Specialities

Kids Sea Camp is the home of specialties for divers 

Welcome to the home of fun and adventure diving specialties. You can earn or learn almost any diving specialties PADI offers at a Kids Sea Camp. We love making our divers better and safer underwater, and diving specialties are a fun way to develop diving skills with these specialties.

Margo Peyton, our fearless leader and master dive instructor, loves teaching any PADI course because she knows it makes all divers better divers. Knowledge is power, so the more you know underwater, the more controlled and calm a diver you will become.

Here’s a list of all the specialties we may teach on the Island.

Boat Diver: Much of the world’s best scuba diving is accessible only by boat. Whether you’ve never made a boat dive or logged dozens, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty course will benefit you because boats in various parts of the world do things differently. Scuba diving from a boat is fun and relatively easy because you usually descend directly onto your dive site.

If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver at least ten years old, you can enroll in the Boat Diver course.

What will you learn? The PADI Boat Diver course will expand your knowledge about boats from small inflatables to large liveaboards. You’ll gain experience scuba diving by completing two dives from a boat in your local area and learning:

• Boat terminology.
• Boat diving procedures and etiquette, including how to enter and exit and where to stow your gear.
• Boating safety, including how to locate safety equipment.

Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.

Deep Diver: The lure of the deep. Something is exciting and mysterious about exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. Sometimes, it’s a wreck that attracts you below 18 meters/60 feet, and on wall dives, it may be a giant fan or sponge. Whatever it is, to scuba dive with confidence at depths down to 40 meters/130 feet, you should take the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course.

If you’ve earned the PADI Adventure Diver rating or higher and are at least 15 years old, you can enroll in the Deep Diver course.

What will you learn? Your training starts by reviewing the reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your limits. During four deep dives with your instructor, 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.
• You may be able to get college credit for the Deep Diver course if you ask your KSC instructor.

Also, the first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Digital Underwater Photographer: 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.

PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers who are at least 10 years old can take the Digital Underwater Photographer course.

Because underwater photography is also popular with snorkelers, there is an option for avid snorkelers and skin divers to complete the course. Check with your PADI Dive Center or Resort if this interests you.

What will you learn?
Through hands-on training during two scuba dives and guidance from your PADI Professional, you’ll discover:

• How to choose the right underwater camera system for you.
• 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.

Get credit! The second dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Diver Propulsion Vehicle: DPVs offer a thrilling way for scuba divers to see a lot of underwater territory quickly. They scoot you through the water, allowing you to glide over reefs, buzz around a large wreck, or weave through a kelp forest. Whether making a shore or boat dive, a DPV is a great way to see more and have fun doing it.

You can enroll in the PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle course if you’re at least 12 years old and a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver or higher.

What will you learn?
The PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle course guides you in choosing the right DPV. You’ll make two dives and learn about the following:

• Maintaining your DPV.
• How to plan dives, including procedures for staying with your buddy.
• DPV-handling skills, such as making proper descents and ascents.
• Potential problems and ways to deal with them.

Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Drift Diver: The PADI Drift diver specialty course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide. It feels like flying – except that you’re underwater using scuba equipment. Drift diving can be relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. If this sounds like fun, then the Drift Diver course is for you.

If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Drift Diver specialty course.

What will you learn?
Along with drift diving techniques and procedures, you’ll:

• Receive an introduction to drift diving equipment – floats, lines, and reels.
• Get an overview of aquatic currents – causes and effects.
• Practice buoyancy control, navigation, and communication during two drift dives.
• Learn techniques for staying close to a buddy or together as a group as you float with the current.

Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Enriched Air Diver: The PADI Enriched Air Diver course is PADI’s most popular specialty scuba course. Why? Because scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives. If staying down longer and getting back in the water sooner sounds appealing, don’t hesitate to become an enriched air diver.

If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Enriched Air Diver Specialty course. Note that in some regions, the minimum age is older than 12.

What will you learn? You’ll learn why diving with air that has higher oxygen and lower nitrogen content gives you more bottom time, along with enriched air equipment considerations. During a practical session and two optional (or required) scuba dives, you’ll:

• Discuss managing oxygen exposure.
• Practice analyzing oxygen content in your scuba tank.
• Set your dive computer to dive with enriched air nitrox.

You may be able to get college credit for the PADI Enriched Air Diver course – ask your KSC instructor to learn more.

Emergency Oxygen Provider: Knowing how and when to use emergency oxygen is a great skill and means you’re ready to help others should the need arise. Becoming a PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider lets you breathe easily, knowing that you can recognize scuba diving illnesses treatable with emergency oxygen and are prepared to offer aid.

No prerequisites, age restrictions, or water sessions are required for this course – it’s open to everyone. Scuba divers, snorkelers, and anyone around divers – boat crew, lifeguards, etc. – will benefit from this training.

What will you learn? You’ll learn about dive injuries, different types of emergency oxygen equipment, and safety considerations when using oxygen. Then you’ll practice:

• 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.

Equipment Specialist: Don’t miss a dive due to minor issues with your scuba diving equipment. Whether it’s a missing O-ring, a tear in your wetsuit, or a broken fin strap, the PADI Equipment Specialist course teaches you to manage basic repairs and adjustments. You’ll also learn more about how your gear works, making you more comfortable and better prepared to take care of your investment.

You can enroll in the Equipment Specialist course if you’re at least ten years old and certified as a PADI (Junior) Scuba Diver or higher.

What will you learn? You’ll learn about routine care, maintenance procedures, and scuba equipment storage recommendations. Your instructor will show you how to overcome common equipment problems and suggest equipment configuration. You may even jump into the water to try new or unfamiliar equipment.

Multilevel Diver: In the old days, dive profiles were calculated from the surface down to a maximum depth, then back to the surface. Now, dive computers continually analyze your depth – giving you more bottom time for going shallower and maximizing your dive time. If you’d like to understand more about dive computers and learn how to use tools like the eRDPMLTM to plan multilevel dives, then the Multilevel Diver Specialty course is for you.

You can enroll in the Multilevel Diver course if you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver at least 12 years old.

What will you learn? You’ll review decompression theory as it relates to multilevel diving and dive computer models, and plan multilevel dives using the eRDPML. During the first of your two multilevel dives, you’ll plan and execute a two-level dive, and on the second dive, you’ll complete a three-level scuba dive.

Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Peak Performance Buoyancy: Excellent buoyancy control is what defines skilled scuba divers. You’ve seen them underwater. They glide effortlessly, use less air, and ascend, descend, or hover almost as if by thought. They more easily observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. You can achieve this, too. The PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course improves the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevates them to the next level.

PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers or higher, who are at least ten years old, can take the Peak Performance Buoyancy course.

What will you learn during two scuba dives:

• Determine the exact weight you need so you’re not too light or heavy.
• Trim your weight system and scuba gear to be balanced in the water.
• Streamline to save energy, use air more efficiently, and move smoothly through the water.
• Hover effortlessly in any position – vertical or horizontal.

Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Search and Recovery Diver: It happens: People accidentally drop things from docks, off boats, or even while scuba diving. If you’ve ever lost something in the water and wanted to go find it, then the PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is for you. Effective ways to search for objects underwater increase your chances of success. And there are better methods to bring up small, large, or awkward items. Search and recovery can be challenging but a whole lot of fun.

PADI (Junior) Advanced Open Water Divers at least 12 years old can enroll in the Search and Recovery Diver course. PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers with a PADI Underwater Navigator certification also qualify.

What will you learn?
Gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search are the first important steps you learn. During four scuba dives you’ll practice:

• Swimming search patterns using your compass and natural navigation.
• Locating large and small objects using various search patterns.
• Using a lift bag for large or heavy objects, plus other recovery methods.
• Planning a search operation based on facts gathered about a lost object prior to the dive.

You may be able to get college credit for the Search and Recovery course – ask KSC your instructor.

Underwater Naturalist Course:  Take the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course and you’ll see new things, even on the most familiar scuba diving sites. Why? Knowing more about symbioses, underwater ecology, and aquatic plant and animal habitats, you notice behaviors and creatures you may have previously missed. Learn more about the local ecosystem and look closer at your next scuba diving adventure.

PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers who are at least ten years old are eligible to take the Underwater Naturalist Specialty course.

What will you learn? Through class discussions and on two scuba dives, you’ll learn:

• Key differences between the terrestrial and aquatic worlds.
• Major aquatic life groupings, interactions, and information that dispels myths.
• Responsible for interactions with aquatic life.

The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Underwater Navigator: Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where you are and where you’re going. The PADI Underwater Navigator course fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to use your compass underwater accurately. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way.

You can enroll in the PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course if you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver at least ten years old.

What will you learn? You’ll learn the tools of the trade, including navigation using natural clues and by following compass headings. During three scuba dives, you’ll practice:

• Methods to estimate distance underwater.
• Compass navigation while making at least five turns.
• Marking or relocating a submerged object or position from the surface.
• Underwater map making.
• You may be able to get college credit for the Underwater Navigator course – ask your instructor.

Also, the first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Underwater Videographer: Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where you are and where you’re going. The PADI Underwater Navigator course fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to use your compass underwater accurately. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way.

You can enroll in the PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course if you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver at least ten years old.

What will you learn? You’ll learn the tools of the trade, including navigation using natural clues and by following compass headings. During three scuba dives, you’ll practice:

• Methods to estimate distance underwater.
• Compass navigation while making at least five turns.
• Marking or relocating a submerged object or position from the surface.
• Underwater map making.
• You may be able to get college credit for the Underwater Navigator course – ask your instructor.

Also, the first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Wreck Diver: Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers or lost due to an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes, and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying on something others have missed. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving practices.

If you’re at least 15 years old and have earned a PADI Adventure Diver certification or higher, you can enroll in the Wreck Diver Specialty course.

What will you learn? There are many types of wrecks, some protected by laws that guard their historical and cultural significance. Your training starts by reviewing guidelines for researching and respecting wrecks. During four dives, you’ll learn the following:

• Safety considerations for navigating and exploring wrecks.
• Surveying and mapping a wreck.
• Penetration lines and reels are used to guide exploration.
• Techniques to avoid kicking up silt or disturbing the wreck and its inhabitants.
• You may be able to get college credit for the Wreck Diver course – ask your instructor.

Also, the first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your KSC instructor about earning credit.

Distinctive Specialty Diver

AWARE – Shark Conservation Diver: Sharks are crucial to marine ecosystems, yet sharks are declining globally. Learn about the value of sharks and what is causing the rapid loss of shark populations. The course may include two scuba dives or be presented as a non-diving education program. The first dive of this distinctive specialty course may be credited as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.

Whale Shark Awareness: Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, yet they are known as gentle giants. Little is known about their activities or population size. Research and monitoring programs are helping fill these knowledge gaps. Learn about whale shark biology, behavior, and distribution. Practice passively observing these large creatures during two scuba dives or snorkeling excursions.

Sea Turtle Awareness: There’s been a steady decline in worldwide sea turtle populations, but there are ways to fight this. Learn basic sea turtle identification, how to record sightings and conservation steps you can take. The course includes two scuba dives or two snorkeling excursions.