United Divers Inc.
Somerville, MA.
888.628.3483(P)
617.666.0410 (P)
training@uniteddivers.com

United Divers

We Are Diving!

Specialty Courses

Specialty activities introduce certified divers to a whole new world of diving opportunities. Learning is easy and most of our Specialty courses only require certification as an Open Water Diver or equivalent. All you need to do is first purchase your specialty manuals and videos from United Divers and then enroll in one of our specialty courses. Once enrolled, you can learn your specialized scuba skills from a certified Advanced Open Water Instructor that would take you years of diving to learn on your own.

Under our guidance, you will learn the correct skills and techniques associated with the specialties of your choice to make you a more comfortable and confident diver. You will also learn how to use an expanded range of equipment to help you make your dives more enjoyable and worthwhile.

At United Divers, We ARE Diving. Are you?
Boat Diver Specialty
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: SCUBA Diving from a boat is a fact of life. If your dive experience has always been doing shore dives, you will find boat diving a very different experience. In fact when you take your first warm water trip, you will most certainly be doing boat dives. Boat diving can be some of the most spectacular diving you do for several of reasons. Boats get you to locations you cannot typically get to from the shore. The dives tend to be deeper and in areas that are not traveled as frequently as are shore dives, therefore you are likely to see things that you do not on your normal shore diving experience. Sooner or later most divers will likely be introduced to boat diving, so why not learn how to safely dive from a boat today?

Training Program: This specialty course teaches you how to get the most out of your boat diving. It covers skills such as entries and exits, maneuvering in surface currents, ascents and descents with and without anchor lines, hang lines, planning dives, different kinds of boats, and boat etiquette.
CPR/First Aid Specialty
Prerequisites: None, available to non-divers and divers alike

Overview: The more you extend your diving experiences, the chances are that you will expand your diving to more and more remote locations and potentially hazardous access areas because that is where the best dive sites are found. This same reason is also why it's a good idea to know basic first aid and CPR techniques.

Our CPR/First Aid course will provide you with a level of knowledge that is appropriate to manage most scuba-related medical emergencies confidently and competently prior to the arrival of the local EMS personnel on the scene. The course is taught by specially-trained instructors and will provide you with a "first responder" level of medical ability and knowledge similar to the skills used by EMT's and paramedics. The course consists of several classroom sessions, video presentations and a number of practical skills sessions. Also, it meets or exceeds all current First Aid/ CPR standards published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Training Program: This course is definitely NOT a "Diver Only" course. ANYONE desiring to know about first aid and CPR is welcome to participate in this course. After the successful completion of our First Aid/CPR course, you will be presented with a certification in first aid and CPR that is rated among the most comprehensive available and is valid for two years.
Dive Computer Specialty
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview:With the introduction of dive computers some 10 years ago, recreational diving has been completely transformed into what recreational diving is today. By constantly monitoring your depth and time during the entire dive and comparing the actual to the mathematical model in the computer, it has actually allowed safer and longer bottom time than were capable using the traditional dive tables to "calculate" the bottom time of the dive.  Basically, computers allow for longer bottom times without the need for decompression stops.

Training Program: In this course, we will cover the wide range of different types of computers, the different mathematical models used and their general operation. If you own a dive computer or plan to buy one in the near future, this is the course for you. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to get the most out of these wonderful diving tools.
Deep Diver Specialty
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver or equivalent.

Overview:The deep diver specialty at United Divers is one of the most popular courses offered. We believe this course is ideal for those interested in expanding their diving abilities past the Open Water Diver level and can be part of the Advanced Open Water Diver course. It is also good for the "experienced or veteran" diver as well.

Training Program: This course covers the physiology of deep diving, the effects of diving at depth, introduction to computer diving and much more. Also covered in the course is a fairly indepth discussion of some of the strange and curious things to discover at the greater depths. Of course, you will be expected to participate in a number of local dives both shore and boat to depths greater than 60 feet, the definition for recreational deep diving. Deep diving in cold water has particular risks and circumstances that you will not normally experience in the more tropical diving environments. These topics will be covered very thoroughly as well as some tips on staying warm, recognizing nitrogen narcosis, and exploring the marine environments at greater depths.
Drift Diver Specialty
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: Many of the more spectacular dive sites in the world can be loosely-to-strictly defined as drift dives. One site in British Vancouver called Seymour Inlet has a 22-knot current and a twenty minute slack tide which is the only window of opportunity to dive this site. The marine life at this site is spectacular and prolific because of the currents. Some of the life here reach colossal size compared to the same species observed in dive sites that have no such current.

Needless to say, we don't have any thing like that in New England, but we do have some drift diving sites in this area that are very interesting. One of the better drift dives is off Provincetown. Other sites we have in the area are in Rhodes Island on the Front Wall of Fort Wetherill in Jamestown. Other sites, such as Cathedral Rocks in Rockport are not technically drift diving but have enough current to present a challenge to the diver.

Training Program: Our specialty course offers a combination of shore dives and local boat dives to some of the more interesting sites available to us in the locale. Helpful tips about drift diving techniques are useful and valuable no matter where you do your drift diving.

Drysuit Diver Specialty
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: Our Drysuit Specialty at United Divers is ideally suited for the person who has recently purchased a drysuit, is thinking about buying a drysuit, or someone who simply desires to know about drysuit diving.

If you have recently purchased a drysuit, we enthusiastically recommend this course because of the heavy focus on diving safely with the drysuit. Drysuit diving requires very specific knowledge that is not required in other forms of diving. All manufacturer recommended safety techniques are covered in the course including flooding, how to control your buoyancy, what to do in drysuit emergencies and other important drysuit diving situations.

Training Program: In the past, we have negotiated with various drysuit vendors to borrow some of their suit for a nominal rental fee which is included in the cost of the course. This has been an early Spring or Late Fall activity and pre-registration is required in order for us to know how many suits are needed for the course.

Equipment Specialty
 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: At United Divers, we believe that our Equipment Specialty course is among the finest the SCUBA industry has to offer. The course is structured such that every piece of equipment you have is inspected and evaluated to make suggestions about what you can do to keep you gear in tip-top shape. You will receive instructions on the latest maintenance concepts, techniques in preventive maintenance, and how to prolong the life of your valuable investment.

If you do not currently own any equipment, this course is also for you. You get a first hand education about what is good, not so good, what to look for when purchasing new equipment and what to beware of when looking for the "right" gear for you. Our expert staff will address any and all questions you have been thinking about and will give you the latest state-of-the-art view of the world of SCUBA diving equipment from A to Z. Even if you are new to diving, this course will save you time and money.

Training Program: The scope of this course is on routine maintenance intended to focus on the kinds of things an owner/user needs to know about SCUBA equipment. We will show you how a regulator works, care and maintenance of a BC, wetsuit, tanks, consoles, gauges and other equipment. You will also have an opportunity to tour our retail facility as part of the Q&A session and be introduced to some of the latest additions to the SCUBA diving technology.

 

Ice Diver Specialty 

 

Prerequisites: Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent and a minimum of 10 drysuit dives.

Overview:Our Ice Diver course is not for the faint of heart. It is an extremely challenging course offered to those interested in a completely different kind of diving. Ice diving is considered a novelty in our local area, however in many inland geographical areas, ice diving is a major activity. We have several ponds and lakes that are ideal for ice diving training.

Training Program: The course work includes handling ropes, learning hand and rope signals used for communicating with the surface team, in-depth discussions about risk factors, and a comprehensive discussion about safety procedures used during the typical ice diving experience. You will be surprised how many interesting things you will see and collect during the open water dives you will do to complete this certification.

 

Navigation Specialty 

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview:One frequently undeveloped skill for both beginner and experienced divers alike is their lack of navigation skills and not knowing where they are at any give part of the dive. By the time you finish this course, you will have gain considerable experience learning to navigate yourself underwater.

Training Program: After taking the Navigation Specialty course, not only will you know you are, but you will also be able to get back to the same site whenever you want. We incorporate many different kinds of geometric patterns in the exercises conducted in the open water so that you will not only be comfortable with your navigation skills but you will have a lot of fun doing it. 

 

Night/Limited Visibility Diver Specialty

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certified or equivalent.

Overview:Perhaps the most exciting and mysterious experience we have as divers is the night dive. Despite natural apprehension about diving in the dark, night dives are not full of goblins and monsters. In fact, night dives are frequently far more interesting and exciting because of the vast number of creatures that we never see during daylight hours. They are so well hidden by day that we never notice they are even there but freely come out at night to feed, mate and go about their nocturnal business.  This course is also useful for diving during the day though in limited visibility conditions.

Training Program: During the Night/Limited Visibility Diver Specialty course, you will have several opportunities to participate in different night and limited visibility diving environments.  You will use appropriate dive lights for both seeing and communicating underwater.

 

Enriched Air Nitrox Diver Specialty

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: Our Enriched Air Nitrox Diver Specialty  is ideally suited for the person who has recently purchased a nitrox system, is thinking about buying a nitrox system, or someone who simply desires to know about nitrox diving.

Training Program: The Nitrox specialty teaches you about the advantages of using enriched air and reviews guidelines for safe diving.  You will learn how to properly use nitrox dive tables to carefully plan your dives.

 

Diver Stress & Rescue Course

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.  Advanced Open Water certification recommended.  

Overview: Our Rescue Diver course is primarily intended to provide a training program for the average diver to be able to manage a typical diving emergency in a timely and competent manner. The course is not intended to supersede or replace the local recognized Emergency Medical System. It does provide enough information and practical training to make a difference in a real medical dive emergency.

Training Program: As a Rescue Diver candidate, you will attend academic sessions covering self rescue, dive physiology of stress, psychological factors concerning stress, dive equipment considerations, diving first aid, dive emergency management, dive planning, and much more. You will also participate in an intensive weekend of open water diving and experience, first hand, many dive accident scenarios through role playing exercises and practice  emergency prevention and management. This course is particularly recommended for couples, people who dive together, and candidates for upper level dive courses, including divemasters, Divecons, and master divers.

 

Search & Recovery Specialty

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: Next to buoyancy control and navigation, this is one of the most useful skills you can have in diving. In this course, you will be able to to find and recover almost anything related to recreational diving in an underwater condition. You will be able to relocate objects, take bearings on objects, and use search and recovery tools such as liftbags, search patterns and wreck reels.

Training Program: We'll cover many different types of search patterns and the "how to's " about bringing your recovered items back to the surface safely. Why you may even find sunken treasure on your Search and Recovery check out dives. At the very minimum, you may never lose a weight belt or other valuable piece of equipment having taken this course.

 

Underwater Naturalist Specialty (SPE216)

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver Course or equivalent.

Overview: Here in New England, we have a unique opportunity to see a multitude and variety of cold water creatures that are not seen in any other parts of the world. Our local dive sites are teeming with life everywhere you look. Lobsters, Striped Bass, Sculpins, Moon Snails and some of the most beautiful Anemones in the world lie just off shore for us to see. Taking our Underwater Naturalist course will not only help you identify the various species of marine life we have in our waters, but we will also have slide shows and videos of other parts of the world to give you a more generalized introduction to the topic of marine creature identification. You will have lot's of opportunity to interact with a number of our instructors and divemasters to find out about what really is "down there."

Training Program: The course contains one academic session followed by two dives to complete the certification.  You will have the opportunity to recovery lost objects (such as a mask or fin) in the ocean on your dives.  

 

Underwater Photography Specialty

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent and your own underwater photography equipment (subject to Instructor approval).

Overview: Learning underwater photography is exciting and fun. U/W photographs are a great way to remember your last dive vacation or weekend dive in New England. Your non-diver friends can even get a grasp of what SCUBA is all about, too!

Training Program: Our program consists of one day of academic and pool sessions followed by two dives in the ocean to practice your skills. Many topics will be presented, including photo fundamentals, camera functions, lenses, strobes, lighting and composition. You will have a practice session held in the pool for various photo techniques.  

 

Wreck Diver Specialty

 

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Overview: One of the most exciting and mysterious experiences we have as divers is the wreck dive. Wreck dives are interesting and exciting because of the vast number of creatures live among the man-made reef environment of a wreck along with the history behind the wreck itself.

Training Program: During the Wreck Diver Specialty course, you will learn safety precautions needed during wreck dives, how to safely descend and ascend from a wreck dive and have several opportunities to dive on a few different wrecks. You will be amazed at the number of different types of wrecks that lay silent on the ocean floor just off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

diving on a boat wreck
Join our wreck diving class and explore
some jars from a wreck
Questions about our Specialty courses? Check out the FAQ or contact us.

For course fees contact the training department at training@uniteddivers.com

Advanced Courses
Includes 5 specialties for the price of 4! Specialties include: Night/Limited Vis, Deep, Boat, Wreck and Navigation.  

May Course
2 academic sessions:
Weds May 14th & 21st from 6-9pm at UDI
2 days of diving:
Sat May 24th beach dives (navigation, night/lim vis, deep)
Sun May 25th boat dives (boat, deep, wreck)

June Course
2 academic sessions:
Weds June 11th & 18th from 6-9pm at UDI
2 days of diving:
Sat June 21st beach dives (navigation, night/lim vis, deep)
Sun June 22nd boat dives (boat, deep, wreck)

July Course

2 academic sessions:
Weds July 16th & 23rd from 6-9pm at UDI
2 days of diving:
Sat July 26th beach dives (navigation, night/lim vis, deep)
Sun July 27th boat dives (boat, deep, wreck)