Underwater Naturalist Diver

About this course

This specialty course is designed to expose the diver to the physical and biological aspects of the diving environment with emphasis on the local area and to expose the diver to either kelp forest or coral reef ecology or freshwater environments and the methods used by underwater ecologists in their studies of the respective ecosystems. The use of current events and news of recovered and threatened ecosystems are part of this course. Also, day and night dives are encouraged in this course.

Prerequisite

• Age. Minimum is 15 years by the water phase of the course. (Junior certification for ages 10-14 is allowed. See “Policies Applying to All Courses: Age, Junior Certification”)
• Certification/Experience/knowledge.  NAUI Scuba Diver certification or equivalent. The instructor is to ensure adequate student knowledge and capability before any open water training and shall use skill or other evaluations to do so.  One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for the course) may be used as a screening and evaluation dive. This is not required when the student's diving proficiencies are well known to the instructor.
• Equipment. Students shall furnish and be responsible for the care and maintenance of their own diving equipment. The instructor shall initially assist the student in checking all student gear to ensure it is adequate and in proper working order.