PADI Underwater Naturalist Course

Can you name that form of marine life and tell me where it lives? Can I find another one to show my dive buddy? Would you like to be more familiar with the underwater world's creatures? Then this course is for you!

The Underwater Naturalist course will take your common diving adventures and add more fun to them once you know more about the marine life. Plants and animals, where they live, what they are called, the best time of year to find them, interesting facts and myths, and all this and more covered during your PADI Underwater Naturalist course. Other important topics include environment, passive and active interaction with the animals, how to avoid damaging fragile habitats and buoyancy control skills. (You may want to complement this course with an underwater Photography or Macro Photography course. This is a great way to bring back pictures of the animals and plants to show them to your non-diving friends)

Underwater Naturalist Course Format

Course includes two evening sessions with lectures and slide presentations of local marine life as well as warm water marine creatures. There are two open water dives required for certification.

Topics covered: Terrestrial and aquatic environments, human perceptions of aquatic life, search for and evaluation of man's effect on the local diving environment, New England critters, responsible interaction with aquatic life, and study of aquatic life relationships.

Prerequisites: PADI Open Water or equivalent. Minimum age 12.

What's Included in your Underwater Naturalist Course:

Instructional Materials: You will receive a laminated field guide of New England marine life.

Required gear: Students are responsible for providing a complete scuba package. Any needed equipment may be rented at a student discount.