PADI Underwater Navigator
UNDERWATER NAVIGATOR
Know Where You Are. Know Where You're Going.
Finding your way underwater is one of the skills that can transform your confidence as a diver. The PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty develops your ability to navigate accurately using both a compass and the natural features around you.
You'll learn how to estimate distance underwater, follow compass headings, recognise natural references and navigate increasingly complex underwater routes.
Across up to three open-water dives, you'll develop practical navigation skills that can help you become a more independent and confident diver – and make finding your way back to the exit point considerably easier!
If you've already completed a qualifying Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive, such as during your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, this may count as Dive 1 – meaning you'll only need to complete two additional dives.
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WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR UNDERWATER NAVIGATOR COURSE?
PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy eLearning
2–3 open-water training dives, depending on previous training
Learn accurate underwater compass navigation
Develop natural navigation techniques
Learn how to estimate distance underwater
Navigate increasingly complex underwater patterns
Learn to relocate a specific position or submerged object
Develop greater awareness and independence underwater
Training with an experienced PADI Specialty Instructor
Reduce unnecessary contact with the underwater environment
Training with an experienced PADI Specialty Instructor
Full scuba equipment provided
PADI Underwater Navigator certification on successful completion
WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR COURSE?
Your course begins with PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy eLearning, helping you understand the principles behind excellent buoyancy and how factors such as weighting, equipment configuration and breathing affect your position underwater.
Then it's time to put it into practice.
Across two open-water dives, your instructor will look at how you're currently diving and help identify the small adjustments that can make a big difference.
We'll work on getting your weighting right – not simply how much weight you're carrying, but where that weight is positioned and how it affects your trim.
You'll practise establishing neutral buoyancy, hovering and controlling small changes in depth without constantly adding and releasing air from your BCD.
You'll also work on your body position and streamlining, learning how to move through the water efficiently while reducing unnecessary effort.
The result is a diver who feels more in control, uses less energy and can concentrate more on actually enjoying the dive.
BECOME A MORE INDEPENDENT DIVER
It's easy to become accustomed to simply following an instructor, Divemaster or more experienced buddy around a dive site.
But good divers develop their own awareness of where they are, where they've been and how they're going to get back.
Underwater navigation gives you that independence.
Rather than concentrating solely on a compass, you'll learn to build a picture of the dive site as you move through it.
You'll start noticing changes in depth, distinctive underwater features, bottom composition and other natural clues that can help you maintain orientation.
Combine that awareness with accurate compass skills and you'll become much more capable of planning and navigating your own dives.
Questions You May Have
HOW MANY DIVES WILL I COMPLETE?
The complete PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty consists of three open-water training dives.
However, if you've already completed a qualifying Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive, such as during your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, this may be credited as Dive 1 when the relevant requirements are met.
In this case, you'll complete the remaining two Underwater Navigator dives with us.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
You'll develop practical navigation skills including:
Compass navigation
Natural navigation
Estimating distance underwater
Following compass headings
Navigating underwater patterns
Recognising useful underwater landmarks
Relocating submerged objects or positions
Planning underwater navigation routes
The aim is to combine these skills so you develop a much better overall awareness of your position underwater.
HOW DO YOU ESTIMATE DISTANCE UNDERWATER?
One of the techniques you'll practise is measuring distance using kick cycles.
By understanding approximately how far you travel during a known number of fin kicks, you can begin estimating distances underwater.
Other factors and techniques can also help you judge distance, and you'll learn how to apply them during your dives.
WHAT IS NATURAL NAVIGATION?
Natural navigation means using the environment around you to help determine where you are and which direction you're travelling.
Useful references can include changes in depth, bottom contours, sunlight, distinctive underwater features and changes in the composition of the bottom.
Good underwater navigation often combines these natural clues with compass information rather than relying on one technique alone.
DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPASS ALREADY?
You'll have been introduced to basic compass use during your Open Water Diver training, but you don't need to be an expert.
The Underwater Navigator Specialty is designed to develop those basic skills considerably further.
We'll work progressively through the navigation exercises and help you become more comfortable using your compass underwater.
WHAT COMPASS SKILLS WILL I PRACTISE?
You'll develop your ability to maintain accurate headings and navigate different underwater patterns.
As the course progresses, you'll complete more complex navigation exercises requiring you to combine direction, distance and environmental awareness.
The objective isn't simply to stare at a compass throughout the dive – it's to learn how to use it as one part of effective underwater navigation.
WILL I LEARN TO FIND MY WAY BACK TO THE ENTRY POINT?
That's certainly one of the practical benefits of becoming a better underwater navigator.
Navigation skills can help you plan a route away from an entry or exit point and then navigate back towards it, reducing unnecessary surface swims and helping you conduct more organised dives.
Actual navigation will always depend on the dive site, conditions and environment.
WHY IS UNDERWATER NAVIGATION IMPORTANT?
Good navigation can make your diving safer, more efficient and more enjoyable.
Knowing where you are can help you avoid unnecessarily long swims, manage your gas more effectively and make it easier to locate planned points of interest.
It also gives you greater confidence to plan and conduct dives without depending entirely on someone else to show you the way.
DOES MY ADVANCED OPEN WATER NAVIGATION DIVE COUNT?
Yes.
Underwater Navigation is one of the required Adventure Dives for PADI Advanced Open Water Diver.
If your qualifying Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive meets the requirements for credit, it can count as Dive 1 of the Underwater Navigator Specialty.
This means many PADI Advanced Open Water Divers only need to complete the remaining two dives.
HOW OLD DO I NEED TO BE?
The minimum age for the PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty is 10 years old.
Junior divers remain subject to the appropriate PADI age-related depth and supervision requirements.
IS ALL THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED?
Yes. Full scuba equipment is provided for your Underwater Navigator training, including the equipment required to complete your navigation exercises.
If you own your own compass, you're welcome to discuss using it during the course. Becoming familiar with the compass you'll use on future dives can be particularly useful.
WILL NAVIGATION HELP WITH WRECK DIVING?
Absolutely.
Good navigation skills are extremely useful when exploring wrecks and other dive sites where you want to accurately locate particular features and return to a known position.
If wreck exploration interests you, the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty is a great way to continue developing your diving.
WHAT CAN I DO AFTER THE COURSE?
Underwater navigation is a skill you'll use throughout your diving life.
It complements courses such as Advanced Open Water, Wreck Diver, Search & Recovery, Deep Diver and Rescue Diver, and it can help you become a much more confident and independent recreational diver.
UNDERWATER NAVIGATOR HIGHLIGHTS
Ready to stop simply following the diver in front?
Good navigation gives you the confidence to understand where you are, where you're going and how you're getting back.
We'll help you develop the compass skills, natural navigation techniques and underwater awareness to start taking greater control of your own dives.