PADI Altitude Diver
Learn the planning, procedures, and environmental considerations required for safe scuba diving at altitude
Duration
1 day, 2 dives
Max Depth
30 metres / 100 feet
Level
Continuing Education Speciality Course
Next Step
PADI Dry Suit Diver / PADI Ice Diver
Overview
The PADI Altitude Diver speciality course teaches divers how to safely plan and conduct dives at altitude, where reduced atmospheric pressure significantly affects dive planning, decompression management, buoyancy control, and equipment performance. PADI
An altitude dive is defined by PADI as:
- a dive conducted between:
- 300 metres / 1000 feet
- and 3000 metres / 10,000 feet above sea level.
Because altitude changes:
- ambient pressure,
- decompression calculations,
- gas loading,
- and ascent procedures,
divers require specialised training before conducting altitude dives safely.
Students learn how to:
- use altitude dive-planning methods,
- adjust dive tables and computers,
- manage ascent rates,
- understand altitude physiology,
- and apply safe procedures specific to mountain lakes and elevated dive sites.
At N9BO℠, Altitude Diver training emphasises:
- conservative dive planning,
- environmental awareness,
- buoyancy refinement,
- and disciplined ascent procedures within real altitude-diving environments.
This course is ideal for:
- travelling divers,
- mountain-lake divers,
- expedition divers,
- and recreational divers wishing to safely explore elevated dive sites.
Course Facts
- Course name: PADI Altitude Diver
- Level: Continuing Education Speciality Course
- Minimum prerequisites: Minimum age 10, Certified as (Junior) PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
- Ratio: Maximum 8 students per Instructor
- Configuration: mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator system, alternate air source, dive computer or altitude-adjusted dive tables, submersible pressure gauge, and exposure protection appropriate to local environmental conditions
- Depth / environment: 30 metres / 100 feet, Altitude lakes, Mountain reservoirs, Elevated freshwater dive sites, Open water altitude-diving environments
- Format: Knowledge development + altitude dive planning + open water altitude dives + decompression-management exercises
- Duration: Typically completed in 1 day
What You’ll Learn
- Learn altitude-diving physiology, pressure effects, decompression considerations, and altitude dive-planning procedures
- Practice altitude-adjusted dive planning, buoyancy control, controlled ascents, and environmental adaptation
- Planning for altitude open water dives
- Develop environmental awareness, conservative dive-planning habits, and altitude operational discipline
- Build confidence diving safely at elevated locations
Prerequisites
- Be at least 10 years old
- Certified as PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
- Be medically fit for diving
FAQ
Altitude diving refers to scuba diving conducted above 300 metres / 1000 feet above sea level.
Reduced atmospheric pressure affects:
- decompression,
- buoyancy,
- and gas absorption,
requiring specialised planning procedures.
At altitude, atmospheric pressure is lower than at sea level.
This changes:
- decompression calculations,
- no-stop limits,
- ascent procedures,
- and dive-planning requirements.
Training dives must remain within:
- recreational diving limits,
- with an absolute maximum depth of:
- 30 metres / 100 feet,
unless more conservative limits are required by:
- 30 metres / 100 feet,
- altitude conditions,
- diver experience,
- or instructor judgment.
Yes.
Students learn how to:
- plan altitude dives,
- adjust decompression calculations,
- and safely use altitude-adjusted dive computers and planning methods.
Many divers continue into:
- Deep Diver,
- Ice Diver,
- Dry Suit Diver,
- expedition diving,
- or environmental-speciality training.
Ready to Explore High-Altitude Dive Sites?
Whether you want to dive mountain lakes, prepare for expedition environments, or improve your understanding of altitude-related dive planning, our team will help you develop the skills and awareness required for safe altitude diving.
Go Pro with the PADI Speciality Instructor Training Programme
Expand your professional teaching capability through speciality instructor development programmes delivered by experienced PADI Course Directors at N9BO℠. Build the instructional versatility, real-world teaching confidence, and continuing-education capability required to teach a broader range of diver-training programmes and progress further within the recreational diving industry.
