PADI National Geographic Open Water Diver

What is it?

As a National Geographic Diver you can join an elite group of explorers, adventurers and conservationists. The insight and training you gain during this program will broaden your awareness beyond that of the Open Water Diver level and give you the tools you will need to understand and safely explore the underwater world.

The program is based on the PADI Open Water Diver Course, but is enhanced with adventures unique to the National Geographic Diver Program. You will learn to explore in detail, identify important underwater features and navigate with certainty. You will have the diving knowledge and practice to manoeuvre with poise along the reef ecosystem.

Who can take part?

Virtually anyone in good health who is reasonably fit and comfortable in the water can learn to scuba dive. You must be able to swim a minimum of 200 metres and tread water for ten minutes. You will have to complete a medical declaration prior to starting the course, if you have any medical conditions that may be of concern a medical certificate is required prior to starting any practical sessions.

Participants as young as 12 can complete the National Geographic Diver Program, and if between the ages of 10 and 15 will receive the Junior National Geographic Diver qualification.

What does the course involve?

You will learn basic dive skills and safety information through the PADI Open Water Diver Course. You will complete the five knowledge development sessions, five confined water training sessions and four open water dives required for the PADI Open Water Diver course.

In addition you will:

• Be introduced to worldwide dive environments and opportunities by interacting with the National Geographic Diver Almanac and DVD.
• Learn to fine-tune your buoyancy to be able to hover easily and manoeuvre carefully through delicate aquatic habitats.
• Learn to observe your surroundings in order to get the best experience from each dive. You will gain practical experience by gathering information to create a visual representation of a dive site detailing what you have discovered through your observations.
• Improve your navigation skills and ability to find your way around underwater by using a compass as well as natural references.
• You will complete an additional pool training session and two additional open water dives during the National Geographic Diver Course as compared to the PADI Open Water Diver Course.

How long will it take?

We run the academic and confined water dives over six weeks on a Thursday evening in Harrogate and a Friday evening in York, starting with an classroom session at Overland Underwater from 6.30-7.30pm, followed by a confined water dive from 8.00-9.30pm at Harrogate Ladies College (Thursdays) or Yearsley swimming pool in York (Fridays).

The open water dives can then be completed over two or three Sundays.

PADI Programs are performance based. You proceed as you demonstrate mastery of the course skills. This allows you to work at a pace that is comfortable to you. If you need extra time in the classroom, the pool or in open water we undertake to provide any extra training sessions required at no additional cost to yourselves.

How do I book a course?

We have courses running regularly throughout the year. See the course calendar for our next course dates. To book your place on the next course all we need is a £75 deposit with the balance due at the start of the course. You will also need to get the course materials prior to commencing the course.

You can either call in the shop to pay your deposit and collect the course materials, download the course booking form and send it to us with your payment or simply ring us quoting your credit card number and we can post out the course materials to you (postage charged at cost).

Course Prices

*Course fees include all scuba equipment, all tuition and certification fee to PADI. Entry fees and transport to dive sites are not included.