Boat Diver

Duration

1 Day

Max Depth

Depends on your certification level

Min Age

10 Years old

Dives

2 Dives

Pool Sessions

None

Price

R4,400

Course Overview

Expand Your Lifetime Diving Journey

Do you just love the ocean? Being out at sea with the wind blowing in your hair and the salty sea spray filling the air around you, you feel calm and at one with the ocean. Or do you just dislike the hassle of shore diving? Then PADI Boat Diving Specialty Course is for you!

Here you will be able to explore new scuba dive sites that you may not be able to reach from shore. It also gives you a greater insight into the planning and execution of boat dives.

Whether you’re diving from a small rubber duck or a large cruise liner, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty familiarizes you with boat diving techniques that will be useful whenever you are faced with scuba diving from a boat.

Dive boat skipper among granite boulders on the Cape Town coast
Why Choose Us
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Free pick-up from hotel (central city area)
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Both PADI & TripAdvisor certificates of excellence won
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Best dive instructors & dive masters
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Good quality well maintained scuba equipment
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Strong emphasis on safety & quality
Cape Town Tourism member, PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence badges
Pricing

OUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY: Don’t train until you get it right, train until you can’t get it wrong.

Two exciting dives off our boat. Learning where all our safety equipment is stored as well as learning to use Surface Marker Buoys to signal the Boat Skipper.
R4,400

Possible Upgrades

Deep Diver Specialty – now that you know how to do boat diving, chances are that you are going to be doing deep dives more often! Become proficient at deep diving with doing your PADI Deep Diver Specialty. Apart from helping you to be more comfortable at depth, this certification also qualifies you to scuba dive down to 40 meters.

Prerequisites

Open Water Diver Certification. Minimum age: 10 years old.
Cirriculum

What You'll Learn

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BOAT DIVER THEORY & KNOWLEDGE
Learn the essentials of safe and enjoyable boat diving, including boat procedures, dive planning, marine etiquette, equipment, and managing the unique considerations of diving from a boat.
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BOAT DIVING EQUIPMENT & SETUP
Learn how to organise and manage your scuba equipment efficiently on a dive boat. Develop practical skills for preparing your gear, securing equipment, and keeping your dive setup safe and streamlined.
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UNDERWATER NAVIGATION & AWARENESS
Develop greater awareness of your dive location, boat position, current, depth, and surroundings. Learn techniques for maintaining orientation and returning safely to your planned exit point.
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BOAT DIVING SAFETY & PROCEDURES
Build confidence with essential boat diving procedures, including boarding, equipment setup, buddy checks, entering the water, exiting safely, and following crew instructions.
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DIVE PLANNING & BOAT DIVING SKILLS
Develop the skills to plan and conduct boat dives with greater confidence. Learn about dive site briefings, currents, emergency procedures, surface signalling, and what to expect when diving from a boat.
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BOAT ENTRY & EXIT TECHNIQUES
Practise common boat diving entry and exit techniques and learn how to safely enter and leave the water from different types of dive boats while managing your equipment.
2-Day Program

The Course Structure

Day 1
Theory
Knowledge development this takes roughly 2 -4 hours online to ensure you have the knowledge of diving before coming for your practical application.
Day 2
Ocean Dives 1 + 2
Complete two exciting boat dives designed to build confidence and practical boat diving skills. During the first dive, practise safe boat entry and exit techniques before enjoying a fun dive. On the second dive, learn how to correctly deploy a surface marker buoy (SMB), then put your skills into practice while enjoying another guided fun dive.
Why Choose CT Dive School

Unmatched Quality & Safety

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PADI 5-STAR IDC CENTRE
Top tier certification standard recognizing highest standards of diver training, safety and customer service.
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MAX 4 STUDENTS
We guarantee small groups per instructor to ensure close personal attention, optimal safety, and customized training.
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DIVERSE MARINE LIFE
Cape Town's unique temperate reefs feature ancient kelp forests, historic wrecks, playful seals and spectacular biodiversity.
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ALL EQUIPMENT INCLUDED
No hidden costs. Premium wetsuits, regulators, masks, fins, and cylinders are fully included in the price.
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS
Learn from highly experienced, certified ocean professionals who live and breathe Cape Town diving.
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QUICK OVERVIEW

Key Highlights

Minimum duration 1 day
Preparing for the course via e-learning homework
Course can be constructed around your schedule
Minimum age: PADI Open Water 10 years old
Become more comfortable diving from boats in different conditions
Practise deploying a surface marker buoy (SMB)
Learn essential boat diving procedures and safety techniques
Requirements

Course Prerequisites

Before diving, ensure you meet PADI’s basic health and swimming requirements. Be a PADI Open Water diver or equivalent!

Open Water Diver Certification
10 Years Old
Be Reasonably healthy
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need previous boat diving experience?

No. The PADI Boat Diver Specialty is designed to help certified divers developthe skills and confidence needed to dive from boats, even if they have limited previous boat diving experience.

What types of boats can I dive from?

Boat diving can include a variety of vessels, from small local dive boats to larger charter and liveaboard vessels. The course helps you understand the general procedures and considerations involved in diving from a boat.

What equipment do I need for the PADI Boat Diver course?

You’ll use standard scuba equipment along with equipment appropriate for boat diving. We will provide guidance on required equipment, including surface signalling equipment such as an SMB and reel.

Is the PADI Boat Diver Specialty suitable for beginners?

The course is designed for certified scuba divers who want to develop their boat diving skills. You’ll already need basic scuba diving experience before starting the specialty.

Can I use this experience on future dive trips?

Yes. The skills and knowledge gained from the PADI Boat Diver Specialty can help you feel more prepared when joining boat dives at different dive sites and destinations, provided you stay within the limits of your training and experience.

Is it difficult?

No, it is not. Many people find boat scuba diving much easier than shore diving.

How deep are the boat dives around Cape Town?

Most of our boat dives are deeper dives, ranging from 14 – 25m.

Where in Cape Town do you launch from?

Depending on the conditions of the day we will either launch from Hout Bay Harbour, Millers Point in False Bay or the Powerboat Club next to the V&A waterfront in Cape Town.

What kind of boat do you use?

We use an inflatable rib boat that is 9 meters long.

All-inclusive training

What's Included in the fee

PADI Digital Learning Materials
2 Ocean Dives in Cape Town
PADI Certification Processing & Card
Premium Scuba Gear Rental
Safety Gear and Diver's Insurance
Photo Gallery

Underwater Scenes & Diving Moments

Testimonials

What our divers say

My wife and I had a really great time diving with Into the Blue Cape Town in May. The gear you get is very good, including Scubapro Seawing Nova fins, 7mm wetsuits, gloves, boots, and even an extra vest to wear under the wetsuit. The water was quite cold at around 14°C, and since I normally only dive in tropical waters, I was a bit unsure at first. But with the gear provided, I was absolutely fine for the whole dive. My wife did shiver at the end of dives though. You could stop the dives at any time and one of the dive master would get you to the boat. We had an amazing time in the kelp forest and even saw a pyjama shark. On our first dive at North Paw, we were also lucky enough to see a seal right at the end of the dive, which was a really nice surprise. The whole day was very well organized and the service was excellent. Everyone was friendly, professional, and made us feel comfortable. Unfortunately, we had to leave for the Garden Route the next day, otherwise we would definitely have booked another dive with them. Overall, it was a really great experience, and next time I am in Cape Town, I will for sure dive with Into the Blue again. Highly recommended.
Smiling woman in a dive mask at the ocean surface, half above and half below the water
MK
Into the Blue took our family group of 10 out snorkelling and scuba diving. They were great in accommodating both the snorkellers and divers needs at the same time and keeping everyone happy. They went out of there way to make it such a special day, taking us to different sites and providing snacks and hot drinks after the dive /snorkel. Thank you so much ‘Into the Blue’! What a fantastic day!
Scuba diver with his head above the water in the ocean off Cape Town
Thurl Abrahams
Great experience diving today - double tank dives in the kelp was an incredible experience...especially with the seals! It was cold...so be prepared! But the kit was great quality, the safety briefings were perfect and the diving with James as our dive guide was brilliant. Thank you to the full team...if you are in Cape Town...dive it!
Person in a wetsuit holding a snorkel mask and fins on a boat
Alex James

Ready to dive into Cape Town?

Book a PADI course, fun dive or dive holiday with Into The Blue today.