Dive confidently beneath the waves and unlock the ability to navigate any dive site with accuracy through our PADI Underwater Navigation course. This course is designed to sharpen your observation skills, enhance your confidence underwater, and give you the knowledge to explore with precision. Whether you’re aiming to improve your dive planning or simply become a more competent diver, this course equips you with practical skills for every underwater adventure.
You’ll start by learning the theory behind underwater navigation, including compass usage, natural reference points, and dive planning strategies. Our experienced instructors will guide you through exercises in reading terrain features, estimating distances, and using both visual cues and instruments to maintain orientation.
Practical application takes place over three open water dives. You’ll perform navigation exercises such as swim patterns, return-to-start drills, and locating submerged markers, allowing you to practice real-world navigation scenarios. Each dive is structured to progressively build your confidence, competence, and efficiency underwater.
Throughout the course, safety and risk management remain a priority. You’ll gain the knowledge to plan dives responsibly, account for currents and visibility, and make informed decisions while leading yourself or a buddy through new and challenging dive sites.
Training and dives are conducted at Littlehampton Marina, providing easy access to sheltered and open water dive sites. Local waters feature a mix of sand, reef, and wrecks, ideal for practising navigation skills in diverse conditions.
Nearby dive sites, including Bognor Reef and the Far Mulberry, offer a range of depths and terrain, allowing you to apply compass and natural navigation techniques in real-world settings. These sites are rich with marine life, enhancing the learning experience while providing engaging underwater exploration.
Divers must hold a Junior or full Open Water Diver certification and be comfortable with basic diving skills. A medical screening is required to ensure you are fit for open water activity.
This course is suitable for divers aged 10 to 99 who are looking to improve their navigation abilities, increase confidence underwater, and develop skills that are essential for safe and efficient dives.
The centre is staffed by experienced PADI instructors who prioritise personalised instruction and safety. With small group sizes, you’ll receive tailored guidance throughout the course, ensuring you build skills at your own pace.
Divers benefit from a combination of classroom preparation and structured open water practice, giving them confidence to navigate confidently in any underwater environment. The instructors’ local knowledge of Littlehampton Marina and surrounding dive sites ensures practical and meaningful training for every diver.
You’ll gain expertise in underwater navigation using both a compass and natural landmarks. Lessons cover estimating distances, tracking headings, plotting dive paths, and identifying terrain features for precise navigation.
Practical sessions reinforce these skills with exercises such as circular and square swim patterns, return-to-start drills, and marker location challenges, ensuring you can navigate confidently in any environment.
Divers aged 10-99 with Junior or full Open Water Diver certification are eligible. You must pass a basic medical screening and be comfortable with standard scuba skills before undertaking this specialty course.
This course suits those looking to gain confidence underwater, improve dive planning, or prepare for advanced diving and leadership opportunities.
The course includes three open water dives. Each dive introduces increasingly challenging navigation exercises to reinforce theory with practical application.
You’ll receive guidance throughout, gradually reducing instructor support as your skills improve. Each dive is designed to allow independent navigation while maintaining safe practices.
Equipment is provided, including mask, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, and compass. Divers are welcome to bring personal gear if preferred.
Your instructor will demonstrate compass calibration, natural navigation techniques, and methods for safely combining both approaches underwater.
Dives are primarily at Littlehampton Marina and nearby dive sites such as Bognor Reef and Far Mulberry. These locations offer a mix of depths, sand, reef, and wreck terrain ideal for practising navigation.
Using multiple sites ensures you encounter varying conditions, currents, and visibility, allowing skills to transfer effectively to any dive environment.
Instructors provide close supervision during all exercises, offering support as needed while allowing you to practise independent navigation. Safety procedures are emphasised at every stage, including emergency ascents and buddy communication.
The course also includes risk management strategies, ensuring divers are prepared to make informed decisions underwater while leading themselves or others safely.
About the centre
Unit 1C, Littlehampton Marina, Ferry Rd, Littlehampton, BN17 5DS
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Operated by Abyss Scuba School, a partner of adventuro.
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