Available through IANTD, PADI, or SDI

These courses are not designed to make you an expert in each area. Instead, the purpose of these courses is to introduce you to different types of diving. In some cases (cavern) you get a little more than an introduction. You get a pass to dive caverns safely. All of these courses are designed to be a foundation for further learning. All courses include some “classroom” time before and after dives, but the courses that specifically state classroom sessions must have a separate time scheduled for that.

Enrollment in a course does not mean you will get a specialty card. You must show proficiency in the skills and information in order to earn the card. This is especially true with courses such as Cavern, Wreck, Deep, Search & Rescue, Search & Recovery, and Nitrox.

IANTD, PADI, and SDI Specialty courses currently being offered are:

Advanced Buoyancy Control

2 dives
This course is designed to increase the Open Water Diver’s understanding of the factors that influence their buoyancy and to train the diver in using those means available to him or her as methods for controlling their buoyancy. This is best taken in conjunction with the Advanced Open Water course so we can work with you on your buoyancy over several dives.

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Altitude Diver

2 dives
Learn how to safely dive at elevations above sea level. It’s more than just working the tables or following your computer. There are special procedures necessary when diving at an altitude greater than 1000 feet above sea level. You will review this information, receive a conversion table, and do 2 dives. The skills are conducted before and after the dives, so during the dives we work with you on improving your buoyancy. Because we’ve just relocated to Florida, we have to find a place to conduct the Altitude training. We’ve heard there are places in Alabama. Until we find a site and dive it, this course cannot be offered.

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A.W.A.R.E. Fish ID

2 dives
We’ve all seen that fish underwater that we just couldn’t identify. We looked through the slates and books, but no luck. This course will teach you some easy techniques for classifying and identifying marine life. You’ll still have to reference your books, but with the information in this course, it will take you a matter of minutes rather than hours to find the fish you saw on your last dive.

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Cavern Diver

4 dives over 2 days and a classroom session
This is a great course for anyone interested in improving their diving skills. We will spend a few hours of the first day in the classroom learning about cave systems, cave conservation, landowner relations, and more. After that, we’ll take it outside to practice reel work. You’ll learn how to do tie-offs, wraps, and follow the line with no visual reference. Finally, we’ll go diving and apply everything you’ve learned underwater. You will need a long hose configuration for this course. Nitrox certification recommended. You will also need to read A Guide to Responsible Caving, Published by the National Speleological Society. This is required reading that you will be tested on. This course will prepare you for basic cavern dives.

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Deep Diver

4 dives over 2 days
Part of the 2 days will be spent going over dive theory, SAC rates, RMV, Rock Bottom, dive planning, and more. If you don’t know what these terms mean, then this is the course for you! We’ll conduct 4 dives, one of which will be deeper than 100 feet. Nitrox certification and use preferred for this course.

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Digital Underwater Photographer

2 dives and a classroom session
Just bought a digital camera and underwater housing, but your photographs aren’t coming out that great? Are all of your shots coming out green or blue? Are there a lot of spots on your photos? Are your macro shots out of focus? Is your photo composition lacking? It’s difficult enough taking photos on land. Add water to that and it can be nearly impossible! This course will teach you techniques on how to reduce backscatter, get better colors, and edit your photos after the dives. Classroom session is held after the dives to review methods of editing your photos. Rental camera available during the course.

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Dive Propulsion Vehicle (scooter) Diver

2 dives
We believe in the dive slow philosophy. If you’re moving along, you’re going to miss a lot. So why teach this course? Well, sometimes the dive site is quite a surface swim. With a DPV you can eliminate that surface swim with a quick scooter run. Once you get to your site, clip the DPV off to your buoy or a D-ring and enjoy your dive. There are certain techniques you need to be familiar with in DPV use, including maintaining your buoyancy and tandem riding.

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Drift Diver

2 dives
Learn how to dive with a moving boat safely. You’ll learn different entry techniques and how to swim while pulling a dive flag along with you.

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Drysuit Diver

1 confined water session and 2 dives
Drysuits add another dimension to diving and buoyancy. Now, not only do you have an air bladder on your back, but you have one around your body. This is a course you definitely need to have if you’re going to dive in a drysuit. Learn how to avoid rapid ascents and floaty feet. Don’t have a drysuit, but would like to take the course so you can rent one? We’ll refer you to a shop where you can rent a drysuit for the course for only $30. Once you complete this course, you’ll have the card that many shops require before they rent out dry suits. Don’t be cold another dive!

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Enriched Air Nitrox Diver

no dives required, classroom session only
No dives required, but we will certainly do dives with you. We can combine this with any of the courses we offer. You will learn how to dive nitrox safely. We’ll teach you the special considerations, including the limited depths when diving an enriched mix. After learning the theory, you will be analyzing a tank filled with enriched air nitrox.

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Equipment Specialty

no dives required, classroom session only
This course is designed to give a more in depth look at how dive equipment works. It will cover general maintenance and repair of types of exposure suits, BCDs, regulators, and other dive gear. We will also take a regulator apart and show you the internal parts and how it works.

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Low Visibility Diver

2 dives
This course is designed to introduce the Open Water Diver to the procedures, techniques, and potential hazards associated with diving in limited visibility. By becoming familiar with techniques such as navigation, buddy system procedures and communications, and buoyancy control, the diver will have the benefit of more enjoyable dives in limited visibility.

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Multilevel or Computer Diver

2 dives
Learn how to use the Wheel and plan multilevel dives so you can increase your NDL. It doesn’t make sense to have to cut your dive short just because the tables only allow for one depth. You may be able to get the most out of your bottom time if you’re diving a computer, but how do you plan those dives. Learn how with us.

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Night Diver

3 dives over 2 nights
Learn the special techniques necessary to dive safely at night. It’s not just a matter of getting in the water with a dive light. There are special preparations, different ways of communication, and different ways of navigating.

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Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver

2 dives
This course won’t make your buoyancy perfect, but it will give you the foundation you need to get there. Best when taken with AOW or another specialty course. This allows us to work on your buoyancy with you over several dives.

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Project AWARE

no dives required, classroom session only
This course familiarizes divers and non-divers with the plight of worldwide aquatic ecosystems and describes what can be done to help protect them.

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Project AWARE – Coral Reef Conservations

no dives required, classroom session only
This course familiarizes divers and non-divers with the plight of worldwide aquatic ecosystems with a focus on coral reefs and describes what can be done to help protect them.

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Search & Recovery or Salvage Diver

4 dives over 2 days
Ever lose something underwater? Ever find something that you wanted to recover, but didn’t know how? Come learn about different underwater search patterns and which are most effective when. Then learn how to recover items you find. You’ll learn how to deploy lift bags safely (yes, lift bags can be very dangerous). Don’t miss out on this fun course. Lift bags provided.

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Underwater Naturalist

2 dives
It’s a whole other world down there. The fish aren’t just swimming around aimlessly. The coral aren’t just glued to the bottom. All of these animals are interacting with each other. Come learn about marine life behavior and what to look for during your dives.

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Underwater Navigator

3 dives
Have you ever gotten lost during a dive? Have you ever wondered how your instructor or Divemaster always find their way back to the buoy or boat as if they were following a path? Come learn and practice the techniques used by divers to avoid getting lost underwater, even in limited visibility. We won’t guarantee that you’ll never get lost again, but at least you’ll know you’re lost sooner!

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Underwater Videography

3 dives and a classroom session
Have a video camera and looking to buy an underwater housing for it. Want to learn how to shoot video underwater that looks good while maintaining safe diving practices while on videography dives. You’ll learn videography fundamentals, such as exposure, focus, shot types, moves, story line and shot sequencing. During a classroom session after the dives, we’ll show you some basic editing techniques you can do on your computer after you get the footage.

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Wreck Diver

4 dives over 2 days and a classroom session
Another great course. We’ll spend the day before the first dives reviewing the theory of wreck diving and learning how to tie off reels, do wraps, and follow the line without a visual reference. We’ll then head out to a couple of wrecks in the gulf and do some dives. We’ll survey the wrecks, do in water reel work, and penetrate during the last dive. Long hose configuration required. Nitrox certification required.

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See the Training Fees page for our fees.