Dry Suit Diver Course
Learn to dive warm and confident with our Dry Suit Diver Course
SDI Dry Suit Diver Certification in Nanaimo
Stay warm, stay comfortable, and unlock year-round diving on Vancouver Island.
Cold-water diving opens up some of the richest marine life in the world, but staying warm is essential for enjoying it. The SDI Dry Suit Diver course teaches you how to choose, use, and maintain a dry suit so you can extend your dive season, improve buoyancy control, and enjoy longer, more comfortable dives.
Training with Nanaimo Dive Outfitters gives you real experience in the cold, clear waters around Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay, which are ideal for learning proper dry suit technique and building confidence that transfers anywhere in the world.
Who is the Dry Suit course for?
The SDI Dry Suit Diver course is designed for certified divers who want to:
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- Extend their diving season into colder months
- Stay warmer and more comfortable during longer dives
- Learn how different suit types, seals, and undergarments work
- Improve buoyancy control while using a dry suit
- Explore colder regions with confidence
Minimum age is 18, or 12–17 with parental consent. You must already hold an SDI Open Water Diver certification or equivalent. If you are taking the open water course the drysuit course is included as part of your certification.
Inside your Dry Suit Diver training experience
This specialty includes a brief classroom session at the shop, dry land practice, and two open-water training dives. The course is focused on helping you become comfortable, warm, and stable in a dry suit, even if you’ve only ever dived in wetsuits before.
A typical schedule includes:
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- Classroom learning on suit types, valves, seals, undergarments, maintenance, and emergency procedures
- Dry land practice with donning, valve operation, trim adjustments, and proper weighting
- Open-water dive 1 covering buoyancy skills, inversion recovery, and dry suit handling
- Open-water dive 2 focusing on controlled ascents, emergency practice, and real-world diving scenarios
This combination builds safe habits and long-term comfort with dry suit diving.
What the Dry Suit Diver course teaches you
The SDI Dry Suit Diver course focuses on three main areas of learning:
#1. Knowledge development
Before getting into the water, you’ll learn about:
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- Different types of dry suits, including shell, crushed neoprene, and neoprene
- Seal materials such as latex and neoprene
- Key dry suit features like self-don designs, rear-entry systems, boots, zipper guards, warm neck collars, and suspenders
- Undergarments and insulation layers that resist compression and keep you warm
- Dry suit components, including inflator and exhaust valves
- How buoyancy changes when using a dry suit
- Proper care, cleaning, zipper maintenance, and basic repairs
- How to identify and respond to dry suit emergencies
#2. Confined-water (pool or controlled environment) training
During your dry suit orientation and skills session, you’ll practice:
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- Proper donning and fit checks
- Understanding and operating the suit’s inflator and deflator valves
- Buoyancy checks and correct weighting
- Adding and releasing air for buoyancy control
- Recovering from an inverted position
- Hovering and holding position using dry suit buoyancy
- Emergency procedures for dry suit malfunctions
- General safety skills and comfort-building exercises
#3. Open-water ocean dives
You’ll complete your dry suit training dives at local Nanaimo sites, which may include:
In these dives, you’ll put your skills to use in real conditions while staying warm and comfortable. You’ll practice safe descents, buoyancy control, dry suit management, and proper ascent techniques, and you’ll log your dives at the end of the session.
Learn to dive warm and comfortable
Learning to dive in British Columbia prepares you for dry suit diving anywhere. If you’re comfortable in our cold-water conditions, warm-water trips feel effortless. This certification is recognized worldwide and supports future specialties such as wreck, night, navigation, and nitrox.
What’s included
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- SDI eLearning
- All required scuba rental gear
- Dry suit certification
- Two ocean dives
- Small class sizes for personalized instruction and a high dive professional to student ratio
Student perks: You’ll receive discounts on purchasing your own gear after you certify. You’re also invited to join our regular club dives.
Coming from out of town?
If you’ve already started your Dry Suit Diver course elsewhere, we can finish your certification through a multi-agency referral. Contact us for details.
Dry Suit Diver Course FAQ
How different does a dry suit feel compared to a wetsuit?
A dry suit feels more buoyant and bulkier at first, especially around the legs, but most divers adapt quickly. After a couple of dives, the added warmth and stability usually outweigh the learning curve.
Is it normal to feel nervous about uncontrolled ascent risks?
Yes. Almost every new dry suit diver worries about going feet-up. The course teaches controlled drills so you know exactly how to recognize, prevent, and correct inversion long before it becomes a problem.
How much extra weight will I need when switching to a dry suit?
Most divers add several extra pounds because the suit, undergarments, and air layer increase buoyancy. Your instructor will work with you during a proper weighting session to fine tune this for your body, suit, and gear.
Should I buy a dry suit before the course or rent one first?
If you’re unsure which style fits your needs, renting first is smart. It lets you compare sizing, materials, and valve placement before making a major investment.
Will my fins work with a dry suit, or do I need new ones?
You may need fins with larger foot pockets because dry suit boots are thicker. Proper fit matters, especially since a dry suit shifts more air toward the legs.
How do I know if a neck or wrist seal is too tight or too loose?
A seal that leaves deep marks or headaches is likely too tight. A seal that flushes water or slides when stretched is too loose. Your instructor can assess fit during the course.
Can I wear heated vests or other battery-powered layers once I’m certified?
Yes, many divers use heated garments for long or deeper cold-water dives. Training helps you manage buoyancy changes from different layers safely.
Start Your Adventure
Ready to start your journey to becoming a cold-water scuba diver? Book your drysuit course now.
