SDI Underwater Navigation

 


Divers are intensely fascinated by navigation… It allows them to make their way back to a special spot discovered on an earlier dive. They use the tricks and techniques of navigation to find an ideal exit point at the end of a dive without the need for an uncomfortable surface swim.Your SDI Underwater Navigation Specialty course will help you overcome the obstacles inherent to finding your way underwater. You will learn how easy and simple navigation can be and how it will help you both above and below the surface. During this course, you will review natural aids such as sand ripples or reef formations, which can accurately predict your route. Tools such as mechanical or digital compasses are a surprising challenge to the novice but we will help you unravel the challenge and teach the practical skills and techniques you’ll need to use them effectively.

This course is designed to give students a greater understanding and experience on how to properly navigate underwater using both natural and compass navigation.

 

Who this course is for:

  • The certified diver looking for a higher sense of direction and orientation while scuba diving
 

Course Duration:

Courses should not be treated as a race or something that can be skipped through quickly. Please remember training does not guarantee certification, we need to ensure you fully understand the training and will be a safe diver on certification. We follow a loved one clause that when certified we would be happy you could safely dive with one of our loved ones.

  • The e-learning and academic portion of this course should be completed before starting in water training and exercises. The duration of this piece is dependant on your availability. During this time our instructors are on hand to assist with questions or any element you may struggle with.
  • For many courses the swimming pool or confined water sessions give us time to practice and carry out skills in a controlled environment. We do not fix specific number of pool sessions as it is dependant on your comfort level with skills before moving to open water.
  • The open water element is again determined more by time in water rather than number of dives. We prefer longer dives building experience rather than quick short 20 minute 'dips'.
We will strive to meet your timelines and requirements where possible and will always be dependant on student availability to attend sessions.

 

Course prerequisites & forms:

  • SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
  • Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent 
Forms:

Medical Form
Liability Release 

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Underwater Navigation Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
    • The aquatic environment
      • Vision
      • Light
      • Sound
      • Tides
      • Currents
      • Waves
      • Surge
    • Natural navigation
      • Bottom contours
      • Depth
      • Amount of light
      • Surge
      • Currents
      • Underwater objects
    • Compass
      • Types
      • Analog
      • Digital
      • Features
    • Compass use
    • Estimating distance underwater
    • Kick cycles
    • Time
      Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:
        • Equipment set up
        • Dive planning
        • Predive checks
        • Orientation
        • Navigation
        • Skills are generally done with more success if practiced on the surface from shore. Using the shore or descent line as a starting/reference point makes keeping track of students easier
        • Practice compass use on the surface: out and back, in addition to square and triangle patterns
        • Perform square pattern on the bottom
        • Perform triangle pattern on the bottom
        • Buddy contact
        • Equipment disassembly
        • Log all dives
         

        What’s in it for you?

        Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:

          • The diving activities approximate those of training
          • The areas of activities approximate those of training
          • Environmental conditions approximate those of training
          *Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in underwater navigation diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.
            Also, the SDI Underwater Navigation Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.
             

            How to take this course?

            • Availability to start every week. 
            • Get in touch with us by phone, whatsapp, facebook or e-mail
            • You can also add to shopping cart and pay online using ideal, credit card or paypal.

            Price & Value:

            SDI Underwater Navigation Diver - €180,00

            *Fully inclusive of all e-learning, equipment required for the course, training and certification on successful completion.

            We focus on and are proud of the skill level, knowledge, decision making, experience and readiness of divers to dive at levels which they have been trained. We want to invest in you, your safety and ability to dive, then come home with amazing stories.

            Our courses are priced as such and we do not hide additional costs. We are are very flexible for training, especially in terms of dates or location as we know we all have busy lives and work commitments. However if for reasons outside of weather, illness or other such emergencies a course/training can not be completed in the standard training schedule we will charge for extra days at €150,00 per day.