Naturalist

Naturalist

Contact Us Today

Learn more about the different fish and animals that inhabit the underwater world

When you start a new job, aside from getting familiar with the process of the work itself, you need to get to know all the names of the new people. It is easy for them because there is only one of you, but there are lots of them. Some techniques used are to remember something different about the person, for example she always wears bright lipstick, he has a shaved head.

Underwater we are now looking at and being looked at by a lot of different animals, all have their own names and places to live, each dive is far more interesting when you know their names.

The same techniques can be applied as when starting a new job, find something that stands out with this individual, carrying Fish Identification Slates and a pencil helps so much. You use your pencil to circle the fish on your slate, then when you are back on the boat/beach look in your book to find out more detail.

Interestingly the next time you see that fish you know enough for them to be an old friend. Each dive you do this, you learn more of the names and personalities, amazingly things underwater seem a lot more friendly and fun.

PADI Underwater Naturalist specialty course goals

To interact with the living underwater world based on objective assessments and observations

View the aquatic ecosystems scientifically, without biases based on misconceptions and myths

Learn the basic organism groupings and identifications, with emphasis on understanding the relationships between organisms, their environment and humans

Understanding and applying environmentally friendly diving techniques

What’s included in the PADI Underwater Naturalist specialty course?

PADI Underwater Naturalist Manual
PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Chevron (badge)
Gold PADI Underwater Naturalist Diver Certification Card
PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Certificate of Recognition

One day on a boat to complete the two (2) dives

Classroom time to review the knowledge review in your manual and watch the PADI
Underwater Naturalist DVD

A pool session to practice the techniques of an Underwater Naturalist and review your general diving skills

Who can become a PADI Underwater Naturalist specialty diver?

Junior Open water Diver – 12-14 years old – Certified Adult maximum depth 18m
Open water Diver – 15 years up – Maximum depth 18m

Sea fan in the Whitsundays

A large sea fan, soft corals, and other colorful marine life grows on a healthy reef slope.

What you need

Mask, Fins and Snorkel
Exposure Suit and Accessories (hood)
Weight System (weight belt/integrated weight with quick release)
Tanks (2 dives)
Regulator with SPG (submersible pressure gauge)
Alternate Air Source
BCD with low pressure inflator
Instrumentation with a means to monitor depth, time and direction
Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) or eRDPML
Diving Tool/Knife capable of cutting line
Slate and pencil
Whistle or surface signaling device
Dive Bag
Log Book

On a tight budget or schedule?

Complete your PADI Underwater Naturalist Diver Specialty Course on a dive by dive schedule, you could complete one dive a week for two weeks or one dive a month for two months depending on your budget/schedule.

For more details on this option please speak to the Whitsunday Diving Academy team.

Questions and Schedule

For the classroom and pool you will need to bring your completed PADI Underwater Naturalist Diver Specialty Manual and knowledge review, swimmers, towel and dive equipment.

For the boat trip you will need lunch, water bottle, swimmers, towel, hat, sun block and dive equipment.

Any questions about the PADI Underwater Naturalist Diver Specialty Course or the schedule, please speak to the Whitsunday Diving Academy Team.

Did You Just Want To Try Scuba Diving?

We understand that if your just starting out, or have never scuba dived before, it might be a bit daunting spending an entire day on a dive boat to go scuba diving in the Whitsundays or Great Barrier Reef, so we have some special options for beginners, non divers and people interested in trying scuba for the first time. If you are staying in the area just drop in, or email us to talk about booking a Discover Scuba Dive or Scuba Diving Whitsundays Day Trip.

Discover Scuba Diving

Latest News & Updates

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Informed consumers use reef safe sun cream like Reef Repair

Reef Repair – Reef Safe Sun Care Products

If you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years you might have not heard, but Coral Reefs all over the world are dying at an alarming rate and it is due to human activity and warming global temperatures. These effects are combining to form a devastatingly brutal cocktail of pain for the Australian Great Barrier Reef tourism industry. Most people would hav [...]

Show Me More

Padi Women’s Dive Day!

Women are more and more important in the world of diving, and we couldn’t be happier! Diving is a world lulled by delicacy and our femininity can only enhance it. Both men and women, love to admire this secret world full of sensuality and strength (more… [...]

Show Me More

Billie – Debbie you can’t stop us!

     A little bit more than a month after Debbie we still feel the weight of the damages she made in our daily life. Whether in town, in the bush or in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Debbie is not ready to be forgotten. After studying her trajectory, we were ready to start this new adventure, or I should say challenge, because it really was one. Our objective was [...]

Show Me More
More Articles
Find Us On Google Maps
Airlie Beach
Whitsunday Diving Academy
Airport

What Our Customers Say About Us

Whitsundays Diving Academy is the only choice for sailing & scuba diving day trips in the Jubilee Pocket & Airlie Beach area's. Let us show you the amazing hidden world that is, scuba diving in the Whitsundays & Australia's Great Barrier Reef !!


" Ian, Wayne and their team are the friendliest and most organised crew I've dived with in 25 years. They are very professional and safety is paramount to their operation. All of your needs will be met regardless of your diving experience ... "

- AlanVicci

" Had been a while since my last dive and I am a novice diver. Wayne, Ian and the team were great they made me feel totally safe so I could relax into the dive and really enjoy it. Thoroughly enjoyed my day with them and will return ... "

- V A

" This is an absolutely first rate team who provide PADI lessons and a wonderful experience. Waded through the reviews of Dive Academy in Airlie and Greg Nadine and Wayne provided the best responses and they lived up to expectations ... "

- jjukes4
More Reviews