Specialty Courses
With PADI Specialty Diver courses, you can choose from a range of specialty trainings to satisfy your need in the special areas of interest. Each course will help you familiarize the skills, knowledge, risk, planning and organization that are necessary to safely conduct various diving activities.
To achieve the PADI specialty course ratings, some only take 1 or 2 days to complete. You will receive certification for the specialty course upon completion of all course requirements. Completion of five PADI specialty course together with PADI Rescue Diver, you may apply as a PADI Master Scuba Diver.
Coral Reef Conservation
Learn about the importance of coral reefs and what you can do to protect it.
The AWARE – Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course teaches divers, snorkelers and non-divers about the vital role of coral reefs in the marine environment. The course describes how coral reefs function and why they are so important. It also reviews why many reefs are in serious trouble and what individuals can do to prevent further decline. The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course provides the knowledge base for proper interaction while touring a reef.
This is a non-diving certification course and takes about 5 hours incl. self study and classroom training.
The Project AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Course is a ‘dry’ course – so all the course content is covered over 1 classroom session. This course helps you appreciate the complexity of coral reef habitats and teaches how you can help conserve these vital systems.
Through classroom discussions, you learn:
- How coral reefs function and the complex nature of life on a reef.
- Why coral reefs are so important.
- Why many coral reefs are in serious trouble.
- What you can do to prevent further decline.
- How Project AWARE unites divers and water enthusiasts to make a difference.
Anyone who has an interest in the aquatic world can take this course. There are no prerequisites or age restrictions and no water sessions are required to earn this non-diving certification.
Dive Against Debris
Help keep our oceans and beaches clean – become an ocean ambassador & make a difference.
Have you ever been scuba diving and been disturbed by the amount of discarded plastic, fishing net or other debris? The PADI Project AWARE Dive Against Debris Specialty course provides you with the knowledge to make a difference, clean up a site and importantly, report your data to Project AWARE to collate.
The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to complete Dive Against Debris surveys independently, including removing marine debris underwater and reporting the data online. The surveys and data that divers submit are essential to help drive change and inform policy makers.
The course takes 1 day and includes 1 dive.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and one training dive.
You will start in the classroom by learning:
- About marine debris, the damage done, what it is, where it comes from and how divers are part of the solution.
- How to establish a Dive Against Debris® survey, the survey frequency, sites, profiles and equipment. Also the use of photography and knowing what to leave behind.
- How to make your survey count. The five easy steps to report the debris you’ve removed to maximize each survey’s benefits.
- How to join the global Project AWARE movement of scuba divers protecting our ocean planet.
During your one open water dive, you will conduct a Dive Against Debris® survey, including weighing, sorting, recording, disposing and reporting your marine debris to Project AWARE.
- You have to be certified at least (Junior) PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent from another agency).
- You must be at least 12 years old.
Deep Diver
There is something alluring about exploring the deeper realms of the ocean, isn’t it?
The PADI Deep Diver course trains you to handle the increased risks of deep diving while exploring the hidden world that lies down to 40m/130ft.
You will learn better manage your gas supply, be aware of buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control and finally you will explore deeper dive sites with confidence.
The course takes 2 days and includes 4 boat dives.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and training dives.
The theory will be completed either online with PADI e-learning or with the printed course manual and repeated together with your instructor before you start your dives. The e-learning system allows you to study from the comfort of your home and at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You will learn about:
- Deep diving procedures
- Specialized deep diving equipment
- Deep dive planning, buddy contact procedures and buoyancy control
- Managing your gas supply, dealing with gas narcosis and safety considerations
Your training includes as well reviewing the reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. During four deep dives with your instructor, you’ll put your knowledge into practice. Through hands-on training during four boat dives and guidance from your PADI Instructor, you’ll learn how to safely conduct deep dives.
- You have to be certified at least Adventure Diver (or equivalent from another agency).
- You must be at least 15 years old.
It is important to be confident in your abilities too. This is not an agency prerequisite, but just common sense. If you are not fully confident with your skills, or haven’t dived in years, then it is common sense to get a bit more training in before doing the deep dive specialty.
Digital Underwater Photography
Learn how to capture stunning images from your scuba diving adventures.
Underwater photography is both captivating and challenging – whether from an artistic perspective or an educational standpoint of capturing images to identify different marine life species you are observing underwater.
This course is designed to be an introduction to basic underwater photography and to help you to develop the skills, knowledge and practical techniques necessary to enjoy this interesting activity.
The course takes 1 day and includes 2 boat dives.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and training dives.
The theory will be completed either online with PADI e-learning or with the printed course manual and repeated together with your instructor before you start your dives. The e-learning system allows you to study from the comfort of your home and at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You’ll learn:
- How to choose the right underwater camera system for you
- How to prepare the underwater photo system
- Basic underwater photo techniques while diving in an environmentally friendly manner
- Principles for good composition of underwater images
- Basics about file formats, resolution settings, making images lighter or darker, getting good color, composing the photo
- Downloading photographs into a computer and adjusting them to look their best
- Practical techniques to take great photos with your digital camera
The web-based system guides you through the principles of great underwater photography, with a bonus section on underwater imaging (including video). You study at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You also have access to an online version of the Digital Underwater Photographer Manual.
You will make two dives with your instructor, and you will put your knowledge into practice. Through hands-on training during two boat dives and guidance from your PADI Professional, you’ll learn how to get great underwater shots.
- You have to be certified at least (Junior) Open Water Diver
- You must be at least 10 years old
Drift Diver
Learn how to safely enjoy the ocean currents and “going with the flow”.
The PADI Drift Diver Specialty course introduces you to one of the coolest ways of diving. Drifting and gliding along ocean currents is both exhilarating and relaxing, and the Drift Diver Specialty course is a great next-step option for your diving education!
This course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide along. It feels like flying – except that you’re underwater using scuba equipment.
The course takes 1 day and includes 2 boat dives.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and training dives.
The theory will be completed either online with PADI e-learning or with the printed course manual and repeated together with your instructor before you start your dives. The e-learning system allows you to study from the comfort of your home and at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You’ll:
- Receive an introduction to drift diving equipment – floats, lines and reels.
- Get an overview of aquatic currents – causes and effects.
- Practice with buoyancy control, navigation and communication during two drift dives.
- Learn techniques for staying close to a buddy or together as a group as you float with the current.
The web-based system guides you through the theory of diving in currents. You study at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. To complete the theory you must answer and review the corresponding knowledge reviews.
You will make two dives with your instructor, and you will put your knowledge into practice. Through hands-on training during two boat dives and guidance from your PADI Professional, you’ll learn how to fully and safely enjoy diving in currents.
- You have to be certified at least (Junior) Open Water Diver
- You must be at least 10 years old
Enriched Air Diver
Extend the bottom time and decrease your nitrogen load.
Enriched Air, also known as “nitrox”, is a form of breathing gas that allows divers to extend bottom time and reduce nitrogen loading.
Scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives. If staying down longer and getting back in the water sooner sounds appealing, then don’t hesitate to become an enriched air diver.
The course takes half day (4-6 hours) for completing the learning part and if you like you can book additional dives with it too.
The PADI Enriched Air course lets you increase your allowable bottom time through increasing the amount of oxygen you breathe and decreasing the amount of nitrogen your body takes on compared to regular air dives.
Breathing enriched air, or nitrox, also means you`ll feel less tired after several days of diving, such as on vacation, and can increase your margin of safety. In this course you will learn
- managing oxygen exposure
- how to analyze the oxygen content in tanks
- how to calculate maximum depths and plan dives
- how to set your dive computer for diving with enriched air nitrox
- as well as many safety considerations of handling enriched air up to 40% oxygen.
- You have to be certified at least PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver (or equivalent from another agency).
- You must be at least 12 years old.
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Excellent buoyancy control is what defines skilled scuba divers. Improve your buoyancy skills and observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings.
The truth is that achieving neutral buoyancy will, indeed, make you a better diver overall. And, in becoming a better and stronger diver, you’ll be able to enjoy your dives more.
The Peak Performance Buoyancy course, takes the skills that you already learned in your Open Water Diver course and refines and enhances them so that you can become a better diver.
The course takes 1 day and includes 2 boat dives.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and training dives.
The theory will be completed either online with PADI e-learning or with the printed course manual and repeated together with your instructor before you start your dives. The e-learning system allows you to study from the comfort of your home and at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You’ll learn about:
- proper weight selection,
- tank positioning, and weight distribution, including trimming your gear so you can be perfectly balanced,
- as well as how to save air as you move smoothly and hover easily in a horizontal or vertical position.
You will make two dives with your instructor, and you will put your knowledge into practice. At shallow depth, you will practice and fine tune your buoyancy skills. You will realize, that achieving perfect buoyancy not only makes your dives so much more enjoyable, also you air consumption will improve and you can have longer bottom times.
- You have to be certified at least (Junior) Open Water Diver
- You must be at least 10 years old
Search & Recovery Diver
Learn how to safely search and recover lost objects.
With the PADI Search & Recovery Diver course you learn the techniques involved in systematically locating and retrieving lost articles.
Finding lost objects is harder than you may think and may involve exposing yourself to risks and hazards unlike you find at most recreational dive sites. This is why specialized training is important. Even if you never end up looking for a single lost object, the skills you will learn in the Search and Recovery Diver Course can help make you a better underwater navigator, a more careful observer of aquatic life and a more confident diver in less-than-ideal conditions. It also is a lot of fun.
The course takes 2 days and includes 4 dives.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and training dives.
The theory will be completed either online with PADI e-learning or with the printed course manual and repeated together with your instructor before you start your dives. The e-learning system allows you to study from the comfort of your home and at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program.
During your training dives with your instructor, you’ll put your knowledge into practice. During four dives will you will learn how to search for objects of different sizes in different environments. You will start by gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search.
On four scuba dives you’ll practice:
- Swimming search patterns using your compass and natural navigation.
- Locating large and small objects using various search patterns.
- Using a lift bag for large or heavy objects, plus other recovery methods.
- Planning a search operation based on facts gathered about a lost object prior to the dive.
- You have to be certified at least (Junior) Advanced Open Water Diver
- You must be at least 12 years old
Wreck Diver
Explore wrecks in a safe and professional manner.
The PADI Wreck Diver course trains you to safely penetrate and explore shipwrecks using the right equipment and techniques.
Whether sunk on purpose as an artificial reef or the result of mishap, wrecks open fascinating windows to the past. Most divers find wrecked ships, airplanes and even automobiles nearly irresistible because they’re intriguing to explore, exciting avenues of discovery, and usually teeming with aquatic life.
There is nothing like the thrill of wreck diving for the first time. Descending downward you try to catch a glimpse.
Gain wreck diving experience under the direct supervision of one of our highly trained instructors. You`ll open up a whole new world of diving and will be able to not just tour the outside of wrecks but enter enclosed and overhead environments with confidence and the right skills to return safely.
The course takes 2 days and includes 4 boat dives.
The course is divided into two parts: knowledge development and training dives.
The theory will be completed either online with PADI e-learning or with the printed course manual and repeated together with your instructor before you start your dives. The e-learning system allows you to study from the comfort of your home and at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program.
During your training with your instructor, you’ll put your knowledge into practice. The hands-on training during four boat dives will teach you how to safely conduct dives in and around wrecks.
In the PADI Wreck Diver course you will learn about:
- 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.
- You have to be certified at least PADI Adventure Diver (or equivalent from another agency).
- You must be at least 15 years old.