SPECIALTY SCUBA COURSES |
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 Aquarius Scuba offers variety of specialty courses. Courses range from Equipment Specialist to WreckDiving. Click on the link below to view all of specialty scuba courses that Aquarius scuba offers. Courses include:
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AQUARIUS SCUBA SPECIALTY COURSES |
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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BOAT DIVER
Diving from a boat is fun, especially when you look at ease when maneuvering around on it. It’s fun to know what you’re doing.
Learn the tips, tricks and ways to
- Dive from boats ranging from small inflatables to giant live-aboards :
- how they differ from place to place
- gain experience and training from diving on boats in your local area
- Safely enter and exit the water :
- sometimes it’s better to hand your gear up to the crew and then climb in the boat
- sometimes you just take off your and and walk up the ladder
- Stow your gear in the most appropriate areas
- Use surface lines to initiate or conclude your dives.
- Locate basic boat safety equipment
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Advanced Diver or equivalent
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DEEP DIVER
As Sport Divers, we are all aware of the maximum limit of 130 feet. However, few divers are prepared for what occurs at extreme depths. Increased pressure, limited light penetration and cold water can combine to add a challenge to even seasoned divers. The Deep Diver Specialty teaches divers to deal with environmental, physiological, psychological and equipment considerations when reaching the depth limits. Training is conducted in both the classroom and open-water settings. |
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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DIGITAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER
Underwater photography is one of the most popular diving specialties, and the rise of digital underwater photography has made it easier and more fun than ever. This is why there are actually two PADI underwater photography courses. The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly with today modern digital equipment, whether you use a point-and-shoot snap camera or a sophisticated D-SLR like the pros. The PADI Underwater Photographer course is a more traditional photography course designed for conventional film equipment. |
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE
DPVs offer a thrilling way to see a lot of underwater territory in a brief amount of time. They scoot you through the water without kicking. Whether making a shore dive or diving from a boat, a DPV is a great way to see more and have a blast doing it.
You learn:
- Diver propulsion vehicle dive planning organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards
- Equipment considerations
- Diver etiquette and how to avoid harming fragile aquatic life
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Advanced Diver or equivalent
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DRIFT DIVER
Early in diver education, divers are told to avoid "fighting" a current. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use Drift Diving techniques. Proper Drift Diving requires advanced planning and special equipment. Students will receive experience in arranging a drift dive, assembly and use of the necessary equipment, special buddy techniques and conducting a drift dive. Training will be conducted with an on-site briefing and 2 Open-water dives at an appropriate location.
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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DRY SUIT DIVER
If you have watched as your Instructor, Dive Master or experienced buddy pulled on a warm and comfortable drysuit, you may have decided that the time has come to make the switch.
Drysuits provide a series of challenges that may not be obvious on the surface. Buoyancy control is dramatically different, as are the procedures needed in emergency situations. Many different types of drysuits exist including; neoprene, crushed neoprene, rubber, bi-laminate and tri-laminate.
Students will be instructed in the comparative pros and cons of each type and will be given practical experience in the use of drysuits in a pool setting.
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Cost: $75.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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EMERGENCY OXYGEN PROVIDER
Breathe easy—knowing that you know how to recognize illnesses treatable by emergency oxygen. Being the best buddy you can be means being prepared – especially in a time of need.
You learn how to:
- Recognize diving illnesses treatable by emergency oxygen
- Properly setup equipment
- Administer emergency oxygen
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Cost: $75.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver with 10 logged dives or Advanced Diver
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ENRICHED AIR-NITROX
Fairly new to sport diving, enriched air (Nitrox) may be one of the most misunderstood of specialties. Contrary to popular belief, it DOES NOT permit deeper dives, but does allow longer bottom times under certain circumstances. The course is designed to provide the student with a clear understanding of the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of Enriched Air diving. Classroom instruction will include oxygen exposure/absorption considerations, benefits and limitations of different gas mixtures, modified maximum operating depths, repetitive dives, Nitrox dive tables and planning. Students will receive hands-on experience in blending Nitrox tanks, how to properly test mixtures and how to "oxygen clean" valve and regulator assemblies. Students will be encouraged to participate in an open-water dive involving Enriched Air.
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST
Scuba equipment is the life-line that allows divers to explore a new world. Purchasing the correct and most appropriate regulator, computer or gauges, BCD, thermal protection and other equipment, then maintaining it in a safe operating condition is extremely important. The Equipment Specialty will demonstrate the proper care of these items, discuss the various operating systems available and provide a hands-on experience in routine maintenance of your own equipment. Instruction will take place in the classroom, utilizing proper servicing tools and equipment.
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Advanced Water Diver
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ICE DIVER
You'll learn ice diving planning, organization, techniques and potential problems as well as site selection, preparation, special equipment and safety diver procedures. You'll then put this all into practice when you ice dive within the light zone (within 40 meters/130 feet total distance from the surface, including vertical and horizontal). Minimum age is 18 years old.
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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MULTILEVEL DIVER
Maximize your dive time so you can explore more!
In this course, you learn how to plan dives that extend your bottom time by crediting you for slower nitrogen absorption when you ascend to a shallower depth. That’s the way you really dive, after all.
You learn how to:
- Plan and execute multilevel dives (different depths on the same dive)
- Back up your and plan multilevel dives
- Maximize your no stop time
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Advanced Diver or equivalent
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NIGHT DIVER
Even the most experienced divers are amazed at the changes that take place in the night-time underwater world. Creatures that hide by day are present in great numbers at night, generally unafraid of the presence of divers. The course will teach students the proper choice for underwater lighting systems, back-up systems, safe and effective control of lights, underwater communication methods, navigation in darkness and night dive planning. Training will be conducted using briefings and 3 open-water dives at convenient locations.
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PEAK PERFORMANCE BUOYANCY
What is neutral buoyancy? Scuba divers like to be neutrally buoyant so they neither sink nor float. It can be a tricky thing. Divers who’ve mastered the highest performance levels in buoyancy stand apart. You’ve seen them underwater. They glide effortlessly, use less air and ascend, descend or hover, almost as if by thought. They interact gently with aquatic life and affect their surroundings minimally. The PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course refines the basic skills you learned as a PADI Open Water Diver and elevates them to the next level. |
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Cost: $249.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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RESCUE DIVER
Rescue Diver will expand your knowledge and experience beyond purely recreational level because you'll learn to look beyond yourself and consider the safety and well being of other divers. Although this course is serious, it is an enjoyable way to build your confidence. Anyone 15yrs or older (12yrs for PADI Junior Rescue Diver) and in reasonably good health, Open Water Diver, Junior or equivalent certification can participate.Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessay, manage dive emergencies. During the in-class, in-pool, and open water sessions you'll cover, Self-rescue and diver stress, Dive first aid, Emergency management and equipment, Swimming and non-swimming assists,
Panicked and non-swimming assists, Underwater problems, Missing diver procedures, Surfacing the unconscious diver, Inwater artificial respiration, Egress (exits), First aid procedures for pressure related accidents, Dive accident scenarios.
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Advanced Diver or equivalent
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SEARCH & RECOVERY
Finding and surfacing that lost outboard motor can be a challenge without specific and controlled search techniques. The Search and Recovery course is designed to instruct students in a variety of search techniques using two or more divers. Recovery of located items (from the lost 20 lb. anchor to the large outboard motor), requires very specialized equipment and safety considerations. The student will be provided with lift bags and will conduct several controlled lifts as part of their instruction. Training will be conducted with an on-site briefing and several pool and/or open-water dives.
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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UNDERWATER NATURALIST
Look closer to see more on your next dive. Look for symbioses, predator/prey and other relationships between aquatic plant and animal life. Learn not just what fish and animals are, but how they interact with each other and the environment.
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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UNDERWATER NAVIGATOR
Be the diver everyone wants to follow and make your sense of direction legendary with the PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course.
You learn:
- Navigation patterns
- Natural navigation (without a compass)
- Compass navigation
- How to “mark” or relocate a submerged object or position from the surface
- Underwater map making
- How to follow irregular courses with the Nav-Finder
- Dive site relocation
- How to estimate distance underwater
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Cost: $100.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the great thrills available to divers is being able to show examples of their experiences to others. In recent years, a number of photographic systems have become available in price ranges affordable to most divers. These systems range from the simple waterproof disposable (maximum depth of 10 feet) to the most sophisticated Nikonos cameras. This course will take students with little or no technical knowledge of photography and teach exposure control, focusing, framing, composition, hyper-focal distance, film types, supplementary lighting (strobe systems) and other aspects of taking effective photos. Aquarius Scuba and your instructor will supply a variety of cameras and film that will be used in a hands-on training schedule, allowing students to take a variety of photographs under differing conditions. Instruction will consist of classroom training as well as pool and/or open-water photo opportunities. Class size will be limited to a maximum of 6 students.
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver
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UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY
Photographs provide a wonderful memory of your diving adventures, but live action video takes the experience to a new level of excitement. At this time, there are no dedicated underwater video systems on the market; however there are a number of video camera housings that are very effective. Aquarius Scuba will provide access to Sony hi-8 video systems, supply each student with a video tape and will provide instruction in different types of underwater video recording. Student will review their tapes with a view to more effective camera control, POV (Point of view), supplementary lighting, colour loss, pros and cons of auto-focus and system maintenance. Training will be conducted in a classroom setting as well as pool and/or open water dives. Class size will be limited to a maximum of 4 students (unless combined with the Underwater Photography Course). |
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Cost: $150.00
Prerequisite: Advanced Diver or equivalent
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WRECK DIVER
Ontario waters offer a rainbow of colours, all of it brown and green. By far, the greatest attraction for divers are the hundreds of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway waterways. Merely floating nearby and only viewing the wrecks from a distance can wear thin quickly. Most divers have the overwhelming urge to explore and penetrate into the wrecks. To accomplish this requires very specialized techniques and considerations for safety. In an over-head underwater environment, divers can no longer swim directly to the surface. Finding a way out, avoiding excessive silting of the site and the use of lines is discussed and demonstrated. Training will be conducted with an on-site briefing and 3 Open-water dives on different wrecks. |
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