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Dive Deep with NSU's Scuba Courses

Nova Southeastern University is pleased to offer several academic and recreational scuba courses. From introducing scuba diving science courses to PADI Open Water Diver certification and advanced courses like PADI Rescue Diver, our programs cover theory, emergency management, and specialized dives.

Academic Scuba Courses

3 credit hours

This elective from the Halmos College of Sciences and Oceanography provides a comprehensive curriculum of the skills and academics required to safely participate in recreational/sport scuba diving activities. The course consists of classroom lecture sessions as well as pool and open water lab sessions. Academic content includes the history, physics, physiology, equipment specialties, medicine, and the underwater environment of recreational sport scuba diving. Pool and open water labs encourage proficiency in dive planning, safety, buddy systems, equipment handling, diver assistance, air consumption, underwater problem solving, entry and exit procedures, proper buoyancy, and dive boat protocol.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive the following certification: PADI Open Water Diver

3 credit hours

An introduction to advanced scuba theory, and management of minor and major emergency events related to scuba diving activities. The course provides a comprehensive curriculum of the skills and academics required to safely participate in recreational/sport scuba diving activities and consists of classroom lecture sessions as well as pool and open water lab sessions. Academic content includes emergency management, diving physics, and the proper use and planning of enriched air dives.

Upon successful completion of this course students will receive the following certifications:

  • PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
  • PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
  • PADI Rescue Diver
  • DAN Diving First Aid for Professionals

Recreational Scuba Courses

The PADI Discover Scuba experience is a fun and exciting way to try scuba diving and to see what it is like to breathe underwater. No prior scuba diving experience is necessary, though you do need to be in good physical health. This is not a certification course.
This is the entry-level beginning scuba diver course. PADI Open Water Diver certification is issued upon successful completion of the course. This course meets for six weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays during Term 1 and Tuesdays and Thursdays during Term 2.
The Scuba Refresher is a fun and easy way to review dive theory and practice dive skills after a period of inactivity. This course includes one classroom session and one pool session. Join our pre scheduled class or contact us to set up your own private scuba review. This is not a certification course.
Advanced Open Water Diver is for certified scuba divers who wish to expand their knowledge and improve their diving skills and techniques through a variety of diving environments and activities. The five open water dives give the student experience in the specialty areas of Deep, Wreck, Underwater Naturalist, Navigation, and Night. This curriculum builds truly advanced divers that are strong, comfortable and competent possessing great diving skills and knowledge.
Divers Alert Network (DAN) Diving First Aid for Professional Divers course, DFA Pro as it’s called, is designed for commercial, professional, aquarium and scientific divers, providing first-aid knowledge and skills specific to these diving environments. This includes four DAN courses: Emergency Oxygen for Scuba Diving Injuries (Oxygen Provider), Neurological Assessment, First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries, and CPR for Healthcare Providers. This course is a prerequisite for certification as a Rescue Diver and Divemaster.
The PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver course provides recreational divers with the knowledge to safely plan and conduct EANx (nitrox) dives up to 40%. Scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives divers more no-decompression dive time. Classroom-only and two-tank diving options available.
Rescue Diver is an important step in furthering your diving knowledge and experience. This course is tailored for those who are interested in becoming future dive professionals. The unique content includes in-depth academics on diving physiology, dive accident profiles and statistics, risk management and preventative techniques.
Divemaster candidates will learn the knowledge and skills necessary to transition from a recreational diver to a dive professional. Instructor-level academic knowledge will be developed in diving physics, physiology, decompression, equipment, and environment. Pool training includes perfecting skills to a level of “demonstration quality” for open water skills, rescue, navigation, and problem solving.
Learn how to teach the PADI Open Water Diver through Divemaster courses. Become a mentor to new divers. Gain an understanding of training standards and safe diving practices. Improve your scuba skills and knowledge of dive theory and learn to manage risk to increase diver safety.
At the NSU Academic Diving Program we also offer multiple instructor specialty courses such as Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty Instructor, Wreck Diving Specialty Instructor, Deep Diving Specialty Instructor, and DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers Instructor to name a few.
The Performance Freediving International (PFI) Freediver program teaches fundamental freediving techniques for comfortable enjoyment in the aquatic world to depths of 20m/66ft. You will also practice Static Apnea to help develop your breath-holding abilities and in-water comfort.
Businesses that operate cylinder filling stations are required by OSHA to provide formal, function specific training to employees operating filling equipment. Topics include pre-fill inspection, proper techniques, system maintenance, and emergency procedures. As fill systems vary, this course is customized to specific fill stations operational procedures. This course is included with our PADI Divemaster course.
This is the core certification course provided by Professional Scuba Inspectors (PSI) and in it we teach the regulations and fundamentals of conducting visual inspections of solid wall and composite SCUBA and SCBA cylinders. The full day course is suited for those new to visual inspection as well as those who have been inspecting without formal training through its wide range of inspection subjects including damage limits, neck cracking, and laws affecting inspectors.

Contact Us

For more information or to register for courses, reach out to Tec Clark at tclark@nova.edu or Bill Conrad at bill.conrad@nova.edu. You can also call (954) 262-7042.

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