PADI Underwater Navigator

We so often hear the words “I don’t want to do my PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty because I am rubbish at navigation!” Well wake up and smell the coffee. That is exactly the reason why you should do it!

Finding your way is not a matter of luck! When everyone’s buzzing about a reef or checking out a shipwreck, they are having a great time until it’s time to go. Then they turn to you, because as a PADI Underwater Navigator, you know the way back to the boat, don’t you?

Minimum age: 10 years

Course prerequisites: PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver

What will I do?

You will have two days of intense underwater navigation training to complete. In our fully equipped multi-media classrooms, you will learn not only how to use a compass and Nav-Finder while diving, but also how to plot and follow a pre-arranged course underwater. You will also be put through your paces with a compass during a practical session on dry land so that you are fully confident when you hit the water.

You will put into practice what you learn in a combination of skills in three open water training dives.

During your programme you will cover the following:

• Navigation patterns
• Natural navigation (without a compass)
• Compass navigation
• How to “mark” or relocate a submerged object or position from the surface
• Underwater map making
• How to follow irregular courses with the Nav-Finder
• Dive site relocation
• How to estimate distance underwater

How do I get started?

Just pick your dates if you can and pay your £125 deposit and you will receive your PADI Underwater Navigator eLearning login details. Don’t worry if you can’t commit to a date straight away. There are plenty scheduled throughout the year and you can get started on the home study as soon as you have received your eLearning login code.

How long will it take?

The PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty takes place over one weekend. Starting on the Saturday morning at 09:00, you will review the theory sections from the PADI Underwater Navigator programme and watch the PADI Underwater Navigator DVD with your Instructor. On the Saturday, you will also complete some land based training with a compass to ensure you are confident before going underwater.  On the Sunday you will complete three open water training dives to practice a range of navigation skills.

What will I need?

The PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty is open to all divers who hold the PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Once you have booked onto your PADI Underwater Navigator you will receive your PADI Underwater Navigator eLearning materials to start you on your way. It is always a good move to buy your own compass for future dives, however we will supply one for the weekend if you prefer.

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.

All the PADI materials and standard scuba equipment needed to complete the programme are included in the cost. You will need to pay for your entry to the open water dive site and any required air fills while away from the centre. This is approximately £30 a day.

Where can I go from here?

Once you have completed your PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty there is no stopping you on your road of adventure. Why not enrol onto the next PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty and use your new navigational skills with real world practical applications like searching for a lost object underwater.

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.