Scuba Nation is Cambodia’s first and only PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre. National Geographic Divers are adventurers, explorers and conservationists. You will get experience in diver’s education and underwater sciences that goes beyond that of the average diver. The PADI National Geographic Diver's knowledge and skill level will make you a true steward and ambassador for the underwater world.
You learn basic dive skills and safety information through the PADI Open Water Diver course and then you’ll be introduced to worldwide dive environments and opportunities by interacting with the National Geographic Diver Almanac and DVD and practicing the additional skills below. You will learn to explore with detail, identify important underwater features and navigate with certainty. You will have the diving knowledge and practice to maneuver with grace along the reef’s ecosystems. This is a foundation skill for specialty diving activities such as underwater Photography and Videography, and essential for reef and marine conservation.
Exploration Project: Because exploration and underwater science encompasses a wide range of physical and biological disciplines we focus on the unique and interesting aspects of the dive sites. You will sketch on a slate the animal life, plant life, topography, geology, human-made structures.
Aquatic Life Identification: Identify and record aquatic plants, invertebrate and vertebrates at a fresh water or salt water environment.
Navigation Skills: Good underwater navigation is the key to enjoyable diving experiences. Precise navigation using a compass is also a fun challenge for all divers. Combining compass navigation with keen observation skills increases your awareness and builds confidence in your diving skills.
Hovering & Buoyancy skills: Good buoyancy skills are very important to observing marine life while not coming into contact with any underwater creatures. Three types of hovering will be taught and mastered. Hovering in different positions helps you observe and record what is around you while not disturbing the delicate ecosystem.
At Scuba Nation we are able to tailor the course to fit your schedule and in just 4 days (the same as the normal PADI Open Water course) you can safely become a fully certified National Geographic Diver! You will receive a permanent National Geographic diving certification card valid anywhere in the world enabling you to rent gear and go diving and you can apply the skills you learned to more advanced dive programs.
- All the usual benefits of the PADI Open Water Course
- The Official PADI Open Water Dive Manual and Dive Table (yes - you get to keep it, yes - it’s included in the price, yes - it’s new and not a photocopy)
- All equipment (included in the price is all the equipment you need – no extra rental fees per day, unlike other outfits)
- Full PADI Customer Injury and Assistance Insurance (yes, that’s for each diver or snorkeller, not just for the staff)
- Academics and confined pool training can be completed while sunbathing in Sihanoukville or sight-seeing in Phnom Penh
- Guaranteed PADI European and Western certified Instructors
- SNDC T-shirt
- On the Boat:
- Full overnight stay / 2 day liveaboard, 4 dives plus all the snorkelling you can handle
- Real beds with mattresses, sheets, blankets and pillows and rain protection
- All meals, full breakfasts, lunches, hot dinner and non-alcoholic drinks, fruit and snacks (no $10 for sandwiches! Or $1 for pop!)
- Onboard Washrooms, 2 fresh water showers (no scooping needed here!) and western toilet
- Two deck boat - Sun deck with shade and rain protection plus shaded lower deck
- Real Captain – with over 25 years of experience – a guaranteed seafaring professional and friendly local boat staff
- The National Geographic Almanac and DVD
- National Geographic professional logbook and dive recorder
- National Geographic Knowledge Review session
- 1 extra dive /li>
- Develop the ability to hover in at least three different positions
- Participation in an Exploration Project during one of the dives
- Practice navigation or participate in an aquatic life identification exercise
- The distinctive National Geographic Diver certification card.
Learning to dive in Cambodia is an experience you will never forget. Although it is one of the cheapest places in the world to dive, you aren't giving up any measure of safety, professionalism, quality of instruction or diving locations. We charge a modest US$545 (roughtly GBP261 or Euro374), for the National Geographic Diver course, All Inclusive. This fee is the only fee and can be paid by Credit Card (CC) and of course in the ever acceptable US$ cash. Banks in Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh can also do ATM and CC withdrawals.