Whether you’ve never made a boat dive or you’ve logged dozens, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty can benefit almost every diver because different boats in different parts of the world do things differently. If you dive, then diving from a boat is almost inevitable. Boat skippers are a breed apart with their often odd procedures, superstitions and even their own language. Knowing a little about boats (and boat skippers), especially when manoeuvring around on one, often helps the day's diving pass without falling foul of a skipper's ever watchful eye. It also adds to the fun if you know what you’re doing.
The PADI Boat Diver Specialty is taken in conjunction with our dive trips programme.
Minimum age: 10 years
Course prerequisites: PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver
What will I do?
You will have one and a half days of intense boat training to complete. As with most of our PADI Specialty programmes, you will start with some self-study using the PADI Boat Diver materials. With your PADI Instructor, you will then review the key ideas such as the many different types of boats used for diving and also how to talk to a boat skipper like you know what you are doing. You will learn when it’s better to hand your gear up to the crew and then climb in the boat or just take off your fins and weights and climb up the ladder.
You will then put into practice what you learn in a combination of skills during two open water training dives.
During your programme you will:
- Learn how to dive from boats ranging from small inflatables and RIBS to giant liveaboards and how they differ from place to place
- Gain experience and training from diving on boats in your local area
- Learn how to safely enter and exit the water from a boat
- Lean how to stow your gear in the most appropriate areas
- Use surface lines to start or conclude your dives
- Locate and use basic boat safety equipment
- Learn new nautical terminology (skipper speak)
How do I get started?
As with all the diving education programmes at Aquasport, you start with the self-study training materials. Once you have paid your course fees you will receive your PADI Boat Diver eLearning materials. This PADI Specialty is run in conjunction with some of our diving trips and holidays. Don’t worry if you can’t commit to booking onto one of these straight away, as you can get started on the home study as soon as you have received your eLearning code.
How long will it take?
The PADI Boat Diver Specialty takes place over one and a half days. Starting on an evening, you will review the theory sections from the PADI Boat Diver manual with your instructor. The next day will cover all the practical sessions during two open water training dives.
What will I need?
The PADI Boat Diver Specialty is open to all divers who hold the PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.
Once you have booked onto your PADI Boat Diver Specialty you will receive your PADI Boat Diver manual to start you on your way. You will need to have your own surface signalling device such as a DSMB, which can be purchased from our shop before your course.
You will need to fill out a self-certification medical statement. If you have any medical conditions that you think may prevent you from scuba diving, please feel free to contact us and we will try to be of assistance.
Standard scuba equipment may not necessarily be included in the cost of this programme if it is held in conjunction with dive travel. Please contact the centre for clarification.
Where can I go from here?
Once you have completed your PADI Boat Diver Specialty you can take full advantage of the fantastic dives on our UK coastal trips. As most drift dives take place from a boat, maybe the PADI Drift Diver Specialty should be next on your to do list, or perhaps perfect your DSMB skills with the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Specialty.
Once you have completed five PADI specialties, the PADI Rescue Diver course and have 50 logged dives you hold all the prerequisites for the PADI Master Scuba Diver certification. This is the highest non-professional rating in the PADI system of diver education.
Here at Aquasport all our Instructors hold this level of recreational certification. We recommend that every diver takes this route regardless of their further ambitions as we see it as a commitment to education and a real achievement.
