PADI Underwater Navigation

The Course

Have you and your buddy ever had to abandon a dive because you were lost? Being able to navigate underwater effectively benefits divers in every aspect of the dive from reducing confusion, reducing physical effort, conserving air to making sure that you don’t miss that special feature you are searching for. The PADI Underwater Navigation specialty helps divers to utilise natural references, transects of landmarks and also compass patterns for effective navigation.

Sign up for the course today and immerse yourself in navigating a predetermined course, measuring distance with elapsed time and fin kicks and practice using underwater objects to guide you back to your starting point! One of the most fun specialty courses, never get lost again!

Course Content

The course consists of a knowledge development session & 3 Open water dives which will cover:

Planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems & hazards of underwater navigation
Methods of estimating distances underwater
Natural navigation techniques
Using underwater navigation patterns
Dive site relocation techniques
Compass navigation techniques

Knowledge Development

Knowledge development is based on a self-study method, allowing you to study in your own time, at your own pace. Home study is backed up by an academic session with a PADI Instructor, to ensure full understanding of navigational theory.

Open Water Dives

Students must complete 3 Open Water dives to certify as a PADI Underwater Navigator. During these dives you will cover distance estimation using both time & kick cycle techniques, correct compass usage and natural/compass navigation to navigate predetermined courses.

Course Prerequisites

Students must be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, PADI Junior Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Minimum age is 12.

All students must fill in a PADI Medical Questionnaire prior to participation.