PADI Specialty Courses

PADI Specialties Keep You Diving

PADI offers a tremendous number of specialties covering just about any type or aspect of SCUBA diving.  These specialties are designed to introduce you to a new set of skills or a different diving environment safely under the supervision of PADI professionals.  A PADI specialty course will not make you an expert but it will give you the skills and confidence to enjoy a new aspect of diving while becoming an expert!

The Value of Specialty Training

An Instructor's Perspective
Specialties for me - I've always liked the diversity and adventure. The fact that the first introduction to specialties for many divers is through 'adventure dives' in the Advanced Open Water class is no coincidence. The specialty classes build on this further via safe and exciting dives covering a variety of dive objectives, each introducing new skills and theory while also building on fundamentals. Specialty divers turn out more well-rounded and even more well-prepared for the next adventure.

My favorite Specialties...there are so many. Peak Performance Buoyancy is great for people just simply looking to improve overall dive skills. I like Deep Diver for the experience and the extra reinforcement of dive theory because I think these elements make for a more safety aware diver. Search and Recovery is great fun - learning to locate lost items and other underwater treasures, then bringing these items to the surface using lift bags...if you liked hide and seek as well as playing with things like toy cranes, the big kid in you is waiting.
Jez Sherlock PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer
Jez Sherlock
Master SCUBA Diver Trainer
IDC Staff Instructor

Purchase PADI Specialty Courses

PADI Master SCUBA Diver

Master SCUBA Diver

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Altitude Diver

Altitude Diver

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PADI Boat Diver

Boat Diver

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PADI Cavern Diver

Cavern Diver

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PADI Deep Diver
PADI DPV Diver
PADI Drift Diver
PADI Drysuit Diver
PADI Emergency O2 Provider
PADI Enriched Air Nitrox
PADI Equipment Specialist
PADI Full Face Mask Diver
PADI Night Diver
PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy
PADI Project Aware Coral Reef Conservation
PADI Project Aware Fish ID
PADI Project Aware Diving Against Debris
PADI Search and Recovery Diver
PADI Self Reliant Diver
Sidemount Diver
PADI Underwater Naturalist
PADI Underwater Navigation
PADI Digital Underwater Photography
PADI Underwater Digital Videography
PADI Wreck Diver

Popular Questions

Got a question? We’re here to help.
  • How do I become a Master SCUBA Diver?

    The Master SCUBA Diver rating is obtained by submitting an application to PADI after completing a PADI Rescue Diver course, 5 PADI standardized specialty courses, and logging 50 open water dives.


    Scubaland offers everything you need to obtain this rating and will help you every step of the way!

  • Should I become a Master SCUBA Diver or a Divemaster?

    The Master SCUBA Diver rating is the highest recreational diving rating.  Divemaster is the first rating a dive professional obtains.  Many people who move into the professional ranks are already Master SCUBA Divers.  Mastering skills as a recreational diver will make your transition to professional diving that much easier!

  • How deep can I dive with a Deep Diver certification?

    You will be certified to dive to recreational diving limits.  For decompression diving, consider our technical diving courses.


    In the Deep Diver specialty course you will learn to assess dive conditions, properly gear up for a deep dive, and develop contingy plans for unexpected events and conditions.

  • How many people are in a class?

    Some of our most popular specialty courses are regularly scheduled courses with a maximum of 6 students per class.


    Many of the specialty courses are scheduled as needed.  When you sign up for the course we will create a class and assign an instructor.  You will work with our Instructor as if it was a private class.

  • Do I have to do my specialty course at Lake Travis?

    No.  Some of the specialty courses are non-diving courses and are conducted at the shop.


    We also offer specialty course training on our group trips.  Complete your Deep Diver course on Bloody Bay Wall in the Caymans, your Underwater Navigator course in Bonaire's 200 ft visibility, or your Drift Diver course in Palau or Indonesia.  Ask your trip leader for details.