PADI Equipment Specialist Certification

Age, Depth, and Prerequisite Certification

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

As a result, before you can enrol in the PADI Equipment Specialist course you will need to be:

• At least ten (10) years old.
• Already certified as (either):
  • PADI Junior Scuba Diver
  • PADI Scuba Diver or have an equivalent entry-level certification (e.g. from one of the recognised and approved qualifying dive agency crossovers)

Number of Days: One (1)

Maximum Depth: Not Applicable

Open Water Training Dives: Not Required

Important: Even though PADI scuba certifications do not expire, we recommend reactivating it through a refresher course if you have been away from diving for a while (e.g. longer than six months).

Benefits of Becoming an Equipment Specialist

The course includes access to PADI Equipment Specialist Touch - an interactive digital product for iOS and Android tablet devices.

As a result, you get an immersive look into the way scuba equipment works through short video clips and three-dimensional rotating images (3D).

Understanding how dive equipment works will be useful when buying new gear. Furthermore, you will get to know what may be damaging your existing unit.

Here's a list of things that can destroy dive gear:

• Assembling and Disassembling Gear Incorrectly
• Chemicals (e.g. chlorine in swimming pools)
• Poor Buoyancy Control
• Poor Storage (e.g. stored in an inappropriate location on a boat)
• Saltwater
• Sand Particles
• The Sun
• Washing Machines (e.g. cleaning wetsuits)

Note: Your instructor may offer the Discover Local Diving Program so you can try how new or unfamiliar scuba equipment works.

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).

Equipment Specialist eLearning: Up to Four (4) Hours

If you sign up for PADI eLearning® you can complete the self-study assignments online (for around 2,500 THB).

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

PADI Equipment Specialist: What Skills Will You Learn?

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

It's important that divers take proper care of the equipment. Failing to do so often results in a malfunction or a complication.

Thus, you will learn a lot about routine care, maintenance, and industry recommendations for storing dive gear safely.

Besides that, you will also learn about:

• Scuba equipment routine maintenance procedures, service, and carrying out general repairs.
• How to overcome some common problems with scuba units (e.g. through configuration suggestions).
• The theory, principles, and operation of diving equipment.
• How diving equipment is manufactured, how it works, and tips for packing and kit storage.

Note: Another section explains the key differences between balanced vs. unbalanced regulators and how they function.

Dive Gear and Specialist Equipment

You need to wear standard scuba gear if you make any open water training dives. Other specialist diving equipment that you may clean or repair might involve:

• Accessory gadgets and gizmos for scuba divers (e.g. tank bangers)
• BCD maintenance and reparations
• Retractors, Dive Clips, Reels, and Safety Items
• Dive flags and floats (e.g. alpha flag, surface marker buoy)
• Scuba regulators: balanced and unbalanced
• Underwater Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV)
• Underwater navigation tools (e.g. compass, nav-finder)
• Waterproof cameras and underwater photography equipment

Tip: Using your own personalised scuba equipment during the dive lessons means you can fine-tune your buoyancy wearing the gear that you use on every dive.

FAQ Section and Medical Questionnaire Form

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 the PADI Equipment Specialist Course in Thailand 8,000 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 (where applicable)

Professional tuition from a "Private Scuba" Instructor

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

PADI Scuba Equipment 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 Beginners

Most of the information and advice in this page focuses on scuba diving activities conducted from different types of watercraft and from sandy beaches.

We also have a list of blog articles about snorkeling which relate to popular boating adventures - especially around the tropical islands in Thailand.

Scuba Diving Help Guides

• BCD Parts List: Back Plate, Harness, Pockets, Straps
• Scuba Suit: Wetsuit Temperature Guide
• Scuba Tank Sizes and Markings Explained for Beginners

Note: The short video [1:01 seconds] presented by PADI® features helpful tips and advice about general gear assembly, including how to inspect the O-ring and dates for visual and hydrostatic tests.

What Comes after the PADI Equipment Specialty?

The PADI® Scuba Equipment Specialist Course does not qualify you as a master technician. Nonetheless, it provides the proper foundation for maintenance and care for the investment you have made in your kit.

Some of this basic knowledge can also save you from losing adventure dives on any future diving vacations in Thailand.

So what's next?

This certification links to most scuba certifications, including Specialty Diver Courses available through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

But, PADI's Scuba Equipment course combines very well with the Dive Theory eLearning course and several other specialties, including:

• Deep Diver
• Dry Suit Diver
• Emergency Oxygen Provider
• Nitrox Diver

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.