Specialty Courses with Dayo Scuba, Orlando, Florida

Specialties allow you to continue your scuba education, make you a better diver, all while having great fun! There are specialty diver courses available in virtually all areas of scuba diving to ensure you learn the knowledge, intricacies and skills required for the different type(s) of diving you are interested in.

There are different requirements for different specialty courses. Usually there are at home academics to be completed (online options are available for some courses), and at least two dives in the dive specialty area of your choice.

Once you have achieved five (5) specialty ratings, finished your Rescue class, and have 50+ logged dives, you can apply for and get your Master Scuba Diver rating!

Here are some details of the most popular specialties we currently offer at Dayo Scuba:


Advanced Open Water

This is a common follow up to the Open Water Course. The Advanced Open Water Course is an experience based, fun program where you gain a range of additional experience and skills under the direct guidance of a dive instructor. It fine tunes your dive skills, equipment and knowledge to help you plan & execute deeper (up to 130 feet/40 meters) dives in more challenging environments. You will have new experiences, learn new skills, and expand your diving limits.

Rescue Diver

As your diving skills develop, and your in-water comfort level increases you may need to be able to assist fellow divers should they get into difficulty. The Rescue Diver course is the next logical step in your dive education to deal with scuba emergencies as they arise. throughout the class a series of in-water skills, drills and rescue scenarios are demonstrated and practiced. This class is a must for all divers, and best of all, you will have lots of fun doing it, by rising to scuba diving challenges and mastering them. It is both a rewarding and demanding course, but one of the best you will undertake in your diving career.

CPR/Ist Aid/AED/O2 Provider

First Aid certification gives you the tools you need to perform CPR and basic First Aid. Whether you're a diver or a non-diver, this course prepares you to properly handle potentially life-threatening situations. By learning a series of emergency response skills in an upbeat, positive environment, your enjoyable experience will give you the confidence to help in any emergency.


Boat Diver Specialty

During your Boat Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct boat dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (entries and exits), equipment (surface marker buoys (smb's) and other signaling devices), and emergency procedures associated with boat diving. We do this class in South Florida.

This is always a great specialty, as the more boats you dive from, the more diving you will do!


Cavern Diver Specialty

The cavern zone is the part of a cave from which daylight is still visible. It is probably the most beautiful part of the overhead environment, and has some incredible scenery. It is essential that curious divers learn the proper techniques to safely explore this new environment without endangering themselves or damaging this fragile environment. The cavern course develops the minimum skills and knowledge for safe cavern diving. We do this course in caverns in North Florida.

Cavern students need to have two battery powered lights, a 7 foot hose on their regulator, appropriate fins, reels and arrows. Certifications for cavern are from TDI, IANTD, and NSS CDS.

More Info on the Cavern Course here

Deep Diver Specialty

You must be Advanced Open Water certified or equivalent to enroll in the Deep Diver Course. This course is done in the local springs or ocean.

During your Deep Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct deep dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (buoyancy considerations), equipment (descent lines), and emergency procedures and other considerations associated with deep diving.

The minimum depth for the deep dives is between 60 to 100 feet (18-30 meters), with no dive exceeding 40 meters/130 feet. All your dives will be conducted within the no-decompression limits, planned out by use of tables or a computer.


DPV Diver Specialty

During your DPV Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct DPV dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (good buoyancy and environmental awareness), equipment (DPV maintenance and care), and emergency procedures and other considerations associated with DPV diving. You must own your own DPV (Dive Propulsion Vehicle). This course is done in the local lakes or the ocean.


Drift Diver Specialty

During your Drift Diver Specialty you will learn the proper techniques (good buoyancy control), equipment (smbs and other signaling devices) and emergency procedures and other considerations for drift diving. This course is done in the ocean in South Florida. You will need to own your own smb & spool/reel.


Dry Suit Diver Specialty

Dry suits are the trick to staying warm and comfortable for EVERY dive you will ever do! During your Dry Suit Specialty Dives you will learn the proper techniques (buoyancy considerations, dry suit care and maintenance), equipment and procedures for safe dry suit diving.



This course is done in the local springs & lakes of central Florida or the ocean. You must own your own dry suit.


Full Face Mask Specialty]

Professional divers often use full face masks as they offer extra protection from the elements and/or extreme conditions (cold or polluted waters). Until recently full face masks were only available for this type of diving. However, user-friendly design, new manufacturers and affordable prices have made full face masks available for all divers, and there are a range of them on the market today. At Dayo Scuba we now have full face masks in stock, and available for purchase and training.

This Specialty program trains certified divers the necessary procedures, knowledge and skills to safely dive with a full face mask.

This course is done in the local springs & lakes or the ocean. You must own your own full face mask.


Night Diver Specialty

During your Night/Limited Visibility Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct night dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (entries and exits), equipment (lights, smbs and other safety devices), and emergency procedures and other considerations associated with night diving.

Night diving literally opens up a whole new world for divers....the wildlife you see and the experiences you will have will change your whole outlook in diving!

You must be Advanced Open Water certified, or equivalent to enroll in this course. This course in done in south Florida. Students must own 2 reliable battery powered lights to complete this course.


Nitrox

Nitrox is our most popular specialty diver course, and its easy to see why. Over the last two decades Nitrox has become one of the most important tools used in scuba diving. It has many benefits and advantages over air, and has revolutionized the way we dive today.


Oxygen (O2) Provider

Students often complete this course in conjuntion with the Rescue Course.

We teach the Oxygen Provider Course at the Dayo Scuba Training Center, no wetwork is required. The Oxygen Provider course trains and educates students in the techniques of using oxygen as first aid for a suspected dive injury.


Marine Ecosystems Awareness Specialty

As scuba divers, we have a vested interest in protecting the marine environment. In many cases, divers do not have environmental information about their own local sites. The SDI Marine Ecosystems Awareness specialty will increase the Open Water Diver's understanding of marine environments, the problems facing these unique ecosystems, and the role that divers can play in protecting our marine resources. This course will cover your local diving ecosystems as well as others around the globe. This course is done at the ocean, in south Florida. Lots of options for boat or shore dives are available.


Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver Specialty

During your Peak Buoyancy Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct dives while being neutrally buoyant. This training puts special emphasis on the techniques (streamlining, correct weight distribution and hovering), equipment, emergency procedures and other considerations associated with peak buoyancy diving.

On every dive, you should strive to be "perfectly" buoyant…as perfect buoyancy means you conserve air, energy and minimizes damage to our precious environment.




Search & Recovery Diver Specialty

During your Search and Recovery Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct dives in search of missing objects. The course places special emphasis on the techniques (proper search methods, how to handle light salvage, knot tying and rigging), equipment (compasses, lift bags), emergency procedures and other considerations associated with search and recovery dives.

This is always a great specialty, as during your diving career you or buddy will lose or find something important under the water. The knowledge and skills you gain in the Search and Recovery Diver course will help you out when this happens!

This course is completed in the lakes or springs in Central Florida.


Sidemount Diver Specialty

Sidemount diving is the process of taking two cylinders and placing them on either side of your body, rather than mounting them on your back (traditionally known as backmounting cylinders). The benefits of this include a more streamlined profile, reduced drag, increased gas redundancy and ease of entry and exits.

This course teaches certified divers how to safely utilize side mounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back mounted configuration.

You must own your own sidemount system and regulators. This course is completed in the lakes or springs in Central Florida.


Solo Diver

The SDI solo diver program teaches experienced recreational divers how to safely dive independently of a dive buddy or strengthen your buddy team skills.

This course is completed in the lakes or springs in Central Florida. You must have your own independent air source for this class. Other gear requirements are an SMB & compass.

Click Here for more info on Solo Diver.


Underwater Ecologist/Natualist Specialty Diver

During your Underwater Ecologist Specialty Diver program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct ecology-orientated dives. The course places special emphasis on the techniques (fish ID, habitat mapping, researching), equipment (slates, Fish Id guides), emergency procedures and other considerations associated with such dives. This is always a great specialty, it teaches divers about our underwater surroundings and how to have more positive interactions with these delicate ecosystems.

This course is completed in the springs of Central Florida of the ocean in South Florida. Boat & shore options are available for this course.


Underwater Navigation Specialty Diver

During your Underwater Navigation Specialty Diver program you will learn how successfully navigate and lead groups under the water. The course places special emphasis on the techniques (natural and compass navigation, mapping, estimating distances), equipment (reels, compasses and slates), emergency procedures and other considerations associated with such dives.

This is a great specialty as it gives divers the confidence and skills to navigate in any underwater environment, and also to deal will poor visibility. This course is completed in the springs of Central Florida of the ocean in South Florida. Boat & shore options are available for this course.


Underwater Photography Diver Specialty

During your Underwater Photography Dives you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct photography dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (lighting, good buoyancy control), equipment (camera, strobes), considerations and emergency procedures associated with photography diving.

This is a great specialty, as you will remember your amazing dive adventures and be able to share them back on-land with family and friends!

You must own your own camera to take this course. This course is completed in the springs of Central Florida of the ocean in South Florida. Boat & shore options are available for this course.


Underwater Videography Diver Specialty

During your Underwater Videography dives you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct boat dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (good buoyancy control), equipment (lighting and strobes), emergency procedures and other considerations associated with using video cameras while diving.

You must own your own video camera to enroll in this course. This course is completed in the springs of Central Florida of the ocean in South Florida. Boat & shore options are available for this course.


Wreck course

We offer two types of wreck classes: external wreck diving, with no penetration, and a wreck diving specialty with limited penetration.

During your Wreck Diver Specialty program you will learn how to plan, organize and conduct wreck dives, with special emphasis on the techniques (propulsion, good buoyancy control), equipment (up/down lines, lights and reels), emergency procedures and other considerations associated with wreck diving.

You must be Advanced Open Water certified, or equivalent to enroll in the course. We teach this course in south Florida.


Divemaster

We offer the divemaster course from SDI . We encourage any diver that wants to better themselves to take this course, but also anyone wanting to one day become a scuba instructor.



To enroll in any of our specialty diver courses you will need to have your own basic gear: ie: mask, fins, booties, and snorkel. BCD, regulator, wetsuit and tanks are usually available for rental; and at a reduced price for alumni.

Not included in the course fee are dive site fees (vary from a few dolls for the springs, to $70 for boat trips) and any specialty e gear (eg lights, reels, lift bags) needed. Some specialty courses Cavern, you will need to purchase additional gear.



Specialty Matrix by Agency:
Specialty Chart for SDI, Dayo Scuba, Orlando, Florida