Search and Recovery Specialty
Why train with us?
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Low student to instructor ratios : 3 or 4 students per instructor both in the pool and ocean
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Our retail store is located downtown.
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Diving courses available all year-round. Private courses available.
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We teach children 10 years and older.
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Passionate team of Instructors and Divemasters who love to teach.
SDI Navigation & Search and Recovery Diver Specialty Course | Vancouver
The SDI Navigation & Search and Recovery Diver Specialty Course is a weekend program designed to improve your underwater navigation skills while teaching you how to safely plan and execute search and recovery dives.
You'll learn compass and natural navigation, search patterns, lift bag use, rigging techniques, and object recovery while gaining valuable experience in British Columbia's cold-water diving environment.
Who Is This Course For?
- Certified divers looking to improve underwater navigation
- Divers wanting to learn search and recovery techniques
- Divers interested in lift bags, rigging, and object recovery
- Anyone seeking to expand their cold-water diving skills
What You Will Learn
- Compass and natural navigation
- Distance estimation and low-visibility navigation
- Circular, grid, shotgun, and current search patterns
- Search planning and diver communication
- Lift bag operation and rigging techniques
- Object recovery procedures
- Risk management and team coordination
Course Structure & Duration
The course is conducted over one weekend and includes a minimum of 4 ocean dives. Students must complete the SDI eLearning before training begins.
- 7:30 AM – Meet at Diving Sports Canada (transportation option)
- 8:30 AM – Meet at dive site
- Two dives per day
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Return to Vancouver
What's Included
- SDI Search & Recovery eLearning
- Underwater Navigation training
- 4 ocean training dives
- Professional SDI Instructor supervision
- Certification fees
- Transportation from Diving Sports Canada (space permitting)
- BCD, regulator, cylinder, weights, and air fills
- Drysuit rental for qualified divers
- Lift bags, reels, lines, and recovery equipment
What's Not Included
- Mask, snorkel, and gloves
- Compass (required)
- Dive computer and DSMB
- Dive light (optional)
- Drysuit undergarments
- Additional training if required
Prerequisites
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent certification
- Minimum age 18 (15 with parental consent)
- Minimum 10 cold-water dives
- Proof of diving activity within the previous 12 months
- Drysuit Specialty certification if diving in a drysuit
- Completed medical form when applicable
Need more experience before taking this course?
→ SDI Advanced Adventure / Advanced Open Water Course
Medical Form: Download Here
Equipment Rental
Basic scuba equipment is included. Students must provide their own mask, snorkel, gloves, and compass.
→ View Equipment Rental Packages
Using a Drysuit During Training
Divers wishing to use a drysuit must hold a Drysuit Specialty certification and have recent drysuit experience.
→ Learn About Our Drysuit Specialty Course
Transportation
- Transportation available from Diving Sports Canada
- Limited seating available
- First-come, first-served basis
- Students may also meet directly at the dive site
SDI Course Standards
This course follows official SDI training standards:
→ View SDI Search & Recovery Diver Standards
Cancellation Policy
Please review our cancellation and rescheduling policy before registering:
→ View Cancellation & Refund Policy
Reserve Your Spot
Spaces are limited due to instructor ratios and transportation capacity.
→ Book Your SDI Navigation & Search and Recovery Specialty Course
SDI Navigation & Search and Recovery Diver Specialty Course in Vancouver
Master Underwater Navigation & Recovery Skills in British Columbia
The SDI Navigation & Search and Recovery Diver Specialty Course at Diving Sports Canada is designed for divers who want to improve their underwater navigation abilities and learn practical search and recovery techniques used by experienced divers around the world.
Training takes place at Whytecliff Park, one of British Columbia's most popular dive sites. Students learn compass navigation, natural navigation, search patterns, lift bag operations, rigging techniques, and object recovery procedures through realistic ocean training dives.
Whether you want to recover lost equipment, improve your navigation skills, or become a more capable diver, this specialty course provides valuable experience that can be applied to almost every type of scuba diving.
Why Train With Diving Sports Canada?
As one of Vancouver's leading scuba diving training centers, Diving Sports Canada focuses on small class sizes, personalized instruction, and real-world diving experience.
Our instructors emphasize proper buoyancy, navigation accuracy, teamwork, and safe recovery techniques. Students receive extensive hands-on practice during ocean dives rather than simply meeting minimum certification requirements.
Training is conducted in local cold-water conditions, preparing divers for the environments they are most likely to encounter throughout British Columbia.
Commitment to Safety
Safety is our highest priority. All courses are conducted using SDI standards and include comprehensive dive planning, emergency procedures, surface support, and instructor supervision.
Our goal is to ensure every student develops the confidence and skills necessary to perform search and recovery dives safely and effectively.
Location & Contact Information
Diving Sports Canada
4578 Main Street
Vancouver, BC V5V 3R5
Phone: (604) 694-1886
Email: customerservice@divingsports.com
