Underwater Navigation

This program generally takes just one day and two dives. With sufficient notice, we can usually offer this course when it’s most convenient for you.

• Be at least 10 years old. Students ages 10-14 may qualify for special Junior certification. Learn more.
• Be certified to at least the Open Water Diver level.
• Be able to answer No to all the questions on the medical questionnaire or obtain a physician’s approval for diving.

$459.95/person includes:

• All instruction
• eLearning
• Certification processing when earned

• Mask and snorkel
• Adjustable scuba fins and wetsuit boots
• Adequate exposure protection
• Cylinder
• Regulator system with alternate air source
• BC with integrated weight system or weight belt
• Weights
• Dive computer
• Underwater compass
• Dive knife/cutting tool
• SMB

The ability to find your way underwater not only makes diving easier and safer, but it also makes it more fun. For example, your navigation skills can help you:

• Avoid long surface swims.
• Quickly relocate objects and locations you discovered on previous dives.
• Surface right at your exit point.

Underwater navigation involves more than just using a compass. Much of the time, you can navigate simply by using natural features such as sand ripples and reef lines. These are all things we cover in this course.

What you can expect to learn

The Underwater Navigation course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• The aquatic environment
• Natural navigation
• Compass features
• Compass use
• Estimating distance underwater

Among the skills you will master:

• Natural navigation
• Compass use on the surface
• Square pattern on the bottom
• Triangle pattern on the bottom

Minimum requirements for certification include:

• Successfully complete the Underwater Navigation Certification processing when earned course.
• Attend all course sessions.
• Demonstrate mastery of all required skills.
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct instructor supervision so long as they adhere to the following limits:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• The areas of activities approximate those of training
• Environmental conditions approximate those of training

In this course, we cover:

• Purpose and nomenclature
• Types of compass (analog vs digital)
• Advantages
• Disadvantages

Surface Skills

• Out and back on three different headings
• Determine headings and navigate a triangle
• Determine headings and navigate a square
• (All navigations must return within 3 m/15 ft of start)

Underwater Skills

• Out and back 30 m/100 ft on three headings
• Triangle 30 m/100 ft on two different headings
• Square 15 m/50 ft on two different headings
• Natural navigation 30 m/100 ft on two different headings
• (All navigations must return within 3 m/15 ft of start)
• (All navigations must be neutrally buoyant)

Most importantly, we don’t practice these skills until you finally get them right. We have you repeat them until you can’t do them wrong.