PADI certified Open Water divers and beyond may choose to continue learning by obtaining specialty skill certifications depending on their interests.
And remember that if you accumulate 5 different PADI specialty ratings you can become a Master Scuba Diver, the highest non-professional diver rating worldwide.
Bohol Divers Club offers all of the following specialty courses:
Minimum age: 15 years old
Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisites: PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization
Description:
Got back problems? Have trim issues? Need more air? Want to travel light? Looking for some new challenges?
Back mounted scuba cylinders are not a requirement for exploring the underwater world.
Many scuba divers are now enjoying the flexibility of mounting cylinders on their sides. Along with learning about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration, during one confined water and three open water dives you’ll learn how to:
– Properly assemble and configure sidemount scuba diving equipment.
– Trim your weight system and sidemount gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water.
– Manage gas by switching second stages as planned, when wearing two cylinders.
– Respond correctly to potential problems when sidemount diving.
Minimum age: 15 years old
Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisites: PADI Adventure Diver (with Deep & Underwater Navigation dives) or above
Description:
There’s something exciting and mysterious about exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. The deep specialty course will allow you to dive to a maximum depth of 40 meters with confidence where you maybe increase your chance of a shark encounter or the Pygmy seahorse on a fan deeper down the wall!
Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. The course involves four deep dives with your instructor, where you’ll go over:
– Specialized deep diving equipment.
– Deep dive planning, buddy contact procedures and buoyancy control.
– Managing your gas supply, dealing with gas narcosis and safety considerations.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisites: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization with minimum 100 logged dives
Description:
Although most dives are made with a buddy, with the right training experience and preparation it is possible to dive alone safely.
During the PADI Self reliant Diver Course you will learn about potential risks of diving alone, the necessary precautions and equipment to take with you to manage these risks and how to plan your dives properly.
During the three open water dives you’ll need to perform:
– Calculate your SAC rate (Surface Air Consumption).
– Demonstrate skills like hover, switch to redundant air supply system, navigation, deploy a lift bag or DSMB, etc.
– Make a dive plan and execute it properly.
Minimum age: 12 years old
Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisites: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver status or qualifying certification from another training organization
Description:
Accidents happen, it is not uncommon for objects small and large to fall overboard from boats and docks.
If you would like to learn how to safely put together a plan to retrieve these objects then the PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is for you. During the course you will work with your instructor gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search. In four open water dives you’ll practice:
– Different types of search patterns using your compass and natural navigation.
– Locating small and large objects using various search patterns.
– Using a lift bag to recover large or heavy objects, plus other recovery methods.
– Planning a search operation based on facts gathered about a lost object prior to the dive.
Minimum age: 15 years old
Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisites: PADI Adventure Diver certification or higher
Description
Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks including, ships, airplanes or other structures are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spoting something others may have missed. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving practices.
During 4 dives you will go over the planning, organizing, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of Wreck diving. The preparation and use of lights, air supplies, special equipment and penetration lines and reels. Limited visibility diving and emergency procedures.
Minimum age: 10 years old
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver
Description
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. The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly, whether you use a point-and-shoot camera or a sophisticated dSLR like the pros.
Because underwater photography is also popular with snorkelers, there is an option for avid snorkelers and skin divers to complete the course.
During 2 dives you will learn how to:
– Choose the right underwater camera system for you.
– Use the PADI SEA (Shoot, Examine, Adjust) method for getting great shots quickly.
Principles for good composition of underwater images.
Practical techniques to take great photos with your digital camera.
Minimum age: 12 years old
Duration: 1/2 Day
Prerequisites: PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization
Description:
Fed up with leaving the bottom early?
A great way to spend longer time in some of our best dive sites- imagine 40 minutes at Balicasag Island with schools of jacks! During the course you will learn about the advantages and hazards of using nitrox, these clearly explained using manual and video, then reviewed with your instructor before knowledge is tested in a multiple choice exam.
This speciality includes 1 open water dive to learn how to analyse, tag your tank and experience the difference on the maximum bottom time while diving with Nitrox
Minimum age: None
Duration: 1/2 Day
Prerequisites: Anyone who is interested in using emergency oxygen
Description:
Knowing how and when to use emergency oxygen is a great skill to have and means you’re ready to help others should the need arise. Becoming a PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider prepares you to safely and confidently recognize scuba diving illnesses treatable with emergency oxygen, you are then able to offer aid.
During the course you will learn about:
– different types of emergency oxygen equipment and safety considerations when using oxygen.
– Assembling and disassembling emergency oxygen equipment.
– Deploying a non-rebreather mask and a demand inhalator valve on a breathing diver.
– Using a pocket mask on a nonbreathing diver.
Minimum age: 10 years old
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization
Description:
Excellent buoyancy control is without doubt the most important skill to master as a diver. With practice and guidance you can improve the buoyancy skills learned as a new diver and elevate them to the next level. You will more easily observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. During two open water dives, you’ll learn how to:
– Determine the exact weight you need, so you’re not too light or too heavy.
– Trim your weight system and scuba gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water.
– Streamline to save energy, use air more efficiently and move more smoothly through the water.
– Hover effortlessly in any position – vertical or horizontal.
Minimum age: 12 years old
Duration: 3 nights
Prerequisites: PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization
Description:
Although you’ve been scuba diving at a site many times before, at night it becomes a whole new world and you can 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 PADI Night Diver Specialty course. During three night dives, you’ll practice:
– Light handling and communication techniques.
– Entering, exiting and navigating in the dark
– How to manage equipment issues at night
– Identifying how plants and animals differ or change behavior at night.
