Why Choose Pacific Wilderness?

  PADI Underwater Naturalist Course Details

Are you fascinated with aquatic life? Always wondering what that fish is and why it always dances under a coral head whenever you get close? If you’re engrossed with life under the surface, our PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course is especially for you.

In your journey to underwater naturalist, our course teaches you about the different major aquatic life groupings and how they interact so that you understand what you observe in the underwater environment. With the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course under your belt, you'll see the aquatic world differently. You won’t see “fish,” but individual species with distinct strategies for surviving in a complex, interactive ecosystem.

Our PADI Underwater Naturalist program includes two open water dives, conducted in one day. Topics include an overview of aquatic life groupings (kingdoms and phyla), facts that dispel myths of potentially dangerous marine life, human interaction and association with aquatic life, and diving techniques used to help preserve all marine life.

Covered in this Course:

• Overview of aquatic life groupings and interrelations.
• The role of aquatic plants, food chains and predator prey relationships.
• Responsible interactions with aquatic life.

Session One (Class):

• Paperwork

• Fish ID Lecture

• Fish ID Practice

Approx. Time: 3-4 Hrs

Session Two (Open-Water):

• Dive Briefing

• Dives #1 & #2

• Fish I.D. Review

Approx. Time: 5-10 Hrs
(Depending on whether it's a Beach or Boat Dive Program)

Certification counts toward the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.

UNDERWATER NATURALIST CLASS REQUIREMENTS

PREREQUISITE

(Minimum age 12 to Register)

*If your certification is listed below you may qualify to enroll in this PADI Specialty Course at Pacific Wilderness.

-BSAC Ocean Diver
-CMAS 1 Star Diver
-IDEA Open Water
-NASDS Open Water
-NAUI Open Water
-PDIC Open Water
-SSI Open Water
-YMCA Open Water

• Basic Gear (Purchased in OpenWater)
• Full SCUBA Gear (Rental Available**)
  • Regulator System
  • B. C.
  • Tank
  • Wetsuit & Hood
  • Weight Belt

  Plus the Following needed for all Specialty Classes:

• Dive Knife & Slate*
• Compass*
• Whistle*
• Dive Bag for Boat Trips*
• Safety Sausage*

*Note, this Equipment is Required at ALL Dive Shops and is not included in the Class.

**Full SCUBA Gear is available for Rental at a Package Rate of $60 for the Weekend

FOR COMPLETION

• Attend Class Session and Complete Assignments.
• Complete Two Dives and Demonstrate General Knowledge of  marine life.

TRAINING OPTIONS

 Our most Popular Specialty Program. The Underwater Naturalist Boat Dives program incorporates about 14 hours of Instruction Customized to your Schedule with Two Supervised Dives to Complete your Specialty Certification.

We recommend this Course to Students for Several Reasons:

1. You always see "Fish", but now you could know what kind!
2. It allows those with Difficult or Varying Work Schedules to take Specialty Classes.
3. It gives your Group the ability to take a Private Specialty Class with just your Friends at a comparable Price to Standard "Pre-Scheduled" Courses at other shops
4. This Course has the Most Varied Schedule Available because you set it!
5. Smaller class sizes mean more Personalized Attention.

To View How to Build a Class Schedules See Below.

Classes Size of One up to Eight 

• Customized Course Schedule
• Tuition Fee
• Pacific Coast Inshore Fish Book
• Local Fish I.D. Slate
• PADI Specialty Certification Card.
• (2) Supervised Boat Dives
• Catalina Island Boat Trip

• Session #1 (Class):  - You will need to Dedicate a Half Day. Our Beach Dives are normally arranged early morning when conditions are typically best.  Session normally runs 7 am to Noon.
• Session #2 (Dives) - You will need to Dedicate a Full Day. Our Boat Trips are scheduled a Year in Advance and can be Viewed Here. Look up any "Shop Boat Dive" and use those dates in planning your Schedule. Session normally runs 6:30 am to 5 pm.

If you need help or have any questions on how to schedule Your Specialty Class Please call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to walk you through it! 

Note, Final Schedules will be determined jointly between Student (s) and Dive Shop based on Boat and Instructor Availability.

Back to Training Options

 Our most Economical Specialty Program.

The Underwater Naturalist Beach Dives program incorporates about 9 hours of Instruction Customized to your Schedule with Two Supervised Dives to Complete your Specialty Certification.

We recommend this Course to Students for Several Reasons:

1. You always see "Fish", but now you could know what kind!
2. It allows those with Difficult or Varying Work Schedules to take Specialty Classes.
3. It gives your Group the ability to take a Private Specialty Class with just your Friends at a comparable Price to Standard "Pre-Scheduled" Courses at other shops
4. This Course has the Most Varied Schedule Available because you set it!
5. Smaller class sizes mean more Personalized Attention.

To View How to Build a Class Schedules See Below.

Classes Size of One up to Eight 

• Customized Course Schedule
• Tuition Fee
• Pacific Coast Inshore Fish Book
• Local Fish I.D. Slate
• PADI Specialty Certification Card.
• (2) Open-Water Beach Dives with Instructor

• Session #1 (Class):  - Dedicate 3-4 Hours total time. This may be done in One evening prior to your Dives.
• Session #2 (Dives) - You will need to Dedicate a Half Day. Our Beach Dives are normally arranged early morning when conditions are typically best.  Session normally runs 7 am to Noon.

If you need help or have any questions on how to schedule Your Specialty Class Please call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to walk you through it! 

Note, Final Schedules will be determined jointly between Student (s) and Dive Shop based on Instructor Availability.

Back to Training Options

Back to Class Descriptions