Course overview

Sharpen your sense of direction with the PADI Underwater Navigator specialty on Grand Cayman, where the patterned reefs and clear water off the West Wall make an ideal practice ground. You master compass use, natural references and distance estimation, learning to find your way back to the boat and lead others. You finish able to navigate confidently and the dive counts toward Master Scuba Diver.

What you’ll learn

• Navigate accurately with a compass underwater
• Use natural references such as reef contours and ripples
• Estimate distance by kick cycles and time
• Run reciprocal and pattern courses
• Mark and relocate a dive site
• Lead a navigation dive for buddies

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10
• PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent certification)
• Comfortable buoyancy control
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Navigation training

   Cover the theory, then complete three navigation dives on the West Wall reefs, practising compass and natural navigation, distance estimation and search patterns, before certifying.

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Frequently asked questions