PADI Drysuit Diver

PADI DRYSUIT DIVER COURSE IN MALTA

Water covers about 70 per cent of the earth and most of that water is either temperate or cold. For scuba divers, that means you have several choices when diving in cooler regions: don't dive (never!), cut the dive short due to the cold, struggle with an extra-thick wetsuit... or dive in a drysuit.

Although diving in a drysuit is different from diving in a wetsuit, it isn't difficult. You'll just need to learn what kind of suit is best for the diving you do and how buoyancy control techniques differ from those you use in a wetsuit.

Drysuits let you dive more challenging sites and extend your dive season. When you have the right cold-water attire, you can take advantage of the generally better visibility offered by winter months - at inland sites such as quarries, lakes, sinkholes, and caves, as well as Malta's own cooler-season diving. As a drysuit diver, you're equipped to explore some of the world's most incredible dive sites in cooler regions that are best enjoyed in one of these suits.

What do I need to start?

• PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• Minimum age: 10 years old
• Medically fit to dive
• A suitable drysuit and undersuit in which to complete the course

What will I do?

Gain the knowledge and skills to safely don, dive with, and store a drysuit without causing damage. You will learn:

• Buoyancy control skills specific to drysuit diving
• Emergency procedures related to drysuit diving
• Drysuit maintenance, storage, and basic repair

How long will it take?

1 confined dive and 2 open water dives, normally completed in one day.

What is included?

• PADI Drysuit Diver eLearning (online theory)
• 1 confined water dive
• 2 open water dives
• Scuba equipment rental, excluding drysuit and undersuit
• Certification costs
• Road transport to the dive sites
• Free hotel pick-up/drop-off in St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, Qawra and Xemxija, if required

What is NOT included?

• Drysuit and Undersuit rental

For safety and comfort, proper drysuit training requires a well-fitted suit. As such, it is strongly recommended that you have your own suit and use it during the course. This also means that you will be learning the nuances of your own suit, enabling you to get the most value out of your course.

Otherwise, you may source a rental suit and bring it along with you, provided that the suit fits well, both in terms of the size of the suit and the size of the wrist and neck seals, and is in proper functional condition. 

Book your course:

Ready to take the plunge into drysuit diving? Email us to arrange your Drysuit Diver course.

Where can I go from here?

With your Drysuit Diver certification, you're ready to explore Malta's cooler-season dive sites and beyond. This specialty counts towards your Master Scuba Diver rating, and pairs well with the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course to fine-tune your buoyancy in the suit.