Scuba Refresher with Drysuit Specialty Course
Looking to get back into diving while transitioning to BC’s world-class temperate waters? IDC’s Refresher with Drysuit Course goes one step beyond the basic refresher. It is designed not only to review fundamental scuba skills but also to advance your buoyancy control and introduce you to comfortable cold-water diving.
The program starts with a dedicated classroom and pool skill refresher on night one, followed by the official PADI Drysuit Specialty orientation on night two. You then head to the ocean for two training dives, earning your official PADI Drysuit Diver Specialty Certification!
Note: You do not need to be previously certified with PADI to earn the PADI Drysuit Specialty, but you must present proof of a valid entry-level certification from a recognized agency.
Course Highlights & Schedule
- Course Length: 3 Days (2 Weekday Pool/Classroom Evenings + 1 Ocean Day).
- Evening Times: Monday (Refresher) & Wednesday (Drysuit) at 7:30 PM (Standard) | 5:30 PM / 6:00 PM (July & August dates).
- Ocean Weekend: Saturday starting at 8:00 AM (or tide-dependent afternoon session).
- Age Requirement: 12+ years old.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner to Moderate.
Optional Add-On: PADI ReActivate & PADI Club
Want formal online study materials? Upgrade with the PADI ReActivate eLearning Add-On to complete digital knowledge reviews at home before your practical session. Upon completion, you will receive an updated PADI eCard featuring your official ReActivate date, plus a bonus 1-year PADI Club membership!
Detailed Course Curriculum
Session 1: Scuba Refresher (Classroom & Pool)
Re-acquaint yourself with equipment setup, hand signals, buddy checks, and in-water buoyancy control.
| Session Phase | Standard Schedule (Sep–Jun) | Summer Schedule (Jul & Aug) |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom Knowledge Review | 7:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
| Deck Gear Assembly | 8:45 PM | 7:15 PM |
| Suited Up & Buddy Safety Check | 9:15 PM | 7:45 PM |
| In-Water Pool Training | 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM | 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Session 2: Drysuit Orientation (Classroom & Pool)
Learn the buoyancy characteristics of drysuits, suit construction, seal care, valve mechanics, and undergarment layering. In the heated pool, you will practice buoyancy checks, drysuit inflation techniques, trimming, inverted suit recoveries, and controlled ascents/descents.
Session 3: Ocean Dives (Whytecliff Park or Porteau Cove)
- Friday Rental Fitting (12:00 PM – 6:00 PM): Visit IDC to check over, size, and pick up your rental drysuit and scuba gear.
- Saturday Ocean Training (8:00 AM): Meet at Whytecliff Park or Porteau Cove (as confirmed during pool nights) for site orientations, briefings, and 2 guided ocean dives. (Times may adjust based on tides and season).
- Saturday Completion (3:00 PM): Return gear to IDC, log your dives, and finalize your PADI Drysuit Specialty certification!
What We Supply (Included):
- 2 pool sessions and 2 ocean training dives.
- PADI Drysuit Specialty Certification processing.
- Rental drysuit and undergarments in a wide range of sizes.
- Full scuba equipment rentals (BCD, regulator, tanks, weights).
- Van rides to the pool available upon request (space permitting).
What You Supply:
- Personal Snorkeling Gear: Mask, Snorkel, and personal Silicone Regulator Mouthpiece (available for purchase at IDC prior to class).
- Timing Device: Bottom Timer or Dive Computer (Dive computer rentals available for $25.00).
- Forms & Reviews: Completed knowledge reviews and PADI Diver Medical Form.
- Transportation: Personal transit to/from store, pool, and ocean (IDC Rideshare van available for $15.00).
