PADI Specialty Course Descriptions
AWARE Fish ID Specialty
Do you find yourself asking, “What was that?” If so, the PADI AWARE Fish ID course is just for you! You’ll enjoy your dives even more when you recognize the creatures around you. In this course you’ll learn: how to identify characteristics of local fish families and species; fish survey techniques and strategies; how to practice fish identification dive planning, organization and procedures.
Boat Diving Specialty
The PADI Boat Diving Specialty benefits all divers whether you mostly dive from shore, from private boats or from commercial boats. You’ll learn: how to set up a boat for drift diving as well as anchor or mooring diving; safe entry and exit skills; how to secure gear and when and where to set it up; boat diving etiquette; how to locate basic boat safety equipment.
Coral Reef Conservation Specialty
As a scuba diver you recognize that the health of aquatic ecosystems is often what makes a good dive. Become aware of the fragility of coral reefs and how you can help preserve them. The AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course is designed to inform you about the world’s coral reefs. You’ll learn: the vital role coral reefs play in the marine environment; the current state of the world’s coral reefs and how you can help; about the Project AWARE Foundation ; how coral reefs function; why they are so important; why many reefs are in serious trouble.
Deep Diving
There’s something exciting and mysterious about the deep! The water is bluer. The fish are bigger. The reef topography is completely different. Although exhilarating, deep diving does require some special considerations. In this course you’ll learn: how to handle the descents, ascents, stops and limitations that increased depth imposes; how to deal with nitrogen narcosis sometimes called the “rapture of the deep”; techniques for diving in the deeper range of 60-130 feet; deep diving equipment considerations; experience in planning, organizing and making at least four deep dives.
Drift Diving
Go with the flow and learn to drift dive today! South Florida is the perfect place to take a drift diving course because the warm waters of the Gulfstream allow you to easily drift through our entire reef and wreck system. The PADI Drift Diver Specialty course shows you how to enjoy ocean currents and effortless diving adventures. You’ll learn: planning, organization procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of drift diving; an introduction to drift diving equipment — floats, lines, reels; buoyancy-control, navigation and communication for drift diving; site selection and overview of aquatic currents – causes and effects; techniques for staying close to a buddy or together as a group.
Dry Suit Diving
Do you get easily chilled underwater? Do you pray for warmth? Then dive dry! Dry suits let you dive more challenging dive sites, and extend your dive season. You’ll learn: the necessary knowledge and skills to safely don, dive with, doff and store a dry-suit; dry suit buoyancy control skills; dry suit maintenance, storage and basic repair; undergarment options.
Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver
Do you find yourself wanting extra bottom time, but your dive computer or tables just won’t give it to you? With enriched air (nitrox), you can potentially extend your bottom time, shorten your surface interval, and increase your safety margin. With most of our dive sites between 45′ and 130′, South Florida is the perfect place to dive Nitrox! In this course, you’ll learn: techniques for getting more dive time by using enriched air nitrox; enriched air scuba diving equipment considerations; enriched air considerations, including managing oxygen exposure, analyzing your scuba tank and how to set your dive computer.
Equipment Specialist
Don’t miss a dive due to a scuba gear issue. Be prepared for every day scuba equipment maintenance, care and adjustments, and learn how to protect your investment as a PADI Equipment Specialist. You’ll learn: the theory, principles and operation of scuba diving equipment; routine, recommended care and maintenance procedures, and equipment storage; how to overcome common problems with equipment and recommended professional maintenance procedures including a demonstration of repair procedures; gain simple suggestions for comfortable equipment configurations and an introduction to new gear.
Night Diving
See your favorite dive sites from a whole new perspective and discover new creatures only active after dark…take a deep breathe and step into the underwater night! In this course you’ll learn: night dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and potential problems; how to control your buoyancy at night; considerations for entries, exits and underwater navigation at night; night diving equipment considerations; nocturnal aquatic life such as sleeping fish and foraging lobsters.
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Buoyancy can be a tricky thing. The PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course refines your basic skills and helps you master the highest performance levels in buoyancy so you can glide effortlessly through the water, gently interact with your surroundings, use less air and ascend, descend or hover, almost as if by thought. You’ll learn: how to trim your scuba gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water; how to precisely determine and trim your weight; how to streamline yourself and your equipment; how to hover effortlessly in both a vertical position and a horizontal position.
Search and Recovery
Ever dropped something in the water? The PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course will teach you effective ways to find objects underwater and bring them to the surface. You’ll learn: search and recovery dive planning, organization procedures, and how to deal with potential problems; how to locate large and small objects using search patterns; how to use a lift bag and other recovery methods; search techniques.
Underwater Naturalist
Ever wonder why some creatures behave the way they do or what role they play in their environment? Sign up for the Underwater Naturalist course and learn not just to identify the creatures you see, but how these aquatic species interact with each other and their environment. You’ll learn: the major aquatic life groupings, interactions and factual information to counteract any negative myths; the role of aquatic plants, food chains and predator prey relationships; how to interact responsibly with aquatic life; the underwater naturalist’s view of organisms and their roles in the environment.
Underwater Navigation
Feeling lost underwater can add stress to any dive. Relieve the stress and become the diver everyone wants to follow! In this course you’ll learn: to use a compass to navigate; to use natural navigation indicators such as ripples in the sand, reef formations and depth; dive site relocation; how to estimate distance underwater; navigation patterns; underwater map making.
Underwater Photography
With the rise of digital, underwater photography remains one of the most popular diving specialties. Learning on your own can be extremely frustrating…Padi’s photography class makes it easier and more fun than ever! There are actually two PADI underwater photography courses: The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course quickly teaches you how to work with modern digital equipment, whether you use a point-and-shoot camera or a more sophisticated set-up; The PADI Underwater Photographer course is a more traditional photography course designed for conventional film equipment. In either course, you’ll learn: how to choose the right underwater camera system for you; the PADI SEA method for getting great shots quickly; the three primary principles for good underwater photos.
Underwater Videography
Other than taking someone diving, video is the only one way to show someone the sounds, motion and dynamics of the underwater world, and with modern equipment, shooting underwater video has never been easier! The PADI Underwater Videographer Specialty course teaches you the proper techniques to create videos that are interesting, entertaining and worth watching again and again. You’ll learn: how to maintain and care for your underwater video equipment; videography fundamentals, such as exposure, focus, shot types, moves, story line, and shot sequencing; the post-dive editing process where you take your raw footage and create an underwater masterpiece.
Wreck Diving
Whether sunk on purpose as an artificial reef or the result of mishap, South Florida is home to dozens of fascinating wrecks. Usually teeming with aquatic life, most divers find wrecks nearly irresistible…but wrecks can be dangerous places. The PADI Wreck Diver course teaches you the ins and outs of rewarding, responsible wreck diving. You’ll learn: techniques for exploring shipwrecks and how to avoid common hazards; how to research and learn the background of your favorite wrecks; wreck diving equipment considerations; considerations and techniques for penetrating intact wrecks; experience in planning and organizing at least four wreck dives.
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Pura Vida Divers is licensed by Florida’s Commission for Independent Education as a Professional Scuba Training Agency. Obtaining this license is rigorous and promotes a commitment to customer satisfaction above all else.
