Course Overview

The SDI Boat Diver Specialty is designed to prepare divers for one of the most common forms of recreational diving—boat diving. While diving itself remains fundamentally the same, diving from a boat introduces unique procedures, safety considerations, and logistical challenges that every diver should understand before heading offshore.

Your instructor will guide you through every aspect of planning and conducting boat dives while helping you develop the confidence to become a courteous, organized, and self-sufficient diver aboard any recreational dive vessel.

During this course, you will learn:

Boat Diving Fundamentals

• Different types of recreational dive boats
• Boat layouts and emergency equipment
• Understanding captain and crew responsibilities
• Proper diver etiquette while aboard
• Safe movement around a vessel

Dive Planning

• Preparing equipment before departure
• Organizing gear in limited deck space
• Conducting buddy equipment checks
• Planning dives using current conditions and boat procedures
• Understanding drift, live boat, and anchored diving operations

Boat Entry Techniques

• Giant stride entries
• Seated entries
• Controlled entries when conditions require
• Proper timing and communication before entering the water

Surface Procedures

• Surface positioning around the vessel
• Use of surface marker buoys (SMBs)
• Maintaining awareness of propellers and boat traffic
• Procedures for current and drift dives
• Lost buddy and separation procedures

Boat Exit Techniques

• Ladder exits
• Gear removal in the water
• Passing equipment to crew members
• Safe reboarding techniques
• Managing seasickness and fatigue safely

Safety and Emergency Considerations

• Emergency action procedures aboard a vessel
• Diver recall signals
• Weather awareness
• Surface signaling devices
• Emergency equipment commonly carried on dive boats
• Communication with captains and crew

Environmental Awareness

• Proper buoyancy while entering and exiting
• Protecting marine habitats around mooring lines and reefs
• Responsible diver behavior aboard shared charter vessels
• Leave No Trace diving practices

Open Water Training

The course includes two instructor-led open water dives conducted from a charter dive vessel. During these dives, you will demonstrate proper boat diving procedures while applying the knowledge learned throughout the course in real-world conditions.

Skills include:

• Equipment organization and preparation aboard the vessel
• Safe boat entries and exits
• Proper buddy procedures
• Surface awareness and communication
• Deployment and use of an SMB when appropriate
• Following captain and instructor briefings
• Dive planning and execution
• Safe ascent and recovery procedures

Prerequisites

• Minimum age: 18 years old (or 10 years old with parental consent)
• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification or equivalent from a recognized training agency
• Medically fit for diving

Why Take the SDI Boat Diver Specialty?

Boat diving opens the door to some of the world's most incredible dive sites. Whether exploring Gulf wrecks, Florida reefs, drift dives in Jupiter, or tropical destinations around the globe, you'll gain the knowledge and confidence to dive safely and comfortably from virtually any recreational dive vessel.

At Letts Dive!!, our goal is to help you become more than just a certified diver; we strive to develop competent, confident, and prepared divers who can safely enjoy every adventure the underwater world offers.