How to Become a Wreck Diver
Every wreck is different. During the PADI® Wreck Diver course, you’ll learn how to explore different types of wrecks by investigating their layout, history and hazards, and practice specialized wreck diving skills.
About the Course
If you’re new to boat diving or want to learn more about diving from different types of boats, enroll in the PADI® Boat Diver course.
During two dives with an instructor you’ll learn nautical terminology, boat diving etiquette and may practice using lines and/or deploy a surface marker buoy (SMB).
- Learn boat diving etiquette
- Understand boat terminology
- Pack for a boat trip
- Properly stow your gear
- Manage seasickness
PADI eLearning
Complete the independent study part of your course whenever, wherever it’s convenient for you. Learn about different types of wrecks and common wreck diving hazards.
Work at your own pace, online or offline, using a computer or mobile device. Connect with your instructor for inwater training, or whenever you have a question.
- eLearning time commitment : 2-4 hours
With Your Instructor
During four dives with your instructor, you’ll survey and map a wreck, practice special finning techniques and may use penetration lines.
- Prerequisites : PADI Adventure Diver (or qualifying certification)
- Total time commitment: 2-3 days (dives must be completed over a minimum of two days)
- Minimum age: 15 years or older
More Info
Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving.
Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical form to ensure you won’t need a physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course. Instructors, divemasters and dive shop staff are not physicians and should not be asked for medical advice; only medical professionals can give medical clearance to dive.
If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN).
Minimum age: 15
Course prerequisites: PADI Adventure Diver (or similar from another training organization)
You can complete this course locally or while travelling.
Choose a dive shop close to home to:
- Support your local diving community
- Meet dive buddies in your local area
- Learn about your local ecosystem
Choose a dive shop away from home if you:
- Plan to travel to a dive destination on holiday
- Like to meet new people when travelling
- Have the time to complete your course while on vacation
This course requires both knowledge development and inwater training for certification. When you purchase PADI eLearning from our website, the cost covers the knowledge development portion only.
There is an additional cost to complete your certification with a PADI Instructor. The cost is set by your independent PADI Professional and may be influenced by class size, environment, equipment, boat fees, etc. Contact a PADI Dive Center or Resort for more information and pricing.
In addition to scuba gear required for the environment, during this course you may use:
- Dive lights
- Slate and underwater compass for mapping and navigation
- Line and reel (for practicing wreck penetration)
Other equipment appropriate for wreck diving in your area (ask your instructor).
PADI eLearning: 2-4 hours
Entire course: 2-3 days (dives must be completed over a minimum of two days)
Spanish, English.
For information on other available languages please contact your PADI Dive Center.
PADI’s online courses are designed to work on the browsers listed below. For the best experience, make sure your browser is up-to-date.
Chrome
Safari
Edge
Firefox
If you plan to be somewhere without internet access, use the PADI Training app to download course content and study offline. Content can be downloaded in small sections with a total file size of approximately 185 MB. When you get back online, upload your progress so you can resume your training right where you left off.
The PADI Training app is available for Android™ and Apple® iOS devices. For the ideal experience, devices should be no more than three models old and running with the most current OS (operating system).
The first dive of the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course may count toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
An Enriched Air Nitrox certification can help you spend more time diving inside wrecks and the Peak Performance Buoyancy course can help you avoid ruining the visibility and making unnecessary wreck contact. Each PADI Specialty you complete gets you one step closer to becoming an elite Master Scuba Diver™.