PADI Diving Courses Explained...
Open Water Course
The first big step! In this course you’ll learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. By obtaining this certification you will be opening an entire new world. You earn this rating by completing five confined water dives and knowledge development sessions and by making four open water dives.
Advanced Open Water Course
Become an advanced diver and you'll be more experienced, feel more comfortable in the water and simply enjoy diving more because you better understand the underwater environment. This certification includes five Adventure Dives, including the Deep Adventure Dive, the Underwater Navigator Adventure Dive and three of the following:
- Boat Diver
- Multilevel Diver
- Night Diver
- Search and Recovery Diver
- Underwater Naturalist
- Underwater Photographer
- Underwater Navigator
- Wreck Diver
Rescue Diver Course
This course is rewarding and fun. The rescue course will expand your knowledge and experience level: Rescue Divers learn to look beyond themselves and consider the safety and well being of other divers. Although this course is serious, it is an enjoyable way to build your confidence. It is a great idea for every diver to take this course at some point. Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessary, manage dive emergencies. During the five open water sessions, you'll cover:
- Self-rescue and diver stress
- AED and emergency oxygen delivery systems
- dive first aid
- swimming and non-swimming rescue techniques
- emergency management and equipment
- panicked diver response
- underwater problems
- missing diver procedures
- surfacing the unconscious diver
- in-water rescue breathing protocols
- egress (exits)
- first aid procedures for pressure related accidents
- dive accident scenarios
Specialty Courses
Night Diver
When you go night diving you'll see a whole new world. Every dive site takes on a new personality at night, as many underwater creatures and plant life (different from those you see during the day) are active at night. You'll learn night dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and potential problems. You'll also learn how to control your buoyancy, navigate and communicate at night. Since many of the plants and animals you'll see are different, you'll also get an introduction to nocturnal aquatic life.
Underwater Naturalist
If you're interested in aquatic life then the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course is for you. This course is an introduction to the underwater aquatic environment and will help develop safe and responsible aquatic life interaction techniques. During your PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course, you'll learn underwater naturalist dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and potential problems. You'll also get an overview of the major aquatic life groupings, interactions and factual information that dispels negative myths. You'll put this information into practice during your two open water dives.
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.
Divemaster Course
Take the first step in your dive career and become a PADI Divemaster. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, you'll expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills as you become a dive professional. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities by training you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers.
- Learn dive leadership through classroom and independent study sessions
- Complete water skills and stamina exercises in confined and open water
- Training exercises to test organizational and problem solving abilities
- An internship or series of practical training exercises
What can PADI Divemasters do?
- Assist PADI Instructors with students
- Lead PADI Scuba Divers on guided dive tours
- Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers
- Teach PADI Discover Snorkeling programs
- Conduct PADI Scuba Review programs for certified divers
- Lead certified divers on Discover Local Diving experiences
- Teach Emergency First Response programs after successful completion of an Emergency First Response Instructor course.
- Learn dive leadership through classroom and independent study sessions
- Complete water skills and stamina exercises in confined and open water
- Training exercises to test organizational and problem solving abilities
- An internship or series of practical training exercises
- Work at local dive centers, on live-aboard dive boats, yachts and at exotic resort locations
