Master Cold-Water Diving on Vancouver Island

Stay warm, dry and comfortable while exploring some of the best cold-water dive sites on the planet. The PADI Dry Suit Diver course teaches you how to safely and confidently dive in a dry suit, opening the door to year-round diving throughout British Columbia.

Whether you're exploring the walls of Port Hardy, the wrecks of Nanaimo, local shore dives in the Comox Valley, or planning future adventures throughout Canada, dry suit training is one of the most valuable skills a diver can acquire.

Why Learn Dry Suit Diving?

British Columbia offers some of the most spectacular diving in North America, but comfortable diving requires the right equipment and training. A properly used dry suit keeps you insulated from cold water, extends bottom time, improves comfort and allows you to dive throughout the year.

During this course you'll learn how to safely manage the air in your dry suit, maintain buoyancy, select proper undergarments and avoid common dry suit diving problems. You'll gain practical experience using a dry suit in real-world conditions with the guidance of an experienced instructor.

Take This Course If You Want To:

• Dive year-round in British Columbia
• Stay warmer and more comfortable underwater
• Explore Vancouver Island's world-class dive sites
• Improve buoyancy control and trim
• Prepare for wreck diving, wall diving and cold-water adventures
• Purchase and confidently use your own dry suit

What You'll Learn

• Dry suit buoyancy control techniques
• Proper weighting and trim adjustment
• How to avoid common dry suit diving problems
• Selecting dry suits and undergarments
• Basic dry suit maintenance and care
• Safe cold-water diving procedures
• Techniques for comfortable year-round diving

Real-World Applications

The skills learned in this course are used every day by divers exploring Vancouver Island's reefs, walls and wrecks. Dry suit training is highly recommended for divers planning to visit destinations such as Port Hardy, Browning Wall, Seven Tree Island, Five Fathom Rock, HMCS Saskatchewan, HMCS Cape Breton and many of British Columbia's best cold-water dive sites.

New to diving? Our PADI Open Water and Dry Suit Course Combo combines entry-level scuba certification and dry suit training in a single program.

Course Structure

During a confined-water training session and two open-water dives, you'll develop the skills and confidence needed to dive comfortably in a dry suit. Our instructors will help shorten the learning curve and build the foundation needed for diving throughout Vancouver Island and British Columbia.

• Confined-water training session
• Two open-water dives
• Personalized buoyancy coaching
• Equipment configuration guidance

PADI eLearning®

Complete the academic portion of the course whenever it fits your schedule. Study online using your computer, tablet or mobile device, then complete your in-water training with your instructor.

• eLearning time commitment: 2-4 hours

Course Requirements

• Prerequisite: PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying certification
• Minimum age: 10 years old
• Course duration: Typically 2-3 days
• Training includes: Confined-water session and two open-water dives

Continue Your Training

After completing the Dry Suit Diver course, many divers continue with Advanced Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox Diver, Rescue Diver and local Vancouver Island dive charters to further develop their skills and experience.