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.
You need to be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver who is at least 18 years old and has 100 logged dives to enroll in the Self-Reliant Diver course. You’ll also complete a skills assessment with your PADI Self-Reliant Diver Instructor before diving into the course.
Self-Reliant Diver (solo diver) Instructor | $199.00 |
PADI Specialty Instructor Application Fee (per specialty) | $74.00 |
Learning how to compensate for situations you would normally handle with a buddy is the focus of the Self-Reliant Diver course. This includes proper dive planning using air consumption rate calculations, life support system redundancy, and independent management of dive emergencies. During three self-reliant training dives, you’ll practice:
Whether your interest is in underwater photography, wreck, search and recovery, or another area; PADI Specialty Instructor courses prepare you to teach the specialty that interests you. You will receive experience in conducting both academic sessions and open water dives, plus tips on how to market and make these courses come alive for you and your students. Below is a full range of specialties our Course Director has to offer.
Besides your basic scuba equipment, you’ll need a DSMB, redundant gas source, redundant dive computer and redundant surface signaling device. Your PADI Instructor or Beyond the Reef staff will suggest other gear as appropriate.