Let us introduce you to what it feels like to fly underwater! We’re going to show you how to enjoy ocean currents by “going with the flow,” staying with your dive partner, communicating with the dive boat and knowing where you are the whole time.
Drift Diving is nearly effortless and relaxing. You simply glide along and enjoy the rush of flying underwater while the current does the work.
The ‘PADI Drift Diver Specialty’ is designed to be an introduction to drift diving and to help you develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for drift diving.
Course Details
- The maximum number of students on each course is 4
- Each course is led by an Instructor, with an additional safety diver and surface support
- You will need to undertake the independent study of the Drift Diver Manual, bringing the completed knowledge reviews with you
- There are 2 open water training dives, conducted on one day.
- Cost of the course is £149.00 inclusive
Before Starting The Course
- You must be certified as an Open Water Diver or above
- You must be aged 12 years or older
- Please read and understand the medical questionnaire
- If you would like to use your own equipment then please check this against the minimum equipment required for this course.
Course overview
Within this course we are going to look at:
- planning, organisation, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of drift diving.
- special equipment – floats, lines, reels.
- proper procedures for buoyancy control, navigation and communication.
- site selection and overview of aquatic currents – causes and effects.
- techniques for staying close to a buddy or together as a group.
Knowledge Development
Before starting the open water training you’ll need to complete the knowledge review. This is found in the manual, with further information found on the DVD (both items supplied).
Open Water Training
Training Dive One – Depth Range 6 to 18 mtrs
We’re going to take a short boat trip, and with all of our equipment on, and pre-dive safety check carried out, roll back off of the boat into the sea.
With the group in the water we start an ascent down our line, and when together at the bottom we’ll just go with the current.
The aim of this dive is to maintain good buddy contact during the drift, and to also demonstrate good buoyancy control so that there is no unintended and/or destructive contact with the bottom.
With the dive completed we signal each other to ascend, and perform a safety stop, and then rejoin our boat.
Training Dive Two – Depth Range 6 to 18 mtrs
This dive is very similar to Dive One; we’ll carry out a pre dive safety check, enter the water and descend to the bottom.
This time though, before starting our drift dive, we’re going to turn into the current. From this we should be able to see what direction the current is coming from, and by seeing how easy or hard it is to fin into, gauge its strength.
With this completed, we turn with the current, and enjoy another magical ride through the sea.
With the dive completed we signal each other to ascend, and perform a safety stop, and then rejoin our boat.
Course Fee Includes
- Drift Diver Crew Pack – includes Manual, DVD, Diploma & Chevron
- Certification costs
- All equipment*, air fills and boat fees
- Possibility of transport to and from the site (please contact us for details)
*If you are using your own equipment then please read and complete the Own Equipment Liability form
When Can I Start?
We run these courses to suit individual needs, so please contact us to discuss your requirements. The next course will be starting sooner than you think!
Other Relevant Courses
Drift diving can be even more fun if you use a Diver Propulsion Vehicle, and for those slightly deeper drift dives, being an advanced open water diver becomes a necessity.