Registration

If our courses are full you may still inquire about semi-private or private courses

Start Date End Date Availability
January 22, 2025 January 25, 2025 Register - $399.95
February 26, 2025 March 1, 2025 Register - $399.95
March 19, 2025 March 22, 2025 Register - $399.95

Pricing

  • $399.95 Regular
  • $599.95 Semi-Private
  • $799.95 Private

Highlights

  • One Wednesday and Saturday Course Length
  • varies Start Time
  • 12 Age Requirement
  • Moderate, Advanced Course Difficulty
  • Classroom, Pool, Ocean Water time

Course overview

Stay warm and dry while enjoying the best temperate water diving in the world right here in BC.

The best way to dive comfortably in Vancouver is undoubtedly in a drysuit. This piece of equipment can seem a little daunting at first as it changes the way we deal with buoyancy and trim (body/equipment positioning) underwater, but the PADI Drysuit Specialty course is designed to acquaint you with the specific techniques required to dive in a drysuit. Our experienced, patient instructors will help you make the adjustment through some knowledge and skill development in the classroom, pool and ocean.

At IDC our drysuit course includes rental of your equipment, including drysuit and accessories (mask,snorkel and mouthpiece not included), one day of knowledge and skill development in the class and pool and 2 dives on the a Saturday in the ocean. We also include the certification fee and Included theDrysuit ELearning Module $215.00 value. There are no hidden costs.

We Supply

  • Rental drysuits – available in a wide range of sizes (Mask,Snorkel & Mouthpiece for your regulator is not included)
  • All other necessary rental equipment
  • Drysuit ELearning Module $215.00 value.

You Supply

  • Transportation
  • Completed PADI Medical form
  • Proof of certification
  • Bottom Timer (Computer is available for rent for $20.00)

Curriculum

Course Curriculum

Knowledge Development

The PADI Drysuit manual contains a wealth of information on drysuit diving. Knowledge Reviews for these chapters must be completed prior to your ocean dives. An instructor will address any apparent gaps in knowledge.

The Drysuit Course will include a classroom knowledge development session on drysuit use and care.

Pool Training/Confined Water Practice

  • 7:00 PM – We meet Wednesday evening of the course Advanced classes meet our Pool for Quick Review & classroom drysuit orientation.
  • 7:45 pm – On deck at the pool for equipment overview and briefing. Please be changed and ready to go at 8:00 pm.
  • 8:00 pm – In water for pool training. Pool orientations for Advanced and Drysuit courses typically last 1 hour. Please allow time to rinse & pack gear and change after your pool session.

The Drysuit Course includes one pool session to acquaint divers with the buoyancy characteristics of drysuits, control, positioning (trim), swimming (propulsion) and ascent techniques that can differ with this piece of exposure protection.

We begin this course with an orientation and review at IDC. We will go over general diving knowledge and elaborate on how it may apply specifically to diving in temperate water like that in BC. Then there will be some knowledge development pertaining specifically to use and care of drysuits.

After the class we will head to the pool for some confined water practice with the drysuits. There will be some skill development here and possibly some review, if necessary. The primary focus will be on buoyancy skills and use of the suits.

Ocean

  • 12pm – 6pm Friday – Check over & pick up rental equipment from IDC.
  • 8am Saturday – Meet at Whytecliff Park or Porteau Cove (as confirmed by instructor during pool session). Site orientation, briefing, knowledge reviews prior to 2 dives. This could be an afternoon dive according to the tides and the time of year. Please check with IDC staff for the exact location and dive time.
  • 2:30pm Saturday – Return to shop to return gear, complete certification, et cetera.

The 2 ocean dives will be held over one day in the ocean at either Whytecliff Park or Porteau Cove. Students will have the opportunity to gain comfort and familiarity with drysuit use in the ocean under the close supervision of an instructor. Students will be asked to perform a few skills, but the dives centre primarily around buoyancy and in-water control. If time allows propulsion techniques may be reviewed.