Want to dive the deep wrecks in the keys, or more advanced springs like Buford? The Deep Diver course certifies you to the maximum recreational depth of 130’. In this class, you'll learn how to plan deep dives, manage your gas supply and how to identify and manage narcosis. You'll learn about buddy contact procedures, safety considerations and buoyancy control at depth.

Course dives can be conducted either in the deep freshwater springs, or in the ocean off the Florida coast (please note, this option incurs additional dive charter fees).

What’s the difference between Deep Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses? Advanced Open Water (AOW) allows you to dive down to 100 feet, and requires five different dives, including navigation and three additional specialties. The Deep Diver is a speciality course that allows you to down to the maximum recreational depth of 130 feet (beyond the 100’ allowed by AOW), and requires 2-4 dives, all focused on deep diving.

Our deep specialty instructor, Peter Kibler, is an active tech instructor and cave diver, with extensive personal experience of Florida cave and cavern systems. He is certified through the Full Cave/Cave DPV level, as well as Advanced (Hypoxic) Trimix, and proficient in both sidemount and backmount doubles. For more on his tech/cave teaching philosophy, see here.

Tip: We recommend pairing your Deep Diver specialty with an Enriched Air (or Nitrox) course, to allow for longer bottom times and shorter surface intervals.

Prerequisites: PADI: Advanced Open Water (AOW), SDI: Open Water

Gear Configuration: Single Tank, Backmount Doubles or Sidemount

Course Details: SDI Deep Diver or PADI Deep Diver or (pick your agency when booking)

Total time commitment: SDI: 1 day (2 dives); PADI: 2 days (4 dives)

Minimum age: SDI: 10+ (with parental consent); PADI: 15+ years

Maximum Course Size: 4 Students

Course Cost: $250 USD* - Complimentary rental gear is available upon request, at no additional cost. Additional fees may be required for air fills, transportation, and dive site entrance cost. Additional fees apply for ocean dives, should you select this option. Contact us for more information.

This price includes certification/training through SDI; you may upgrade to a PADI certification for an additional $250/student. Please note, this option requires an extra training day and two additional dives.