PADI Self-Reliant Dive Specialty Course

About the Course

With proper training, equipment, and a positive attitude towards the risks involved, an experienced diver can responsibly engage in dives without a buddy. Self-reliant diving is an adventurous activity that may not be suitable for everyone, but it has its place. If you possess the mental discipline and commitment to learn and apply self-reliant diving techniques, you’ll enhance your skills and confidence when diving alone, in a dive pair, or as part of a team.

To enrol in the Self-Reliant Diver course, you must be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver who is at least 18 years old and has logged 100 dives. Before diving into the course, you’ll complete a skills assessment with your PADI Self-Reliant Diver Instructor.

What Will I Learn

The Self-Reliant Diver course focusses on learning how to compensate for situations you would normally handle with a buddy. This includes proper dive planning, using air consumption rate calculations, redundancy in life support systems, and independent management of dive emergencies. During three self-reliant training dives, you’ll practice these skills.

• Performing an air consumption rate swim to gather information for later calculation.
• Switching to a redundant air supply system during simulated emergency situations.
• Swimming without a mask.
• Navigating to various points, including your exit.
• Using a DSMB.

Course needs a minimum of two to run.

The PADI Self Reliant Diver course is highly recommended for dive professionals and recreational divers who desire to dive alone. For example, passionate photographers or travelling divers may find it useful, as it addresses common issues like rushing and finding a compatible diving buddy. Even if you never plan to dive without a buddy, this course will teach you the essential skills to become more self-reliant.