Ever wonder how some of the more experienced divers just seem to make it look so easy?  You’ve seen them underwater. They glide effortlessly, use less air and ascend, descend or hover almost as if by thought. They more easily observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. You can achieve this too! Excellent buoyancy control is what defines skilled scuba divers. Every dive activity you do, be it underwater photography, wreck diving, or just relaxing and enjoying your dive, is dependent on your buoyancy control.   The PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course improves the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevates them to the next level.  At GEORGIA DIVE ACADEMY, we strongly believe that the two most important courses you should take after becoming open water certified are Peak Performance Buoyancy and EAN (Nitrox).  We therefore offer bundling packages for both those specialties with your open water class for a reduced price!  Contact us for more details about our Peak Performance/EAN bundle packages.

Have you ever finished a dive and said, ”that was one of my favorite dives ever, I wish I could have stayed down there longer,”?  Well you can actually make that happen with the Enriched Air Diver course.  Enriched air, also known as nitrox or EANx, contains less nitrogen than regular air. Breathing less nitrogen means you can enjoy longer dives and shorter surface intervals. No wonder Enriched Air Diver is the most popular specialty course! Ask us how you can save money by bundling your EAN class with your open water class.

The next time someone loses an item underwater, you can be the hero that finds the missing object. In the Search and Recovery course, you’ll learn how to find lost objects underwater and bring them up to the surface. You’ll practice different types of underwater search patterns and learn how to use a lift bag as you plan and execute mock search operations.  This course pairs very well with the Underwater Navigator course, so ask us how you can save money by taking advantage of our Search and Recovery/Underwater Navigator Bundle package.

Some of the world’s most exciting dive sites are wrecks. Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying something others have missed. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving practices. You’ll learn how to scout and map the wreck, searching for entry/exit points, as well as possible hazards. On your final dive of the course you’ll have a chance to penetrate the wreck and explore the inside of the ship!

Expand your range as a diver, as becoming a certified Deep Diver will allow you to safely explore new and deeper sites, which were previously outside the limits of your training.  During the PADI® Deep Diver course, you’ll learn how to plan deep dives, manage your gas supply and how to identify and manage narcosis. You’ll learn about buddy contact procedures, safety considerations and buoyancy control at depth. 

*You must be Advanced Open Water or Adventure Diver certified to enroll in the Deep Diver Course

Many divers wouldn’t think of diving without carrying a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB), and in some locations it’s considered required safety equipment. Knowing how to properly deploy and manage a DSMB are valuable skills learned in this course. Boats and currents are two common factors associated with many dive sites. Boaters don’t always recognize that divers are in the area and current can carry you further than expected. Launching a delayed surface marker buoy before you surface can alert others to your location in advance of your ascent. Adding another layer of safety, you can also use the DSMB line to complete your safety stop, which is advantageous in a current or when there are no other visual references. Take this course to learn about all the beneficial uses of a DSMB. Marker buoys serve a range of purposes and you’ll learn about common types of DSMB along with the reels used to control them. During the two training dives, you’ll practice: Preparing and stowing your DSMB and reel, Deploying the DSMB from a stationary position and from mid-water, swimming while towing a DSMB and managing the reel and line, and making a safety stop using the DSMB line. As the DSMB is especially important while drift diving, GEORGIA DIVE ACADEMY offers a package deal for the DSMB and Drift Diver specialty course! Call us to find out how you can take advantage of this bundle pricing.

Diving in a current can feel like flying underwater. In the PADI® Drift Diver course, you’ll learn drift diving tips from an experienced instructor and practice buoyancy control, navigation, use of surface signaling equipment and buddy communication. Scuba diving in a current can be both relaxing and exhilarating. You may slowly glide over a reef, or zoom over an underwater landscape so fast it feels like flying. By the end of your drift diver course, you’ll have the skills you need to confidently go with the flow.  When drift diving, it’s essential to carry a DSMB, (delayed surface marker buoy), therefore we offer a package deal to bundle your DSMB and Drift Diver courses together and save!

“What was that fish?” is a common question heard after a dive. If you want to be the scuba diver with the answers, instead of the one asking the questions, then take the Fish Identification Specialty course. You’ll enjoy your dives even more when you recognize the creatures that you see and can identify the main fish families and their characteristics.  Once you learn to recognize what types of fish you see, you’ll find it easier to reference the exact species after a scuba dive. For example, a butterfly fish in the Caribbean has a similar shape to a butterfly fish in Southeast Asia, but colors and markings may be wildly different. If you know what fish family it belongs to, you can more easily look up the local name or at least be able to intelligently ask the local scuba instructor what you saw.  During two scuba dives, you’ll learn: How to identify characteristics of local fish families and species, fish survey techniques and strategies, and PADI AWARE activities that can help protect aquatic life.  The Fish ID course is one of the most fun and relaxing specialties offered and is an ideal specialty to sign up for while on one of our exciting trips to West Palm Beach or Key Largo.

Sadly, there are a limited number of popular shore diving sites, therefore the vast majority of the world’s most amazing coral reefs are only accessible by boat. If you’re new to boat diving or want to learn more about diving from different types of boats, enroll in the PADI® Boat Diver course. During two dives with an instructor you’ll learn nautical terminology, boat diving etiquette and may practice using lines and/or deploy a surface marker buoy (SMB).  If you love to travel, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty course will prepare you to dive from small inflatables all the way up to large liveaboards. Learn how to enter and exit the water, use current lines and manage seasickness.

Diving with a full face mask allows you to breathe from your nose and mouth, and provides added comfort in colder water. The mask can also be fitted with communication gear, which can be useful for various types of specialty diving. The Full Face Mask also eliminates the possibility of your regulator falling out of your mouth. Working divers, such as public safety divers, use full face masks because they protect the eyes and nose from contaminants in the water, provide comfort in cold water, and allow for communication. If you’re interested in public safety diving, scientific diving, or venturing into extremely cold-water, then learning to dive with a full face mask is definitely for you. Because full face masks allow you to breathe from your nose, they are also beneficial for those who have difficulty using standard scuba masks. Diving with a full face mask offers a different experience and that alone may be reason to give it a try.

If scuba diving is like taking a scenic stroll around a park, a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) is like exploring a neighborhood on an (electric) bicycle. DPVs, also called underwater scooters, allow you to see more, conserve air and get from one place to another faster – with a huge smile on your face. DPV’s are also great for underwater photography, diving in current, and for people with certain disabilities for whom mobility can be challenging. Scuba diving with a DPV is some of the most fun you can have underwater. During the PADI® Diver Propulsion Vehicle course, you’ll be surprised how much you can see on one tank of air. Your instructor will show you different maneuvers and answer any questions you have.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that diving is only for the hot summer months or in warm water.  Earning your dry suit certification will allow you to dive in cold climates…even ice water.  So many great dive sites with crystal clear water are too cold to enjoy with a wetsuit.  Dry suits are great for divers who love to explore wrecks, since cold water helps to preserve these ships, making them fascinating dive sites which are only accessible with a dry suit. Unlike wetsuits, drysuits are filled with air. During your drysuit course, your instructor will teach you how to control the air in your drysuit along with your buoyancy. You’ll also learn about different types of dry suits as well as basic drysuit repairs and maintenance. During one pool session and two open water dives, you’ll learn how to comfortably and confidently dive in a drysuit. An experienced instructor will help you dial in your buoyancy and shorten the learning curve.

Don’t just make memories while diving; take them with you! Wouldn’t it be great to forever capture the wonderful moments you experience while diving? Photographing the beautiful marine environment and wildlife is a favorite activity for many divers. You could spend hours learning underwater photography through trial and error, or you can take a shortcut. Learn professional tricks and tips for taking great photos underwater and the best way to capture video while scuba diving with a GoPro or other action camera.  During the PADI® Digital Underwater Photographer course, you’ll learn how to take underwater photos you’ll be proud to share with others. Avoid beginner mistakes and shorten the learning curve with tips from the pros. Learn how to use underwater photography lights (strobes), avoid backscatter, and enhance color.  Some divers have even turned their love of underwater photography into a new career or a side business by selling their fabulous photographs or entering them into contests or showings.

Capture the sights, sounds, and the dynamic motion of the underwater world as a videographer. Cover the fundamentals and create interesting, entertaining video worth watching again and again.Video is the best way to share the sights, sounds, motion and dynamics of the underwater world. If you want to get the best clips and also learn to edit your scuba diving stories to share with friends through social media, then the PADI Underwater Videographer Specialty course is for you. 

Knowing how and when to administer emergency oxygen is a valuable skill to have in a dive emergency. PADI® Emergency Oxygen Provider prepares you to offer aid and teaches you to recognize scuba diving injuries and illnesses requiring emergency oxygen.This is an excellent course for scuba divers, boat crew, lifeguards, freedivers,  or anyone who spends time in and around water. It is also a valuable part of the Rescue Diver course. No age restrictions or water sessions required.

Although diving with a buddy is the norm, there are reasons for an experienced diver to develop self-reliance and independence while diving. Learning to carry out dives without a partner can make you a stronger diver in most dive situations. With proper training, equipment and the right attitude to accept the risks involved in independent diving, an experience diver can responsibly engage in dives without a buddy. Self-reliant diving is an adventure activity that is not for everyone, but does have its place. If you have the mental discipline and commitment to learn and follow self-reliant diving techniques, you’ll bolster your skills and confidence when diving alone, in a dive pair or as part of a team.

Make a difference on every dive by activating your inner citizen scientist. During the Dive Against Debris^® Diver Specialty course, you’ll learn how ocean plastic and trash cleanups not only keep your local dive sites healthier, but also how to contribute to a global database that documents our planet’s marine debris problem. Under the guidance of your instructor, you’ll participate in a Dive Against Debris survey and turn your passion for the underwater world into real action.

Join the PADI Torchbearer^™ movement of divers protecting our ocean planet and making every dive count.

You’ll plan and execute a dive with a buddy to remove underwater marine debris while demonstrating appropriate judgment as to which objects should and shouldn’t be removed from the ocean. After the dive, you’ll conduct a survey by recording and reporting your Dive Against Debris data.

Increase your awareness of divers’ varying abilities, and explore adaptive techniques to apply while diving or freediving with a buddy with a disability.

Do you want to learn how to best support a dive buddy who has a physical or mental challenge? The PADI® Adaptive Support Diver course will increase your awareness of divers’ varying abilities, and explores adaptive techniques to apply while diving or freediving with a buddy with a disability.

Learn how to lead underwater tours, assist with scuba classes and inspire others to care about the ocean. Hone your skills and be the diver everyone admires. PADI Divemaster is the most popular and most recognized professional scuba certification in the world. PADI Divemasters enjoy abundant career opportunities, get paid to scuba dive and share their love for the ocean. Gain practical experience giving dive briefings, assisting with classes and leading underwater tours. Learn how to anticipate problems and provide assistance, create an Emergency Assistance Plan and improve your navigation and problem-solving skills through practical workshops. 

• Prerequisites: PADI Rescue Diver certification (or qualifying certification); completion of Emergency First Response® Primary and Secondary Care training (or qualifying training) within 24 months; minimum 40 logged dives; medically evaluated and cleared for diving by a physician within 12 months.

Are you a Divemaster who would like to take your career even further? Would you to take on more responsibilities and teaching opportunities but aren’t quite ready to make the jump to instructor? The Assistant Instructor course could be for you. Becoming an Assistant Instructor will allow you to take an even greater role while assisting an instructor during an open water class, as well being able to teach a couple specialty classes on your own. Assistant Instructor candidates will complete the first portion of the instructor development course as well as taking a final exam.

If you like people, have a passion for scuba diving and want an extraordinary life – become a PADI Instructor. Teaching scuba diving allows you to share your love of the aquatic world with others while doing what you enjoy – being in, around and under water. PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors are the most sought-after dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals. You earn a PADI Instructor rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.

Are you ready to join the ranks of the dedicated professionals who teach the world’s most progressive and popular scuba diver education programs? Then Go PRO with an Instructor Development Course.

The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is made up of two parts – the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification. Over the course of about 10 days, the IDC teaches you to conduct all PADI core courses. You’ll be able to organize and present information, conduct skill development sessions and control open water dives. Basically, you become a better public speaker and get really good at demonstrating skills while watching out for student diver safety. Key topics include:

• PADI Standards and Procedures for courses you can teach with in water workshops
• Learning, Instruction and the PADI System
• Risk Management and Diver Safety
• The Business of Diving and your role as an instructor
• Marketing Diving and Sales Counseling

After successful completion of the IDC, you’ll then attend the Instructor Exam. An Instructor Examination (IE) is a two-day evaluative program that tests an instructor candidate’s teaching ability, dive theory knowledge, skill level, understanding of the PADI System, as well as attitude and professionalism. PADI IEs are standardized and conducted by specially trained PADI Instructor Examiners. The IE location, testing environment and examination sessions are organized to be as objective as possible to fairly and consistently evaluate a candidate’s abilities. Only those who meet the IE performance requirements earn the respected PADI Instructor certification. 

Emergency First Response® primary and secondary care training teaches you what to do in the critical moments between when a life-threatening emergency occurs and when emergency medical services arrive. Learn how to perform CPR, provide first aid that eases pain, assess a variety of injuries and illnesses and practice bandaging and splinting. The Emergency First Response® Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) course combines flexible online self-study and in-person training. It’s your course at your pace. Practice a skill until you feel confident before moving on to the next one.

Gain the skills and confidence to save the life of someone you care about. After completing the Emergency First Response CPR & AED course, you’ll know how to aid someone who may be experiencing cardiac arrest with an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator), or by providing traditional or hands-only CPR. The hybrid online CPR and AED course allows you to learn lifesaving skills on a timeline that works for you. Start with online self-study then schedule in-person training with an instructor. It’s your course at your pace.

Get the skills you need to confidently identify and respond to the most common childhood injuries and illnesses. Provide care that reduces the risk of further harm and gain valuable insights into the emotional aspects of caring for children. Learn the special procedures for providing first aid and CPR to infants and children.The hybrid online and in-person course combines flexible online learning with valuable hands-on skill practice with an instructor. It’s your course at your pace. Start online then schedule in-person training with an instructor. Practice lifesaving skills on specially-designed mannequins until you feel confident.

Your PADI certification never expires; but if you haven’t been diving in a while, it’s better to be over-prepared than risk a problem because you forget something important. For just a knowledge review, complete eLearning. To get comfortable in the water again, also schedule time with dive professional.

Want to find out what scuba diving is like before deciding to get your PADI Open Water Diver scuba diving certification? During a Discover Scuba^® Diving experience, you can try scuba diving for the first time in a pool or calm water environment.  A highly-trained PADI^® Professional will provide scuba gear, explain basic scuba diving skills and answer any questions you may have.

Bubblemaker is as fun as it sounds – a chance for kids to blow bubbles by scuba diving. Children who are at least 8 years old can use scuba gear to breathe underwater and swim around in shallow water. Have a party or celebrate a birthday by throwing a memorable, exciting Bubblemaker event with friends and family. A child must be 8 years old or older. Kids must be comfortable in the water, but no prior experience is necessary. Parental approval is required.

The PADI Seal Team is for young scuba divers who are looking for action-packed fun in a pool by completing exciting AquaMissions. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to dive with flashlights, take digital pictures underwater or float effortlessly like an astronaut? Beyond learning basic scuba skills, there are specialty AquaMissions, such as wreck diving, navigation, buoyancy, environmental awareness and more. PADI Seal Team includes doing some cool stuff in the pool, meeting friends and sharing in the adventure of the underwater world. To join the PADI Seal Team, a child must be 8 years of age or older. No prior experience with scuba diving is necessary, but kids should be comfortable in the water. Parental approval is required.

Make a difference for yourself and others by learning and applying tips to save the ocean. The PADI AWARE Specialty course equips you with tangible actions and opportunities to bring about positive ocean change. Supported by PADI eLearning®, this course dismantles the barriers between diving and conservation, making responsible marine conservation accessible to all. A portion of the proceeds from every PADI AWARE Foundation™ course funds AWARE’s critical conservation work to remove marine debris, secure protection for sharks & rays, expand marine protected areas, and support local grantees. During the self-study eLearning portion of this course, you’ll learn the 10 Tips to Save the Ocean and how to make a positive impact for the underwater world. Next, turn your passion into purpose by completing the 10 Tips Workshops with a highly trained PADI Professional. You can opt for a fully virtual experience via two-way video online learning to complete your PADI AWARE Specialty Certification.

Everyone likes to scuba dive or snorkel in warm, clear water on a vibrant coral reef, yet many people know little about what they’re seeing or the importance of reef ecosystems. The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course helps you appreciate the complexity of these habitats and teaches you how you can help conserve these vital systems. Anyone who has an interest in the aquatic world can take this course. There are no prerequisites or age restrictions and no water sessions are required to earn this non-diving certification.

Skin diving is snorkeling while making breath-hold dives to observe aquatic life, up close and personal. It’s a great way to explore the underwater world when you’re not able to scuba dive or if scuba diving just isn’t your thing. The PADI Skin Diver course teaches you how to enjoy watching life below the surface and comfortably venture underwater for short visits, whether you dive in a local freshwater lake or the big blue ocean, at home or on holiday at a dive destination. To enroll in a PADI Skin Diver course, you must be at least 8 years old. You need adequate swimming skills and comfort in the water. No prior experience is required.