You drop into the water and descend slowly onto the reef or down the side of a coral encrusted wall, you signal okay to your buddy and together you level off, send up your DSMB and let the current carry you effortlessly along, you relax and watch the changing vista unfold before your eyes. At the end of the dive you and your buddy ascend safely up the DSMB line to the surface, where you find the dive boat waiting to pick you and your buddy up, once back on board the skipper of the boat tells you that you drifted for over half a mile.

The purpose of the PADI Drift Diver Speciality Course is to familiarize divers with the skills, procedures, techniques, problems, hazards and enjoyment of drift diving in open water.

This course consists of two open water dives and is purely practical in application. Presentations and discussions will take place at the allocated dive site prior to the dives.

On each dive participants will perform simple drift diving tasks designed to acquaint them with the proper drift diving procedures for the local area.

Participants will be made aware of Currents and their characteristics, Diving with a surface marker Buoy, Drift diving equipment and their use on dive boats, surface signalling devices, drift diving techniques and procedures. Possible hazards and Problems associated with drift diving.

The precise time table for this course will vary dependent upon the specific logistics of the dive site being used for the course. It can normally be completed in one day. The course will start and end at the Simply Scuba Dive Centre.

Both dives are aimed at participants gaining practical experience of drift diving whilst under supervision.

Participants must hold a minimum diver certification of PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver or an equivalent rating.
Minimum age is 12 years*.
A confined water training session may be required, at the discretion of the instructor conducting the course, to verify participants skills level.

Hire of personal standard diving equipment, such as Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Exposure Suit, BCD, Weights, Regulators and Instrument console, Cylinder and Air Fills, for the duration of the course and the PADI Certification fees.

Transportation from Simply Scuba dive centre to the selected dive site venue is your responsibility.

Specialist diving equipment needed, such as Reel and DSMB or SMB, Knife, Slates.

Boat fees (unless otherwise specified).

2 passport sized photographs. Your log book and proof of your current level of diving certification.

*Participants under 16 years must be accompanied on the course by a suitably qualified parent or legal guardian.

The PADI Drift Diver Specialty Course is part of the PADI Diver Continuing Education Program, designed to encourage divers to further their Knowledge and Skills under the safe supervision of professional instructors. It combines well with other such courses such as the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver Specialty Course.