreciate being able to take their course in a language that they speak well. Yet, the supporting theory material and final tests can be taken in any language desired by the client.”
He concluded, “Ages range from young teenagers to retirees. The common denominator is that they enjoy the outdoors and want to try out something new – or they want to upgrade, or maybe become a certified diver just ahead of their holidays to be able to directly jump into the waters in their holiday destination without wasting any time on learning the theory or practising skills. Likewise, I have clients who are certified divers and just want to refresh their skills or try out diving in the lake. Finally, doing a diving class together also makes a very nice family bonding adventure.”
To encourage knowitall.ch readers to try out his classes, Stefan is offering a special 15% discount on all PADI certification courses booked through his diving school during the 2015 season. Just mention this article when you make your booking. Don’t forget to send us a photo of your diving experience afterwards and we will be more than happy to post it at the end of this article!
Stefan Meincke
GO Dive
+33 4 50 70 68 34
+33 77 12 66 240
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.go-dive.ch
