Underwater Navigator
Fine-tune your underwater observation skills and learn to use your compass more accurately. 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. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way. If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 10 years old, you can enroll in the this course.
Required Dives
Dive One
• Land practice with compass
• Distance/Time-Estimation swim
• Navigate straight-line/reciprocal underwater using natural navigation
• Navigate straight-line/reciprocal underwater using a compass
• Navigate a square pattern underwater using a compass
Dive Two
• Land practice with compass and instructor provided navigation pattern
• Multiple-leg compass course (five or more heading changes), return to within 50 feet of the starting point
• Fix a specific underwater location
Dive Three
• Land practice with compass
• Navigate a course underwater following marker headings (five or more heading changes)
• Map the marked course on a grid slate
• Relocate dive site from dive two (optional task)
Gaining the Knowledge
This will be a comprehensive and very informative training program that introduces you to underwater navigation. At your own pace, you'll work your way through the different sections including; following compass and natural headings, methods to estimate distance underwater, marking or relocating a submerged object or position from the surface and underwater map making. This portion takes between 12-15 hours and must be completed prior to your dives.
The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your SCUBA Heroes instructor about earning credit
Equipment: Besides your basic SCUBA equipment, you’ll need a compass and underwater slate with pencil. You might also use marker buoys or lines and reels. Your SCUBA Heroes Instructor may suggest other appropriate gear.
Why PADI: PADI Divers carry the most respected and sought after scuba diving credentials in the world. No matter where you choose to dive, your PADI certification card will be recognized and accepted. In fact, on most scuba diving adventures, you’ll be surrounded by other PADI Divers who made the same certification choice you did – to train with the world’s largest and most respected scuba diving training organization.
Read: "The PADI Difference" for an in depth look as to why SCUBA Heroes has teamed up with PADI
12 Specialty Courses
SCUBA diving is a way to explore the underwater world in new and different ways. Specialty Diver courses teach you new techniques and give you the tools to enhance your exploration. These courses are in-depth, comprehensive and very informative training programs. The Specialty Diver Courses go beyond what each Adventure dive teaches you in Advanced Open Water.