PADI National Geographic Open Water Diver

Learn more. See More. Have more fun! Go beyond the boundaries of PADI’s Open Water Diver course and become a PADI National Geographic Open Water Diver.

As a National Geographic Diver, you join an elite group of explorers, adventurers and conservationists. The insight and training you gain during this program will broaden your awareness and take your diving skills to a new level. You’ll learn to observe and explore like an underwater scientist.

Your experience begins with the PADI Open Water Diver program, enhanced with adventures unique to the National Geographic Diver program. You will learn to explore with detail, identify important underwater features and navigate with certainty. You will have the diving knowledge and practice to maneuver with poise along the reef ’s ecosystems. Whether you’re new to scuba diving, or an experienced diver, the National Geographic Diver program will give you new tools to understand and safely explore the underwater world.

Your adventure begins with the National Geographic Diver certification, where you’ll gain the knowledge and practical experience to live the diving life.

A school of fish on Pattaya's reefs, as captured by an Aquanauts student on his NatGeo Explorer dive during his PADI National Geographic Open Water Diver course.

• You’ll learn basic dive skills and safety information through the PADI Open Water Diver course.
• You’ll be introduced to worldwide dive environments and opportunities by interacting with the National Geographic Diver Almanac and DVD.
• You’ll learn to fine-tune your buoyancy to hover easily and maneuver carefully through delicate aquatic habitats.
• You’ll learn how to observe your surroundings in order to get the best experience from each dive. You’ll gain practical experience by gathering information and collecting images to create a visual representation of a dive site, detailing what you’ve discovered through your observations.
• You’ll improve your navigation skills and ability to find your way around underwater by using a compass as well as natural references.
• You’ll be introduced to a multitude of aquatic species and be able to identify local plants and animals.