PADI Boat Diver Specialty

Many of the world’s best dives are only accessible from a boat. Whether you’ve never done a boat dive before, or you’ve logged dozens of them, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty course will benefit you because with boats in various parts of the world you’ll do different things. Boat diving is fun and relatively easy because you descend directly to your dive site.

If you are a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver and you are at least 10 years old, you can enroll in the Boat Diver course.

Academic

The PADI Boat Diver course will expand your knowledge of boats, from small inflatables to large live-aboard cruisers. You will gain diving experience by completing two boat dives in your local area and learn:

• Nautical Terminology
• Procedures and behavior for diving from a boat, including how to get in and out and where to place your equipment.
• Navigate safely, including how to locate safety equipment.
• Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course can serve as an Adventure Dive credit towards your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about getting credit.

Team

In addition to using basic scuba gear, you will want to have a surface signaling device, such as an inflatable signaling tube. Having a complete spare parts kit is also a good idea. Your PADI Instructor and local dive center staff may suggest additional equipment depending on the type of boat you will use and where your boat diving adventures will take you.

Starting

You can start by reading the PADI Boat Diver Manual and watching the Boat Dive video to prepare for meeting with your instructor to schedule boat dives. Stop by your local PADI Dive Center and Resort to register for the course and pick up your Boat Diver Crew-Pak and start learning.