Highlights

• Course Length - 3 days
• Start Time - 7:30PM Monday - Refresher; Wednesday - Drysuit Orientation (*6:00PM July & Aug Dates) | 8:00AM Saturday - Ocean dives
• Age Requirement - 12+
• Course Difficulty - Beginner, Moderate
• Time - Classroom, Pool, Ocean

Course overview

Here at IDC we have created a comprehensive refresher and drysuit course that is suited for our water. It is a course that is not just for review, but for advancing your diving skills as well. This is an excellent way for divers that have done all or most of their diving in warmer waters to get acquainted with BC’s temperate. IDC’s Refresher with Drysuit Course is one step past the Basic Refresher Course. You will participate in the basic refresher course on the first day then on day 2 you start the PADI Drysuit Specialty Course. It includes two ocean dives and your drysuit specialty certification, as well as all necessary PADI materials and rental equipment.

Note: You do not have to be PADI certified to participate and receive the PADI Drysuit Diver Specialty but you must provide proof of your Scuba certification.

Reactivate with PADI Club add-on

Feel like it’s been especially long since you were diving and would like to receive PADI course materials as well? The PADI ReActivate add-on is designed to give certified divers a more formal PADI experience with an eLearning to follow along with prior to the practical session. After completion of the ReActivate Refresher you’ll receive a PADI eCard stating the date of successful completion to present to the dive operation requiring the refresher.

Along with the ReActivate, you will also receive a PADI Club membership as an added bonus to the program. Read more details about the program at padi.com/padiclub

Similarly to the PADI Drysuit Diver, you do not have to be certified with PADI to participate with any of these programs but you must provide proof of your Scuba certification.

We Supply

• Two hour pool sessions and Two Ocean Dives
• PADI Drysuit Specialty Cerification
• Rental drysuits – available in a wide range of sizes (Mask, Snorkel & Mouthpiece for your regulator is not included)

You Supply

• Mask, Snorkel & Mouthpiece for your regulator
• Bottom Timer (Computer is available for rent for $25.00)
• Completed knowledge reviews
• Transportation (Rideshare available for $15.00)
• Completed PADI Medical form

Curriculum

The course takes place over two evenings in the pool and one day in the ocean.

Refresher – Class and Pool
The course begins with a day as a dedicated refresher course. On session one you will be reintroduced to the use and setup of your scuba equipment, proper use of hand signals and diving techniques in the class and pool.

• 7.00pm – Classroom for knowledge review (July & Aug at 5.30pm)
• 8.45pm – on deck for gear assembly (July & Aug at 7.15pm)
• 9.15pm – be changed and ready to go into the pool for gear safety check. (July & Aug at 7.45pm)
• 9.30pm – in water (July & Aug at 8.00pm)
• 10.30pm – out of the the water  (July & Aug at 9.00pm)
• 10.45pm – leaving the pool facility (July & Aug at 9.15pm)

Drysuit Orientation – Class and Pool
The second day is an orientation to the use of a drysuit in the classroom and a pool session. The classroom component introduces use of a drysuit and its buoyancy characteristics. We will also introduce students to the different types of drysuits and various features and options one might encounter when renting or buying a drysuit. Students will be taught basic care and maintenance of suits and given examples of appropriate undergarments and complementary exposure protection to consider for cold water diving.

The confined water sessions are conducted at an indoor, heated pool which provides parking and lockers. Students will be taught new or altered techniques for buoyancy control and trim (streamlining) in drysuits in the pool; this will be the bulk of the focus for the second day of the program. Students will perform a buoyancy check and learn efficient methods and positions to descend and ascend in drysuits.

Ocean Dives
After you have completed the two nights of training you will do two dives in the ocean in a drysuit with an instructor. These dives will include a site orientation, briefing on dive procedures and skills that will allow you to comfortably and confidently enjoy diving in BC waters.

• 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.
• 3.00pm Saturday – Return to shop to return gear, complete certification.