Description
Imagine descending below the surface of a clear mountain lake to explore a well-preserved wreck. Interested? Any time you scuba dive at an altitude higher than 300 metres/1000 feet above sea level, you're altitude diving. If you’re ready to discover a hidden world where few have ventured, then the PADI Altitude Diver Specialty course is for you.
PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers who are at least 10 years old are eligible to take the Altitude Diver course.
Academic
Learning to adjust your dive plan for the reduced surface pressure at altitude is an important part of the course. You’ll complete two scuba dives and learn:
- Altitude dive planning, organization, procedures and techniques.
- How to adjust your dive computer for altitude diving or calculate altitude dive profiles using the RDP Table or eRDPMLTM.
- How to avoid problems and handle emergency situations, if they occur, at altitude.
Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Equipment
Beyond using basic scuba equipment, you may need a dry suit for the cool water. Your PADI Instructor may suggest additional equipment depending on the dive site features and visibility. Check with the local dive center to get advice about diving at altitude.
Getting Started
Stop by your local PADI Dive Center and Resort, or find one in an area where altitude diving is possible, to enroll in the course. Also, check out the dives logged at altitude on ScubaEarth®.