How to Become a Dry Suit Diver Specialist

Age, Depth, and Prerequisite Certification

There are minimum age requirements and maximum depth limits for all the specialties that require scuba training at open water dive sites.

As a result, before you can enrol in the PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty course you will need to be (all):

• At least ten (10) years old.
• Already certified as (either):
  • PADI Junior Open Water Diver
  • PADI Open Water Diver or have an equivalent entry-level certification (e.g. from one of the recognised and approved scuba training agencies)

Number of Days: Two (2) Days

Open Water Training Dives: Two (2)

Maximum Depth: Depends on age and certification level

Important: Even though scuba certifications do not expire, we recommend taking the PADI ReActivate® diver refresher course if you have been away from scuba for a while (e.g. longer than six months).

Reasons to Become a Dry Suit Diver Specialist

So, what are the main benefits of taking a course in drysuit diving? Unlike traditional exposure suits made from neoprene, drysuits contain a lot of air inside.

Because they're filled with air, drysuits and undergarments help to keep divers warm when diving in colder water temperatures - even below a thick layer of ice.

Some of the most amazing destinations for diving exist in cold water locations. Thus, it would not be safe (or possible in some cases) to submerge in icy waters with temperatures close to zero - unless you were wearing a dry suit.

This course prepares you to dive in some challenging environments. As such, Divers Alert Network (DAN) issues several medical concerns for consideration:

• Buoyancy (proper weighting)
• Constriction (neck and wrist seals)
• Dermatological (diving-related skin conditions)
• Thermal (3 garment layers)
• Urological (using a P-valve system)

It's important to understand that the techniques and procedures used when entering and exiting the water while wearing a dry suit may vary at different locations.

Exploring Challenging Dive Sites

Having the knowledge and unique skills to explore harsh locations away from regular safety responses and emergency rescues are additional reasons for taking the course.

The Really Cool Part!

A drysuit helps you meet the challenge of diving in extremely cold water such as inland caves, quarries, lakes, sinkholes, underneath ice, and during the winter time in northern Europe.

The drysuit diver is equipped to explore some of the cooler dive sites around the world where even using a 7mm wetsuit would not be possible.

Note: The scuba equipment section explains more about the common medical issues for drysuit divers and how to avoid constriction and manage dermatological rashes.

Digital Learning Programs for Self-Study

In general, it is much easier for divers with a busy schedule to choose the online learning option to start scuba lessons.

Being able to complete the independent study portion of a multiple day course offers you some flexibility and convenience.

As long as you have a computer or a mobile device, you will be able to study the knowledge development portion at your own pace (online or offline).

Dry Suit Diver eLearning: Up to Four (4) Hours

If you sign up for PADI eLearning® you can complete all the Dry Suit Diver self-study assignments online (around 4,500 THB).

Following that, you would need to contact the dive shop to perform the required scuba training dives with a PADI Instructor to finish the course.

PADI Dry Suit Diver: What Skills Will You Learn?

You need to participate in the instructor-led knowledge development sessions by completing all knowledge reviews from the Drysuit Diving student manual.

Here's why...

Of course, you will learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe and effective manner while wearing a dry suit and any related equipment.

Besides that, you will also learn about:

• Undergarment options, familiarisation, and how to perform safety checks
• Entry and descent techniques in dry suits (including the bubble check)
• Buoyancy skills and how to avoid common problems associated with wearing a dry suit
• Buoyancy control and finning skills for the dry suit diver
• Equipment maintenance, storage, and basic repairs
• Locating safety equipment and first aid supplies

The course requires you to take a confined water drysuit training session (e.g. for divers who have never used one before).

This is to orient you to dry suit diving prior to making the two (2) required training dives in the open water environment.

Note: Did you successfully complete the elective Dry Suit Dive from the Adventures in Diving Program? If so, an instructor may count it as being the first training dive for certification requirements in this specialty course.

FAQ Section and Medical Questionnaire Form

Can a Certified Drysuit Diver Dive Alone?

The scuba diving buddy system is a safety rule that pairs two or more divers together. Moreover, the group should also perform the standardised pre-dive safety checks (BWRAF) before entering the water.

Nonetheless, PADI does consent to a kind of 'solo diving' through the Self-Reliant Diver certification course, which is also available in Pattaya, Thailand.

Can I Touch the Underwater Organisms?

Divers share a common responsibility to protect and conserve nature. As a result, interacting passively with aquatic animals helps to safeguard the habitats of delicate and sensitive sea life.

What Should I Not Do after Diving in Icy Cold Water?

After cleaning the gear, there are several kinds of activities that divers should avoid doing after using scuba equipment, including:

• Exercising
• Flying in a plane or traveling to altitude (e.g. mountain hiking)
• Having a deep tissue massage, hot bath, or hot shower
• Drinking alcohol
• Forgetting to log the dives

When Should You Do a Scuba Refresher?

Suppose you don't go diving for more than six months. There is a simple way to refresh the knowledge and skills that you already learned.

After a long period of inactivity, taking the PADI ReActivate® program will help you brush up on the safety procedures and scuba diving fundamentals.

Medical Requirements: Free Download

You must be in good physical and mental health and be medically fit for recreational scuba diving. You can review the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire Online to check whether you need to be evaluated by a physician.

It is not appropriate to ask dive staff (e.g. divemasters, instructors) for medical advice or clearance to go diving. Instead, you can contact the Divers Alert Network (DAN) if you have questions about your medical fitness to dive.

Price for PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course in Thailand 13,900 THB*

We have qualified instructors and expert dive guides who can teach in several languages, including English, Thai, and Chinese.

The price includes (all):

Boat trips (with free soft drinks served on board)

Professional tuition from a "Private Scuba" Instructor

Free rental of required diving equipment (including a dive computer)

PADI Drysuit Diving Specialty Manual and Certification Card

Hotel transfers within Pattaya City limits

Important: You will usually be making two (2) scuba training dives in the same day. The PADI flying after diving guidelines say you need to wait a minimum of eighteen (18) hours after the second dive before you go to altitude. Please send us an email if you need further information.

YouTube Video and Knowledge Base for Drysuit Divers

Most of the information and advice in this page focuses on scuba diving activities conducted from different environments that have very cold water temperatures.

We also have a list of blog articles about snorkeling which relate to popular boating adventures - especially those taking place in hot and sunny climates like Thailand.

Scuba Diving Help Guides

• How to get the Full Face Mask Diver Certification?
• PADI Rescue Diver Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
• How to Become a Public Safety Diver™?

Note: The short video presented by PADI explains what to expect when taking the Dry Suit Diver Specialty course and how the protocols and procedures vary in different parts of the world.

What Comes after the Dry Suit Diver Specialty?

Drysuits are useful for the majority of dive sites in the northern hemisphere. They are usually a necessity when ice or altitude diving.

Also, many technical divers wear them on almost every dive due to the length of the time they will spend underwater.

You need much more thermal protection the longer you are submerged. Check out the Discover Tec Diving experience if this type of specialised scuba interests you.

So what comes next?

Now you're an expert at scuba diving in a dry suit. Your certification links to almost all other certifications, including the popular Specialty Courses offered by PADI.

Nonetheless, the PADI® Dry Suit Diver course combines particularly with several other specialties such as:

• Deep Diver
• Peak Performance Buoyancy
• PADI Altitude Diver
• Underwater Scooter (DPV).
• Wreck Diving Specialty

Note: All course prices for diving are subject to change and assume that all prerequisites have been met to start the training. Click here to contact the team at Private Scuba in Thailand to make a booking or send an enquiry.