Every sport has a learning curve—and scuba diving is no different. Armed with your basic open water certification, you’ve explored enough of the ocean to know you want to do the same things more experienced divers can do—go deeper, breathe nitrox, take photos, or be able to rattle off the names of marine life.
Perhaps you’ve discovered a particular skill that needs some fine-tuning. Now’s the time to level up your game, and Jupiter Dive Center can help you explore your options.
First Up ~ Buoyancy
Newer divers often struggle with their buoyancy, and until it’s mastered, every other aspect of diving will be harder than it needs to be. Divers who know how to control their buoyancy have better air consumption, don’t damage delicate reefs by crashing into them and are less inclined to injure themselves with runaway ascents.
Buoyancy is also a necessary skill if you are interested in pursuing other specialties—especially photography or wreck diving. Want to learn more about Peak Performance Buoyancy? Click here.
Drift
Maybe you learned to dive in an area where boats hooked to mooring balls, but in Jupiter, the dive sites are deeper—and all of the charters are drift dives. So what does that mean? The current does most of the work as it propels you across the reef.
It also means you need to learn how to properly deploy a surface marker buoy, maintain contact with your buddy, and how to safely get on and off the boat—an important skill when divers are giant striding one right after another.
Boat
Many of the best dive sites are only accessible by boat and divers need to know what etiquette is expected and the safety procedures to follow.
This course covers everything from where you stow your gear, to what safety equipment is on board, how to safely get on and off the boat (at the dock and while diving), why dive briefings are so important, and more. If you’re planning a live-aboard dive vacation Boat Diver is the course for you!
Sea Turtle Identification
Jupiter Dive Center offers several different courses that help you identify various types of marine life, but now is the time to brush up on your turtle identification. Sea turtle nesting season starts in March and a nine-mile stretch of sand off Jupiter just happens to be one of the world’s premiere nesting sites! Jupiter Dive Center partners with Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the highly respected leaders in sea turtle education, research, and rehabilitation to help ensure that the magnificent turtles we see today continue to delight divers well into the future.
Together we offer a one-day Sea Turtle Awareness program to educate divers and non-divers alike on sea turtle identification, the critical role they play in the marine ecosystem, and steps you can take that focus on conservation. The morning is spent at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, then, certified divers will enjoy a two-tank dive charter with Jupiter Dive Center to see the sea turtles for themselves in their natural environment!
Advanced Scuba Diving
Simply stated, earning an advanced scuba certification allows you to explore more oceans while equipping you with the knowledge and skills to do it safely. The accepted recreational diving depth limit is 120 feet and to be able to explore the range between 60-120 feet requires divers to be advanced open water certified.
Deep diving and navigational skills are mandatory parts of the course. You’ll choose the remaining three components with your instructor.
Favorites include boat diving, underwater photography, fish identification, night diving, wreck diving, and more!
Nitrox
The nitrox–enriched air certification is the most popular specialty certification available. No matter what your certification level, diving with enriched air will safely extend your no-decompression time and reduce your surface interval.
Taking the course couldn’t be easier! It’s online, no dives are required, and once you finish the online academics, you’ll work with an instructor to demonstrate your ability to analyze tanks and confirm that you understand depth limitations.
That’s it! You can be diving with enriched air on your very next dive.
Things to consider when deciding what’s next
The depths of Jupiter’s reefs and the surrounding area average between 60-90 feet and to ensure the safety of our divers and to enhance the diving experience, divers are required to be Nitrox certified. Additionally, due to the depth, the majority of our charters require divers to possess their Advanced Open Water certification. We highly recommend pursuing these two certifications to be able to fully enjoy this wonderful area.
Looking for something else? Check out the full listing of Jupiter Dive Center Courses. Before you know it, other divers will be wishing they knew how to dive as well as you! Call Jupiter Dive Center at 561-745-7807 and book your dive or class today
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