PADI Deep Diver
DEEP DIVER
There's something exciting about discovering what lies beyond your usual diving depth. The PADI Deep Diver Specialty gives you the knowledge, skills and experience to plan and make deeper recreational dives safely and confidently.
Across up to four open-water dives, you'll progressively develop your deep-diving skills while learning about gas management, dive planning, emergency procedures and the effects that increasing depth can have on you and your equipment.
If you've already completed a qualifying Deep Adventure Dive, such as during your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, this may count as your first Deep Diver training dive – meaning you'll only need to complete three additional dives.
Successfully complete the course and you'll be trained to make recreational dives to a maximum depth of 40 metres / 130 feet – opening up new wrecks, dive sites and underwater adventures.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR DEEP DIVER COURSE?
PADI Deep Diver eLearning
3–4 open-water training dives, depending on previous training
Progressive experience diving to greater depths
Learn effective gas management and deep-dive planning
Understand narcosis and the effects of increasing depth
Practise important deep-diving safety procedures
Develop greater awareness of your no-decompression limits
Training with an experienced PADI Deep Diver Specialty Instructor
Full scuba equipment provided
PADI Deep Diver certification on successful completion
WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR COURSE?
our course begins with PADI Deep Diver eLearning, giving you the knowledge needed to understand the additional considerations involved as you venture deeper.
You'll learn about deep-dive planning, gas management, increased gas consumption, gas narcosis, no-decompression limits, emergency procedures and how depth can affect both you and your equipment.
Then it's time to put that knowledge into practice.
The complete PADI Deep Diver Specialty consists of four open-water training dives, progressively developing your experience and confidence at greater depths.
If you've already completed a qualifying Deep Adventure Dive, such as during your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, this can be credited as Deep Diver Dive 1 when the relevant requirements are met. In this case, you'll complete the remaining three training dives with us.
Your instructor will help you plan each dive carefully, considering factors such as depth, available gas, no-decompression time and appropriate safety procedures.
You'll also experience first-hand how increasing depth affects things such as colour, pressure, gas consumption and potentially your own thinking and coordination.
The aim isn't simply to reach 40 metres.
It's to give you the knowledge, judgement and experience to understand when a deeper dive is appropriate, how to plan it properly and how to conduct it safely.
WHY LEARN TO DIVE DEEPER?
Some incredible dive sites simply aren't found in shallow water.
Wrecks, walls and other underwater features can lie beyond the 30 metre / 100 foot limit associated with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification.
The Deep Diver Specialty extends your training to the recreational maximum of 40 metres / 130 feet.
But greater depth brings additional considerations.
Your gas is consumed more quickly. Your no-decompression time becomes shorter. Nitrogen narcosis may become more noticeable, and small problems can become more significant when you're further from the surface.
Deep Diver teaches you to recognise and manage those factors so that going deeper isn't simply about how far you can go – it's about knowing how to do it properly.
Questions You May Have
HOW DEEP CAN I DIVE AFTER THE COURSE?
After successfully completing the PADI Deep Diver Specialty, you'll be trained to make recreational dives to a maximum depth of 40 metres / 130 feet, within the limits of your training and experience.
This is the maximum depth for recreational scuba diving within the PADI system.
HOW MANY DIVES WILL I COMPLETE?
The complete PADI Deep Diver Specialty consists of four open-water training dives.
However, if you've already completed a qualifying PADI Deep Adventure Dive, such as during your Advanced Open Water Diver course, this can be credited as Deep Diver Dive 1 when the relevant requirements are met.
In this case, you'll complete the remaining three Deep Diver training dives with us.
DO ALL THE DIVES GO TO 40 METRES?
No.
The course is designed to progressively develop your deep-diving experience. Your actual dive depths will depend on the training requirements, conditions, dive site and your experience and comfort.
Reaching exactly 40 metres isn't the objective of the course. The goal is to develop the skills and judgement needed to plan and conduct deeper recreational dives safely.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
You'll develop knowledge and practical experience in areas including:
Deep-dive planning
Gas management
No-decompression limits
Gas narcosis
Emergency procedures
Managing increased gas consumption
Depth-related changes and considerations
Deep-diving equipment and procedures
The emphasis throughout is on making well-planned, controlled and responsible deeper dives.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE ANY DIVES?
No. Open-water dives are not required to earn the PADI Enriched Air Diver certification.
The course consists of knowledge development and practical application exercises.
PADI does provide the option of completing enriched-air training dives, but these are optional.
WHAT IS GAS NARCOSIS?
Gas narcosis is an altered state of awareness that can occur when breathing gases under increased pressure at depth.
It can affect divers differently and may influence thinking, judgement, coordination and reaction time.
During your Deep Diver training, you'll learn to recognise the potential signs and effects of gas narcosis and understand how to respond appropriately.
WHY DOES MY AIR RUN OUT FASTER AT DEPTH?
As you descend, ambient pressure increases.
This means each breath uses more gas from your cylinder than the same breath would at a shallower depth.
At greater depths, gas consumption increases significantly, making careful gas monitoring and planning particularly important.
Gas management is therefore a major part of becoming a competent deep diver.
WHAT ARE NO-DECOMPRESSION LIMITS?
Your no-decompression limit (NDL) is the maximum time you can remain at a particular depth before your dive plan would require mandatory decompression stops during ascent.
As you go deeper, your available no-decompression time generally becomes much shorter.
You'll learn to monitor and manage these limits carefully during your training.
WILL I BE DOING DECOMPRESSION DIVES?
No.
The PADI Deep Diver Specialty is a recreational, no-decompression diving course.
You'll learn to plan your dives within recreational no-decompression limits and understand the importance of monitoring those limits throughout your dive.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A PROBLEM AT DEPTH?
Planning for potential problems is an important part of the course.
You'll learn about deep-diving emergency procedures and appropriate safety equipment, and how situations such as low gas, buddy separation or other problems should be managed.
The aim is to prevent problems through good planning while also being prepared to respond appropriately if something changes.
DO I NEED TO BE ADVANCED OPEN WATER CERTIFIED?
Not necessarily.
You need to be a PADI Adventure Diver or higher, or hold a qualifying certification from another recognised training organisation.
Many divers progress to Deep Diver after completing their Advanced Open Water course, particularly because the Deep Adventure Dive may count towards the specialty.
DOES MY DEEP ADVENTURE DIVE COUNT TOWARDS THIS COURSE?
Yes.
If you've completed a qualifying Deep Adventure Dive, such as during your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, it can be credited as Dive 1 of the PADI Deep Diver Specialty when the relevant requirements are met.
This means you'll only need to complete the remaining three Deep Diver dives rather than all four.
HOW OLD DO I NEED TO BE?
The minimum age for the PADI Deep Diver Specialty is 15 years old.
IS ALL THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED?
Yes. Full scuba equipment is provided for your Deep Diver training.
If you already own your own equipment, you're welcome to discuss using it during the course. For deeper diving in particular, becoming thoroughly familiar with your own equipment is extremely valuable.
SHOULD I TAKE THE ENRICHED AIR DIVER COURSE AS WELL?
PADI Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) is a very useful specialty for many divers and complements continuing education well.
However, Nitrox doesn't automatically mean you can stay longer or go deeper on every deep dive. Every enriched-air mixture has its own Maximum Operating Depth (MOD), which must be respected.
We'll be happy to explain how Deep Diver and Enriched Air training can complement your future diving.
WHAT CAN I DO AFTER DEEP DIVER?
Deep Diver opens up access to dive sites that may previously have been beyond your training limits.
It's particularly useful alongside specialties such as Wreck Diver, Enriched Air Diver and Underwater Navigation.
Divers who later want to progress beyond recreational no-decompression diving can also explore appropriate technical diving training once they meet the necessary experience and prerequisite requirements.
DEEP DIVER HIGHLIGHTS
Ready to explore a little deeper?
Deep Diver isn't about chasing a number on your depth gauge. It's about gaining the knowledge, experience and judgement needed to explore deeper dive sites responsibly.
We'll build on your existing experience and help you develop those skills through progressive deep-diving training tailored to where you are in your diving journey.