NAUI Specialty Diver Courses



Policies Applying to Specialty Diver Courses

OVERVIEW

NAUI Specialty Diver Courses are either introductions to or are more detailed treatments of the respective areas of specialized diving. Accordingly, some specialty courses are designed to provide more detailed training and result in additional qualifications. In these instances the qualifications are described in the respective specialty course standard. They provide divers the opportunity to enjoy organized diving which yields experience and documents training in specialized diving activities.

Instructors with expertise in specific areas can design their own specialty course with an Instructor-Specified program. Instructors who wish to present expanded specialty courses that produce divers with a finished degree of competence in a specific area can seek authorization for a specifically designated “Master or Full...” Instructor-Specified program.

QUALIFICATION OF GRADUATES

Graduates of a specialty course are considered competent to participate in the respective specialty activities without supervision, provided the activities engaged in and the areas dived approximate those in which the diver was trained.

GENERAL PREREQUISITES

SKILL AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Policies Applying to all NAUI Programs

GENERAL

FORMS, RECORDS AND REPORTS

OPEN WATER DIVES

COURSE TITLE COURSE
(EST. HOURS)
MIN AGE
(YRS)
MIN CERT MIN DIVES
Does not include screening dive, if required
Night Diver

12

15/12 Jr.

Scuba*

2
Underwater Environment

12

15/12 Jr.

Scuba*

2
Underwater Photographer

12

15/12 Jr.

Scuba

2
Search & Recovery

24

15

Scuba

2
Hunter & Collector

12

15

Scuba*

2
Cavern Diver**

12 

18

Scuba

4+
Cave Diver**

24

18

Cavern Diver

4+
Wreck Diver (External Survey)

12

18

Advanced

2
Wreck Diver (Penetration)

24

18

Wreck Diver (External Survey)

3
Ice Diver

12

18

Advanced

3
Deep Diver

12

18

Advanced

2
EANx Diver

12

15

None / Scuba

2
Training Assistant

20

18

Advanced & Rescue

3
Scuba Rescue Diver

12

15

Scuba

3
Advanced Scuba Rescue Diver

20

17

Advanced +

5

* May be taught as skin diving specialties. Minimum prerequisite certification shall be NAUI Skin Diver.

** NAUI recognizes other organizations’ training standards. Those presented here are only for reference.


Entry Scuba Experience (ESE) / Passport Diver Program (PDP)

OVERVIEW

This is an introductory, non-certification program suitable for two purposes:

The instructor may elect to offer all or any portion of the program. Similarly, the participant may elect to take all or any portion of the program as offered. At any point, the program may be converted to the Scuba Diver Course. Within time limits, credit for program training may be given persons who complete it and subsequently enroll in a NAUI Scuba Diver Course.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Night Diver


OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge needed to minimize the risks of diving at night. (May be for skin or scuba divers.)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Coverage is to include planning and preparation, night diving equipment, procedures, problems, hazards, navigation and buddy system techniques.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Underwater Environment

OVERVIEW

This course is to expose the diver to the physical and biological aspects of the diving environment with emphasis on the local area. This course will draw much of the subject material from related sciences, e.g., oceanography, limnology, geology, biology and ecology. The use of movies, slides and handouts are an important part of this course. Trips to aquariums and oceanariums will be most helpful. Effort should be made to expose the student divers to several diving environments, e.g., lake vs. ocean, rocky reef vs. sand beach. (May be for skin or scuba divers.)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Subjects to be covered are as follows:

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Underwater Hunter and Collector

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge necessary to spearfish, take game and collect specimens while minimizing the diving risks of such activities. (May be for skin or scuba divers.)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Coverage is to include skin diving techniques, hazards and cautions, safety concerns, equipment, conservation, fishing laws and regulations, sportsmanship, specific techniques, utilizing the catch, selecting specimens, preservation, shell collecting, aquaria and diving locations. Conservation material from the Underwater Environment course is also to be included.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Search and Recovery Diver

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge to do those underwater tasks commonly needed by the experienced recreational diver and to minimize the risks of such tasks.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Specific subject areas to be covered are as follows:

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Underwater Photographer

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge to enjoy underwater photography while minimizing the risks of such activities. This is a course of underwater photography techniques, not lab techniques.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Underwater Archeologist

OVERVIEW

This course introduces students to basic information and skills that are used in underwater archaeological interpretation of wreck and other sites, as well as mapping, sketching, and researching. Qualified divers are essential to collect and record archaeological data on submerged cultural resources and often perform invaluable volunteer assistance to accredited Archaeologists by assisting during field work. You will obtain specific skills and knowledge that are helpful for wreck diving activities, and provide increased enjoyment when visiting submerged cultural resources.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Underwater Ecologist

OVERVIEW

For years, divers have been becoming more environmentally aware of their surroundings, both as sight-seers and underwater photographers. There is a tremendous diversity of people interested in scuba diving and the ecology of two major oceanic environments, the Kelp Forests and the Coral Reefs. As we promote sound environmental diving techniques to help protect the planet's ecosystems, we must also learn how to better interface with the delicate kelp and coral environments. Through the NAUI Underwater Ecologist courses, you will learn more about our favorite diving environments.

Underwater Ecologist: Kelp Forest

The NAUI Underwater Ecologist: Kelp Forest specialty course focuses on the complex and productive ecosystem bordering much of the west coast of North America, from Alaska to Baja California. Kelp forests are also found in other cooler coastal waters of South America, Tasmania, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and many other locations. This course examines the kelp forests, their occupants such as mollusks, crustaceans, fish and marine mammals.

Underwater Ecologist: Coral Reef

Coral reefs are found in three major biogeographic regions of the world. The tropical western Atlantic (Caribbean), the Read Sea, and the Indo-Pacific region. Coral colonies are composed of thousands of tiny polyps, each with its own protective skeleton. The NAUI Underwater Ecologist: Coral Reef specialty course focuses on the vertebrates and invertebrates of the complex living reef. This course examines coral zonation, seagrass beds, lagoons, mangroves, and the common reef algae, invertebrates and reef fishes.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Scuba Rescue Diver

OVERVIEW

This course trains divers in the knowledge and skills needed to manage risks and effectively handle limited in-water problems and diving emergencies. Included are: assists, transports, surface rescues and rescues from depth involving both boat and shore based skin and scuba divers. The course meets the prerequisite rescue training for Skin Diving Instructor, NAUI Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, and Instructor certifications. Note: Adult CPR training (approximately four hours) meets the requirement for Scuba Rescue Diver certification. However, additional CPR training that includes two person CPR and the use of rescue breathing barrier devices, e.g. pocket mask®, face shield, is required to meet the requirements for NAUI leadership certification.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING

COURSE PREREQUISITES


Advanced Scuba Rescue Diver

OVERVIEW

This is a certification course for certified scuba divers who desire to assume greater rescue capabilities during diving activities. The training emphasizes accident supervision and management with practical applications in open water. This course is designed specifically to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to:

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

For a period of three years after the course, graduates are considered competent to perform assists and rescues in aquatic situations so long as the situation approximates one for which they have been trained. After renewal of certification, the individual will again be considered competent.

RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATION

For renewal of certification, an individual with current First Aid and CPR certifications must correctly demonstrate to an active-status NAUI Instructor the open water skills contained within these standards.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Training Assistant

OVERVIEW

This course is to qualify the diver in the skills and knowledge necessary to perform as a training assistant during diver training sessions. The key objective is to train divers to assist others during training activities overseen by an active-status NAUI Instructor. This course is to enhance the diver’s general skills and abilities and is not a substitute for specific NAUI courses which create NAUI leadership members. Although this course results in certification as a Training Assistant it does not confer any NAUI Leadership certification nor does it qualify the graduate to apply for or receive the benefits of NAUI membership. Consequently, this certification does not allow the graduate to be counted toward student instructor ratios.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

Certified training assistants are qualified to perform the tasks of:

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

 


Wreck Diver (External Survey)

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge needed to gain experience and minimize risks in wreck diving. Wreck diving (external survey) is defined as diving around a sunken vessel, aircraft or debris field.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Coverage is to include safety, hazards and cautions, special risks of overhead environments, entanglement, limited visibility, deep diving, equipment (additions and modifications), location of wrecks, sources of information, search methods, underwater navigation, legal aspects, artifacts, treasure, salvage, archaeology and appropriate material from other specialty courses. If altitude diving is involved, altitude procedures and flying after diving shall be covered.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Wreck Diver (Penetration)

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the skills and knowledge needed to gain experience and minimize risks in wreck diving. Wreck diving (penetration) is defined as diving inside a sunken vessel, aircraft or similar structure.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Coverage is to include safety, hazards and cautions, special risks of overhead environments, gas management, entanglement, limited visibility, deep diving, equipment (additions and modifications), location of wrecks, sources of information, search methods, underwater navigation, legal aspects, artifacts, treasure, salvage, archaeology and appropriate material from other specialty courses. If altitude diving is involved, altitude procedures and flying after diving shall be covered.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Dry Suit Diver

OVERVIEW

Dry suit diving has become increasingly popular in recent years. While dry suits were once used almost exclusively for situations such as ice diving or deep wreck diving, many sport divers are now using dry suits regularly for every day sport dives all over the world. Material technology, valve design, and zipper reliability have all improved to a point where dry suits deliver greater value per dollar for cold and temperate water diving. This course is to provide the diver with a basic understanding of the knowledge and skills needed to minimize risks and gain experience in dry suit diving. It will train scuba divers to properly use and maintain dry suits. By learning proper dry suit use and maintenance, you will extend your opportunities for diving to year-round.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Ice Diver

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with a basic understanding of the knowledge and skills needed to minimize risks and gain experience in ice diving. Ice diving is defined as a penetration under solid ice.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Coverage is to include fresh water diving, purpose, planning, organization, operation, procedures, problems, special risks of overhead environments, gas management, personnel, visibility, equipment (additions and modifications), first aid for hypothermia and frostbite, techniques, surface support, communications, hazards and cautions, lost diver, emergency procedures, plus search and rescue and limited visibility diving and if appropriate, altitude diving procedures.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Deep Diver

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the knowledge and skills to plan and make deep dives while minimizing risks and avoiding the need for stage decompression. Deep diving is defined as dives made between 60 (18 m) and 130 feet (40 m). Training dives are not to be conducted beyond 130 feet (40 m).

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Coverage is to include purpose, problems, hazards, planning, preparation, equipment (additions and modifications), air supplies, personnel, techniques, gas management, emergency procedures (including location and transportation to a hyperbaric chamber) and depth limits for recreational diving. Decompression procedures are to include nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness (definition, cause, symptoms, signs, first aid and prevention) history of decompression, concepts, use of dive computers, definition of terms, problems, principles and techniques. Complete coverage of Repetitive Dive Tables, work sheets, problem solutions, exceptions and dive planning are also to be included. Altitude diving, flying after diving and hyperbaric chamber access and operation shall be included, as well as other short- and long-term deep diving hazards.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Cavern Diver

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with the fundamental skills and knowledge for cavern diving, and describes the dangers involved with cave diving. The course is to conform to the standards of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society and/or the National Association for Cave Diving or other NAUI recognized training standard.

WHO MAY TEACH

In order to be authorized to teach this course NAUI Instructors must qualify as instructors according to the standards of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society and/or the National Association for Cave Diving or other NAUI recognized organization with equivalent standards, that trains and qualifies instructors to teach in overhead environments.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Cave Diver

OVERVIEW

This course extends the material presented in the Cavern Diving Course, and is to provide the diver with a basic understanding of the knowledge and skills required to minimize risks and gain experience in cave diving. The course is to conform to the standards of the National Speleological Society and/or the National Association for Cave Diving or other NAUI recognized training standard.

WHO MAY TEACH

In order to be authorized to teach this course NAUI Instructors must qualify as instructors according to the standards of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society and/or the National Association for Cave Diving or other NAUI recognized organization with equivalent standards, that trains and qualifies instructors to teach in over-head environments.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) Diver

OVERVIEW

This is course is to provide the diver with the information necessary to utilize EANx as a breathing medium. The course may be taught as a stand-alone specialty course to certified divers or the knowledge and skills training may be integrated into the NAUI Scuba Diver course.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are considered competent to utilize EANx in open water diving activities without direct supervision, provided the diving activities and the areas dived approximate those of training.

COURSE POLICIES

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

At least two dives are to made using EANx, one of which is to be a repetitive dive. The student is to analyze his or her own breathing mixture and to plan and safely execute each dive.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

The following topics are to be covered: history of nitrox as a breathing gas; Dalton’s law of partial pressures; physiology of oxygen and nitrogen; depth limits, advantages, disadvantages and risks of nitrox; oxygen toxicity; hazards and precautions of handling oxygen; the concept of Equivalent Air Depth; use of EANx with Standard Air Dive Tables; common gas mixing procedures; and gas analyzing procedures.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE


More...

Although theses are some of the more popular NAUI Specialty and Recognition Training courses, we also offer several Technical Diver courses, as well as a number of other recognition and specialty courses. These courses are created by the individual instructors and approved by NAUI Worldwide's Training Department. Please check with your local NAUI Affiliated Dive Centers and NAUI Instructors to determine what they offer.

Some of these include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Recreational Hookah Diver
  • Advanced Skindiver
  • Equipment Repair & Maintenance
  • Computer Assisted Diving
  • Industrial Orientation
  • River Diver
  • Underwater Modeling
  • Diving Accident Assessment
  • Helicopter Emergency Extraction Device
  • Field Neurological Exam
  • Manatee Experience
  • Stingray Experience
  • Oxygen Administration
  • Public Safety Diver
  • Rapid Deployment Search & Recovery
  • Search and Rescue/Recovery
  • High Altitude Diver
  • Blackwater Rescue
  • Kayak Diver
  • Fish Identification
  • Boat Diver
  • Marine Naturalist
  • Shark Ecology