Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI)
PADI Certified Specialty Classes
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Altitude Diver
Prerequisites: PADI Open Water, Junior Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 10 years old.
This course develops the student's knowledge of dives done at an altitude over 1000 feet above sea level. The decompression models used by the vast majority of dive computers and dive tables were developed for use at sea level. These models assume that you will begin and end your dive under a full atmosphere of pressure. Diving above 1000 feet starts you at less than a full atmosphere of pressure. The Altitude Diver course teaches the diver how to dive at altitude, taking into account the decrease in atmospheric pressure.
Sessions of instruction: One (1) classroom, and two (2) dives in one (1) day. -
Boat Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Junior Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 10 years old.
This course is to develop the student's knowledge of dive boats, proper boat diving etiquette, personal conduct, basic dive boat terminology, local boating laws and ordinances, and to develop student's ability to perform important boat diving skills.
Sessions of instruction: One(1) classroom and two (2) scuba dives on one (1) day. -
DAN O2 Provider
The course is designed to train and educate the general diving public in the techniques of using oxygen as first aid for a suspected diving injury. In addition, this course will introduce novice divers to the fundamentals of recognizing diving injury warning signs, response and management. This program also provides an excellent opportunity for experienced divers and instructors to continue their education.
Sessions of instruction: One (1) classroom -
Deep Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 15 years old.
This course is to develop the theoretical knowledge of Deep Diving. To enable students to plan, organize, and make no-decompression dives between depths of 60 to 130 feet.
Sessions of instruction: Four (4) scuba dives over two (2) days. -
Drift Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Jr. Open Water, or equivalent. Minimum age: 12 years old.
The purpose of this course is to familiarize divers with the skills, knowledge, planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, hazards, and ENJOYMENT of drift diving.
Sessions of instruction: Two (2) dives in one (1) day. -
Drysuit Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Jr. Open Water, or equivalent. Minimum age: 10 years old.
This course is designed to develop knowledge of the use of drysuits, when to use one, types of drysuits available, drysuit accessories, maintenance, and how to make minor repairs. To develop the ability to perform important drysuit skills. To enable the student to plan, organize, and conduct safe dives using a drysuit.
Sessions of instruction: One (1) pool session, and two (2) scuba dives in one (1) day.
Student must provide drysuit. -
Emergency First Responder
Prerequisite: Minimum age: 12 years of age.
Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) teaches you the steps and techniques for handling life threatening emergencies before the arrival of Emergency Medical Service personnel. Instruction in the use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is included in the EFR course.
Emergency First Response Secondary Care (First Aid) teaches you to assist injured or ill patients by offering first aid and support while waiting for Emergency Medical Service personnel. The course prepares you to render emergency care for common medical problems that are not immediately life threatening.
Sessions of instruction: Two (2) classroom -
Enriched Air, (Nitrox), Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water or equivalent as proof of certification, with experience in Night diving, Deep diving, and Navigation, and with proof of at least 10 dives logged beyond training dives for certification. Minimum age: 12 years old.
This course is designed to familiarize divers with the safety, protocols, hazards, risks, benefits, and theory of no-decompression diving with oxygen-enriched air containing 22% to 40% oxygen.
Practical Application Session: $75 paid directly to Aqua Center. Session includes testing air samples, planning dives using both dive tables and dive computer, etc.
Optional: Two (2) dives in one (1) day
- Equipment Specialist
Requirements: PADI Open Water/Junior Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 12 years old
This course is designed to develop practical knowledge of the theory, principles and operation of diving equipment, as well as to teach students how to perform routine recommended care and maintenance procedures, and how to store equipment properly. Completion of Equipment Specialist qualifies the student to potentially save a dive. It does NOT qualify the student as an authorized technician.
Students bring their own Regulator (first stage, second stage, octopus, and console) and Buoyancy Control Device and service them under the direction of the Instructor.
Course Fee: $75.00, plus cost of materials & parts used in service..
- Ice Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 18 years old.
This course will explain the planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, and hazards of diving under ice. It will familiarize students with the use of special equipment, safety lines, communications, line tending and securing techniques and procedures, enabling them to engage in exploring the ice environment.
Sessions of instruction: One (1) classroom, and three (3) scuba dives over two (2) days. -
Night Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Jr. Open Water or equivalent. Must have proof of four (4) scuba training dives. Minimum age: 12 years old.
This course helps students develop their practical knowledge of Night diving and helps them to organize and safely conduct Night dives.
Sessions of instruction:
One (1) dusk dive, and two (2) night dives over two (2) nights.
Student must supply a large primary dive light and a backup light. -
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Jr. Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 10 years old.
This course will assist in polishing buoyancy control beyond Open Water training. It will enhance the students buoyancy abilities through knowledge development and skills practice.
Sessions of instruction:
One (1) pool session, and two (2) dives in one (1) day. . -
Search & Recovery
Prerequisite: PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 12 years old.
This course will introduce the diver to the planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, hazards, and the FUN of Search & Recovery diving. It will give the student practical experience in a safe environment.
Sessions of instruction:
One (1) classroom, and four (4) dives over two (2) days. -
Underwater Navigator
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Jr. Open Water, or equivalent. Minimum age: 10 years old.
This course is an introduction to navigation techniques used in the underwater environment. The student will learn both natural and compass navigation techniques.
Sessions of instruction:
One (1) classroom, and four (4) dives over two (2) days. -
Underwater Naturalist
Prerequisite: PADI Open Water, Jr. Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 10 years old.
This course is developed to help the diver understand and interact with aquatic life without disturbing it or doing harm to the environment.
Sessions of instruction:
Two (2) dives over two (2) days. -
Wreck Diver
Prerequisite: PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age: 15 years old.
The purpose of this course is to familiarize divers with the skills, knowledge, planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, hazards, and EXCITEMENT of diving on wrecks.
Sessions of instruction:
One (1) classroom, and four (4) dives over two (2) days.
Highly recommended: 2 dive lights and diving navigational aids. - * Student must provide all scuba equipment and appropriate exposure suit for local diving.
- Course Fees for Specialties, unless otherwise noted, are as follows:
• $50/classroom session
• $50/pool session
• $60/dive
• Plus course materials (cost varies by course)