Specialty Scuba Dive Courses
Take your diving to the next level with our specialty scuba dive courses, designed to expand your skills, knowledge, and confidence underwater. Specialty training gives you the opportunity to explore new diving environments and learn techniques that make your dives safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. Courses may include specialties such as Deep Diver, Night Diver, Navigation, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search and Recovery, and other areas of advanced diving. Our experienced instructors provide personalized, hands-on instruction with an emphasis on safety, proper equipment use, and practical diving skills. Whether you are looking to improve your existing abilities, prepare for more challenging dives, or simply discover something new underwater, our specialty courses offer an exciting way to continue your scuba education.
The rates on all dives below do not include a 6% processing fee. The processing fee will be applied at check-out.
DEEP DIVER
Explore deeper dive sites with confidence at depths down to 130 ft. Learn to manage your gas supply, go over buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control.
The lure of the deep. There’s something exciting and mysterious about exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. Sometimes it’s a wreck that attracts you below 60 feet and on wall dives it may be a giant fan or sponge. Whatever it is, to scuba dive with confidence at depths down to 130 feet, you should take the Deep Diver Specialty course.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What scuba gear will you use?
You’ll need a dive computer along with the rest of your basic scuba equipment. A dive light and slate are also recommended.
What will you learn?
Through hands-on training during four scuba dives and guidance from your Diving Professional, you’ll discover:
Your class includes
Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. During four deep dives with your instructor, you’ll go over:
The first dive of this Deep Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
DIGITAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
Underwater photography is one of the most popular diving specialties and with so many underwater cameras to choose from, it has become easier and more fun than ever to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures. Diving Catalinas’ Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly, whether you use a point-and-shoot camera or a sophisticated dSLR like the pros.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What scuba gear will you use?
Beyond using basic scuba equipment, you’ll need a digital underwater camera and a computer (PC) or other device for downloading and viewing your images. Your dive pro may suggest additional equipment and accessories depending on your camera system.
What will you learn?
Through hands-on training during two scuba dives and guidance from your diving professional, you’ll discover:
Get credit! The second dive of this specialty diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Your class includes
Pricing
DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE
DPVs offer a thrilling way for scuba divers to see a lot of underwater territory in a short amount of time. They scoot you through the water allowing you to glide over reefs, buzz around a large wreck or weave through a kelp forest. Whether making a shore or boat dive, a DPV is a great way to see more and have fun doing it.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
The Diver Propulsion Vehicle course guides you in choosing the right DPV for you. You’ll make two dives and learn about:
What scuba gear will you use?
You’ll need a DPV along with your basic scuba equipment.
Your class includes
The first dive of this course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
DRY SUIT
Want to stay warm? Want to extend your scuba diving season? Then dive dry. A dry suit seals you off from the water and keeps you comfortable, even in surprisingly cold water. There is incredible diving in the world’s cooler regions and in some areas, conditions are even better in colder months. Becoming a dry suit diver allows you to expand your boundaries and dive more places, more often.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
The first thing you’ll discover is which dry suit style and accompanying undergarments are right for you and the diving you’ll do. Then you’ll learn how to take care of your dry suit. During Three dives, you’ll practice:
What scuba gear will you use?
A dry suit is necessary along with your basic scuba equipment.
Your class includes
The first dive of this course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
ENRICHED AIR DIVER - NITROX
The Enriched Air Diver course is the most popular specialty scuba course. Why? Because scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives. If staying down longer and getting back in the water sooner sounds appealing, then don’t hesitate to become an enriched air diver.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
Your class includes
Get credit! This Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
What will you learn?
You’ll learn why diving with air that has higher oxygen and lower nitrogen content gives you more bottom time, along with enriched air equipment considerations. During a practical session, and two optional (or required) scuba dives, you’ll:
Scuba tank standards
Most modern scuba equipment and dive computers can be used with enriched air, but your Instructor will let you know if your gear meets manufacturer recommendations and local requirements. However, scuba tanks must meet oxygen service standards and be dedicated for use with enriched air. You’ll practice using oxygen analyzers and special cylinder decals. Your instructor will explain other equipment you may need to enjoy enriched air diving.
Pricing
FISH IDENTIFICATION
“What was that fish?” is a common question heard after a dive. If you want to be the scuba diver with the answers, instead of the one asking the questions, then take the Fish Identification Specialty course. You’ll enjoy your dives even more when you recognize the creatures that you see and can identify the main fish families and their characteristics.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
Recognize the fish you see
Once you learn to recognize what types of fish you see, you’ll find it easier to reference the exact species after a scuba dive. For example, a butterfly fish in the Caribbean has a similar shape to a butterfly fish in Southeast Asia, but colors and markings may be wildly different. If you know what fish family it belongs to, you can more easily look up the local name or at least be able to intelligently ask the local scuba instructor what you saw.
What will you learn?
During two scuba dives, you’ll learn:
Your class includes
Get credit! This Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
NIGHT DIVER
The thought of dipping below the surface at night seems mysterious, yet so alluring. Although you’ve been scuba diving at a site many times before, at night you drop into a whole new world and watch it come to life under the glow of your dive light. The scene changes as day creatures retire and nocturnal organisms emerge. If you’ve wondered what happens underwater after the sun goes down, sign up for the Night Diver Specialty course.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
Scuba diving at night teaches you to focus on what you can see in your light’s beam, on controlling your buoyancy by feel, on staying with your buddy and on paying attention to details you may overlook during the day. During three-night dives, you’ll practice:
What scuba gear will you use?
Along with your basic scuba equipment, you’ll need a primary dive light and a backup light.
Your class includes
Certification card Get credit! This Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
PEAK PERFORMANCY BUOYANCY
Excellent buoyancy control is what defines skilled scuba divers. You’ve seen them underwater. They glide effortlessly, use less air and ascend, descend or hover almost as if by thought. They more easily observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. You can achieve this, too. The Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course improves the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevates them to the next level.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
During two scuba dives, you’ll learn how to:
Get credit! The second dive of this specialty diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
What scuba gear will you use?
It’s best to use your own scuba equipment, including a weight system, so that you fine-tune your buoyancy in gear you’ll use on every dive.
Your class includes
Pricing
SEARCH & RECOVERY
It happens: People accidentally drop things from docks, off boats or even while scuba diving. If you’ve ever lost something in the water and wanted to go find it, then the PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is for you. There are effective ways to search for objects underwater that increase your chances of success. And there are good and better methods to bring up small, large or just awkward items. Search and recovery can be challenging, but a whole lot of fun.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
Gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search are the first important steps you learn. During four scuba dives you’ll practice:
What scuba gear will you use?
Besides your basic scuba equipment, you’ll need a compass and underwater slate. Your Instructor or local dive center staff may suggest other gear that may help with your searches, such as a dive light, marker buoys, lines and reels.
Your class includes
Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. During four deep dives with your instructor, you’ll go over:
The first dive of this Deep Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
SELF-RELIANT DIVER
Most scuba dives are made with a buddy, an experienced diver may want or need to make dives without a partner.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
During the Self-Reliant Diver course, you learn about potential risks of diving alone and the value of equipment redundancy and necessary back-up gear. During three scuba dives, you develop skills for self-reliance and independence, while becoming a stronger partner in a dive pair or team.
What scuba gear will you use?
What scuba gear will you use?
Your class includes
Pricing
UNDERWATER NATURALIST
Take the Underwater Naturalist Specialty course and you’ll see new things, even on the most familiar scuba diving sites. Why? Because when know more about symbioses, underwater ecology, and aquatic plant and animal habitats, you notice behaviors and see creatures you may have previously missed. Learn more about the local ecosystem and take a closer look on your next scuba diving adventure.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
Through class discussions and on two scuba dives, you’ll learn:
Your class includes
Get credit! This Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
UNDERWATER NAVIGATOR
Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where you are and where you’re going. The Underwater Navigator course fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to more accurately use your compass underwater. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
You’ll learn the tools of the trade, including navigation using natural clues and by following compass headings. During three scuba dives, you’ll practice:
What scuba gear will you use?
Basic scuba equipment, a compass and underwater slate. Your Instructor may suggest other gear to help you stay oriented, such as marker buoys or lines and reels.
Your class includes
Certification card Get credit! This Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
WRECK DIVER
Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying something others have missed. The Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving practices.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
There are many different types of wrecks, some of which are protected by laws that guard their historical and cultural significance. Your training starts by reviewing guidelines for researching and respecting wrecks. During four dives you’ll learn:
What scuba gear will you use?
You’ll need your basic scuba equipment, plus a dive light to see into the wreck, a slate and underwater compass for mapping and navigation, and a line and reel for practicing wreck penetration. Your Instructor or local dive center staff may suggest other gear appropriate for wreck diving in your area.
Your class includes
Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. During four dives with your instructor, you’ll go over:
The first dive of this Wreck Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Pricing
UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHER
Video is the best way to share the sights, sounds, motion and dynamics of the underwater world. Learn to create underwater videos that are interesting, entertaining and worth watching again and again.
Student Diver Prerequisites?
What will you learn?
Your Instructor will explain how to select, maintain and care for your underwater video equipment, whether it’s a housed unit with external lights, or your underwater camera that also shoots video. You'll cover fundamentals such as exposure, focus, story line and sequencing. Post dive, you’ll learn about the editing process and how to produce a video that truly captures your scuba adventures.
Get credit! The second dive of this specialty diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
What scuba gear will you use?
Of course you’ll use an underwater video camera and need your basic scuba equipment. To edit your video, you’ll need access to video editing equipment, which usually includes a computer with editing software. Ask your Instructor or local dive center staff about what additional equipment you may need for getting high-quality underwater video while diving locally.