Scuba Diving: Specialty Courses
PADI Coral Reef Conservation
Specialty
The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course teaches divers, snorkelers and nondivers about the vital role of coral reefs in the marine environment. The course also familiarizes participants with the current state of the world's coral reefs and how they can help.
-No dive certification required
-No minimum age limit
-Recommended course hours: two
This non-diving course includes:
-An introduction to Project AWARE
-The importance of coral reefs to marine ecosystems and coastal areas
-Coral reef biology, association and competition
-The status of the world's coral reefs
-How participants can help, including responsible diving and snorkeling practices
PADI Deep Diver
The Deep Diver Specialty course offers you the opportunity of a lifetime-- going deep to see things others can only dream about.
-Prerequisite: PADI Adventure Diver or PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying
certification from another organization)
-Minimum age: 15 years old
-Recommended course hours: 24
-Minimum open water training: four dives over two days
You'll learn deep dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and hazards. You'll also put this knowledge to the test as you go on four open water dives that range from 18-30 metres/60-100 feet.
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PADI Digital Underwater Photographer
The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course is a two-part (Level One and Level Two) introduction to digital underwater photography centered around today's point-and-shoot digital cameras. The course helps student divers develop the knowledge, skills and practical techniques necessary to obtain excellent photographs with a digital camera, even on their first photo dive.
-Prerequisite: PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certified (or qualifying certification from
another organization)
-Minimum age: 10 years old for scuba divers, none for snorkelers
-Recommended course hours: 12
-Minimum open water training: two dives in one day
This is a materials-driven course intended for a broad audience – snorkelers, Discover Scuba Diving participants, Open Water Diver students and certified divers. The course is primarily for those interested in learning the basics of digital underwater photography.
PADI Enriched Air Diver
By diving with enriched air rather than standard air, you can extend your no decompression limits. This means more time underwater. For example, if you dive to 15 metres/50 feet on air, your no decompression limit is 80 minutes. But, diving on EANx36 gets you 220 minutes of no decompression time-- an increase of 140 minutes.
-Prerequisite: PADI Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
-Minimum age: 15 years
-Recommended course hours: 12
-Minimum open water training: two dives in one day
The PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty certification emphasizes the theoretical and operational considerations involved with enriched air diving.
PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy
If you want to fine-tune your buoyancy and to soar over reefs, extend bottom time by reducing air consumption and prolong the life of your dive equipment, the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course is for you.
-Prerequisite: PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification
from another organization)
-Minimum age: 10 years old
-Recommended course hours: five
-Minimum open water training: two dives in one day
During your Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course, you'll use PADI's Basic Weighting Guidelines to determine the correct amount of weight. Then you'll practice the fundamentals of peak performance buoyancy during two open water dives, including the buoyancy check, fine-tuning underwater, weight positioning for trim, streamlining and visualization.
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PADI Project Aware Specialty
If you want to learn about the plight of worldwide aquatic ecosystems and how you can protect them, this specialty course is for you. This non-diving specialty course may also be conducted in conjunction with other PADI Specialty Diver courses.
-No dive certification required
-No minimum age limit
-Recommended course hours: four
You'll learn about aquatic ecosystem degradation and the conservation measures protecting aquatic resources. This includes:
-The Project AWARE philosophy
-The importance and interdependence of worldwide aquatic ecosystems
-Current issues regarding fisheries, coastal zone management and marine pollution
-The status of several critically degraded marine environments
-How you can help
PADI Search and Recovery
Diver
Have you ever dropped something in the water? Are you looking for lost treasure? The PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course will teach you effective ways to find objects underwater and bring them to the surface.
-Prerequisite: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification
(or qualifying certification from another organization) OR PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water
Diver AND PADI Underwater
-Navigation certifications (or qualifying certification from another organization)
-Minimum age: 12 years old
-Recommended Course Hours: 24 hours
-Minimum Open Water Training: four dives over two days
You'll learn search and recovery dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and potential problems. You'll also cover limited visibility, search patterns and safe object recovery using lift devices.
PADI Underwater Navigator
When you're underwater, knowing where you are and where you're going comes in handy, especially if you're looking for that beautiful reef that you've heard all about. The PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course will help you become a pro at finding your way underwater.
-Prerequisite: PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certified (or qualifying certification
from another organization)
-Minimum age: 10 years old
-Recommended course hours: 12
-Minimum open water training: three dives in one day
During your PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course, you'll learn underwater navigation dive procedures, techniques, planning, organization and potential problems. You'll also be introduced to natural navigation, underwater patterns, distance estimation and further your compass navigation skills. You'll put these into practice during your three open water dives.
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PADI Wreck Diver
The lure of exploring sunken vessels, airplanes and automobiles is something most divers can't resist. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course introduces you to wreck diving and helps you develop the skills and knowledge necessary for safe and fun wreck diving.
-Prerequisite: PADI Adventure Diver or PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying
certification from another organization)
-Minimum age: 15 years old
-Recommended course hours: 24
-Minimum open water training: four dives over two days
Information contained in your wreck diver program includes:
-The planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of wreck diving
-The preparation and use of lights, air supplies, special equipment, penetration lines and reels
-Limited-visibility diving techniques and emergency procedures
PADI Master Scuba Diver
This certification denotes that you've reached the highest recreational diver level in the PADI System of diver education. PADI Master Scuba Diver indicates you have a significant amount of training and experience in a variety of dive environments.
To apply, you need:
-PADI Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
-PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
-PADI Rescue Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
-50 logged dives
-Five PADI Specialty course certifications
-Minimum age: 15 years old (12 for Junior Master Scuba Diver)
The PADI Master Scuba Diver certification is the highest recreational level in the PADI system of diver education. But, you don't have to stop there! You can continue on to become a PADI Professional. As a Master Scuba Diver you'll be well qualified to begin your training as a PADI Divemaster.
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