This course is designed to be an introduction to altitude diving and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for altitude diving.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
Altitude Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to boat diving and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for boat diving.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
Boat Diver Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to introduce divers to the skills and excitement of using diver propulsion vehicles. The course familiarizes student divers with the knowledge, planning, organization, procedures, techniques, potential problems and hazards associated with using DPVs.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
12
2 dives
8:1
DPV Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to drift diving and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for drift diving.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
12
2 dives
8:1
Drift Diver Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to dry suit diving and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for dry suit diving.
PADI Open Water Diver, PADI Junior
Open Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
Dry Suit Diver Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to qualify recreational divers to use enriched air ("nitrox") for no stop recreational diving. The program addresses the use of enriched air with 22 percent to 40 percent oxygen, with emphasis on enriched air with 32 and 36 percent oxygen.
Prerequisite Certification: PADI Open Water Diver* or qualifying certification
15
2 Enriched Air Dives.
8:1
PADI Enriched Air Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to new types of equipment and to familiarize divers with the operation and maintenance of equipment.
PADI (Junior) Scuba Diver, Open Water
Diver, Junior Open Water Diver or
qualifying certification
10
none required
not applicable
Equipment Specialist Instructor
This course is designed to introduce divers to the most common families and species of fish found in temperate and tropical waters. Divers learn basic fish identification and scientific surveying techniques. Through an overview of Project AWARE and other preservation and research efforts, such as the REEF Fish Survey Project, divers also learn the importance of personal involvement in aquatic environment conservation.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
AWARE - Fish Identification Diver
Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to multilevel diving and to help the student diver develop the necessary skills, knowledge and techniques.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
12
2 dives
8:1
Multilevel Diver Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to night diving and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary to safely participate in night-diving activities.
Prerequisite Certification: PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
12
3 dives
8:1
Night Diver Specialty Instructor
The purpose of the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course is to polish a diver's buoyancy control beyond the Open Water Diver level. The goal of PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy training is to enhance the student diver diver's buoyancy control abilities through knowledge development and practical skills practice.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
Teaching status PADI Assistant Instructor+
This course is designed to be an introduction to the underwater aquatic environment and to help the student diver develop safe and responsible interaction with aquatic life.
Prerequisite Certification: PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
Underwater Naturalist Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to underwater navigation and to help the student diver develop the skills and knowledge necessary for use in underwater navigation.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
3 dives
8:1*
Underwater Navigator Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to be an introduction to basic underwater photography and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and practical techniques necessary to enjoy this interesting activity.
PADI Open Water Diver, PADI Junior
Open Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
Underwater Photographer Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to introduce student divers to the selection, use and care of underwater videography equipment, and the basic principles of underwater video production.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
3 dives
8:1
Underwater Videographer Specialty Instructor
This course is designed to increase a diver's understanding of the importance of the aquatic realm and broaden the diver's awareness while scuba diving.
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open
Water Diver or qualifying certification
10
2 dives
8:1*
PADI Instructor teaching through a PADI
National Geographic Dive Center
Certification in specialty areas other than those detailed in the foregoing standards is possible through the Distinctive Specialty program. Some topic areas require special training and should be sanctioned. Distinctive Specialty Courses allow the instructor to develop courses important to the particular area or circumstances.
Instructors who wish to be certified to teach a Distinctive Specialty should see the General Standards and Procedures section for further details. Some Distinctive Specialties, approved by PADI, allow participation by 10
and 11-year-old student divers. When conducting these courses, see Section One - General Standards for Specialty Diver Courses, Special Requirements for 10 and 11- year-old Divers.
The Master Scuba Diver rating is the highest recreational diver rating in the PADI program, and denotes superior achievement and proficiency.
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