Open Water Certification

Much of the world’s best scuba diving is accessible only by boat.  Whether you’ve never made a boat dive or you’ve logged dozens, the Boat Diver Specialty course will benefit you because boats in various  parts of the world do things differently. Scuba diving from a boat is  fun and relatively easy because you usually descend directly onto your  dive site.

If you’re a  (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Boat Diver course.

The  Boat Diver course will expand your knowledge about boats  from small inflatables to large live aboards. You’ll gain experience  scuba diving by completing two dives from a boat in your local area and  learn:

• Boat terminology.
• Boat diving procedures and etiquette, including how to enter and exit, and where to stow your gear.
• Boating safety, including how to locate safety equipment.

Get credit! The first dive of this Specialty Diver course may  credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water  Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit. 

The lure of the deep. There’s something exciting and mysterious about  exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. Sometimes it’s a wreck  that attracts you below 18 meters/60 feet, and on wall dives it may be a  giant fan or sponge. Whatever it is, to scuba dive with confidence at  depths down to 40 meters/130 feet, you should take the P Deep Diver  Specialty course.

If you’ve earned the  Adventure Diver rating or higher, and  you’re at least 15 years old, you can enroll in the Deep Diver course.

Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how  important it is to know your personal limits. During four deep dives  with your instructor, you’ll go over:

• Specialized deep diving equipment.
• Deep dive planning, buddy contact procedures and buoyancy control.
• Managing your gas supply, dealing with gas narcosis and safety considerations.

Also, the first dive of this Specialty Diver course may credit  as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification  – ask your instructor about earning credit.

Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced Materials Included: All Course Materials Requirements: Full Scuba Gear (rentals available), Adventure Diver Certification or higher 

The thought of dipping below the surface at night seems mysterious,  yet so alluring. Although you’ve been scuba diving at a site many times  before, at night you drop into a whole new world and watch it come to  life under the glow of your dive light. The scene changes as day  creatures retire and nocturnal organisms emerge. If you’ve wondered what  happens underwater after the sun goes down, sign up for the  Night  Diver Specialty course.

 (Junior) Open Water Divers or higher, who are at least 12 years old, can enroll in the Night Diver specialty course.

Scuba diving at night teaches you to focus on what you can see in  your light’s beam, on controlling your buoyancy by feel, on staying with  your buddy and on paying attention to details you may overlook during  the day. During three night dives, you’ll practice:

• Light handling and communication techniques.
• Entering, exiting and navigating in the dark.
• Identifying how plants and animals differ or change behavior at night.

Also, the first dive of this Specialty Diver course may credit  as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification  – ask your instructor about earning credit.

Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where  you are and where you’re going. The Underwater Navigator course  fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to more accurately  use your compass underwater. If you like challenges with big rewards,  take this course and have fun finding your way.

If you’re a  (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 10 years  old, you can enroll in the Underwater Navigator Specialty course.

You’ll learn the tools of the trade, including navigation using  natural clues and by following compass headings. During three scuba  dives, you’ll practice:

• Methods to estimate distance underwater.
• Compass navigation while making at least five turns.
• Marking or relocating a submerged object or position from the surface.
• Underwater map making.

Also, the first dive of this Specialty Diver course may credit  as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification –  ask your instructor about earning credit.

Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost  as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the  past. Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and  usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for  discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying something others  have missed. The Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it  offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving  practices.

If you’re at least 15 years old and have earned a  Adventure  Diver certification or higher, you can enroll in the Wreck Diver  Specialty course.

There are many different types of wrecks, some of which are protected  by laws that guard their historical and cultural significance. Your  training starts by reviewing guidelines for researching and respecting  wrecks. During four dives you’ll learn:

• Safety considerations for navigating and exploring wrecks.
• Surveying and mapping a wreck.
• Using penetration lines and reels to guide exploration.
• Techniques to avoid kicking up silt or disturbing the wreck and its inhabitants.

Also, the first dive of this  Specialty Diver course may credit  as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification –  ask your instructor about earning credit.

Not your ordinary Scuba Lesson.

Underwater photography is one of the most popular diving specialties,  and with so many underwater cameras to choose from, it has become  easier and more fun than ever to capture images of your underwater scuba  adventures. The Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you  going quickly, whether you use a point-and-shoot camera or a  sophisticated dSLR like the pros.

 (Junior) Open Water Divers who are at least 10 years old are eligible to take the Digital Underwater Photographer course.

Through hands-on training during two scuba dives and guidance from your Professional, you’ll discover:

• How to choose the right underwater camera system for you.
• The SEA (Shoot, Examine, Adjust) method for getting great shots quickly.
• Principles for good composition of underwater images.
• Practical techniques to take great photos with your digital camera.

Get credit! The second dive of this Specialty Diver course may  credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water  Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.