NAUI SPECIALTY DIVER COURSES

OVERVIEW
NAUI Specialty Diver Courses are either introductions to or are more detailed treatments of the respective areas of specialized diving. Accordingly, some specialty courses are designed to provide more detailed training and result in additional qualifications. In these instances the qualifications are described in the respective specialty course standard. They provide divers the opportunity to enjoy organized diving which yields experience and documents training in specialized diving activities.
Instructors with expertise in specific areas can design their own specialty course with an Instructor-Specified program. Instructors who wish to present expanded specialty courses that produce divers with a finished degree of competence in a specific area can seek authorization for a specifically designated “Master or Full...” Instructor-Specified program.

QUALIFICATION OF GRADUATES
Graduates of a specialty course are considered competent to participate in the respective specialty activities without supervision, provided the activities engaged in and the areas dived approximate those in which the diver was trained.

GENERAL PREREQUISITES
- Screening. In a pre-course session using selected skills, the instructor is to screen and evaluate all students to ensure that they possess the necessary diving skills to minimize risk. Also the instructor is to verify that the student has the prerequisite diver certification. Specialty courses with prerequisite certifications that are higher than Scuba Diver are listed in the respective course standard.
- Equipment. Students shall furnish and be responsible for the care and maintenance of their own diving equipment. The instructor shall initially assist the student in checking all student gear to ensure it is adequate and in proper working order.
- Open Water Dives. Required open water dives dedicated to the specialty activity vary for each course. One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for a given course) is to be used as a screening and evaluation dive to determine the readiness of the students to perform the skills and activities appropriate for the particular specialty. This is not required when the students' diving proficiencies are well known to the instructor. Some courses, because of the complexity of the training or the skills involved, have a higher minimum number of dives designated.

SKILL AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
The desired learning outcome for each specialty course is essentially the same - the ability of the diver to demonstrate that the necessary skills and knowledge have been acquired needed to minimize risks and continue learning and gaining experience in the particular activity.
The specific skill requirements, academic topics, learning objectives, and curricula for each course shall be tailored to achieve and document this outcome. Written exams shall be used to document knowledge in relevant subject areas. (See Policies Applying to All Courses; Evaluation and Documentation).

GENERAL
- Age. The minimum age for each program is to be reached by the water phase, unless otherwise specified. Registration. In some programs participants must be registered with NAUI Headquarters in order to receive credentials. Details are provided in program descriptions as appropriate. Waivers. See Policies Applying to All NAUI Certification Courses.
- Content. Exact content and length of programs are to be keyed to program requirements, participant needs and local environments. Providers should use time as necessary to assure that a particular program meets or exceeds expectations.
- Supplemental Material. Programs are to expose participants to current knowledge. Outlines and textbooks available through NAUI or comparable materials are to be used as guides. Additional handouts, training aids, supplementary texts and similar materials may be used as deemed appropriate.
- Monitoring. Programs will be monitored by NAUI Headquarters to aid standards compliance and quality assurance.

FORMS, RECORDS AND REPORTS
- Releases. No program provider shall allow participation by a minor without having first secured a release signed by parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s).
- Log Book Entries. A record of participation is to be kept through appropriate entries in each participant training/diving log book. Entries are to be authenticated by the providers signature, stamp or seal.

OPEN WATER DIVES
Required open water dives dedicated to the specialty activity vary for each course. One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for a given course) is to be used as a screening and evaluation dive to determine the readiness of the students to perform the skills and activities appropriate for the particular specialty. This is not required when the studentsdiving proficiencies are well known to the instructor. Some courses, because of the complexity of the training or the skills involved, have a higher minimum number of dives designated.

Remark:
- Minimum dives does not include screening dive, if required.
- *May be taught as skin diving specialties. Minimum prerequisite certification shall be NAUI Skin Diver.
- ** NAUI recognizes other organizations' training standards. Those presented here are only for reference.

Stop by Seafarer Divers for more information on the NAUI Speciality Diver program.