The PADI Underwater Naturalist Course teaches you more about the local ecosystem. Explore the Mediterranean Sea surrounding Malta & Gozo and identify more during your next scuba diving adventure.
PADI Underwater Naturalist Course Overview
See new things, even in the most familiar dive sites.
Take the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course and you’ll see new things, even on the most familiar scuba diving sites. Why? Because when you know more about symbioses, underwater ecology, and aquatic plant and animal habitats, you notice behaviours and see creatures you may have previously missed.
Learn more about the local ecosystem and take a closer look on your next scuba diving adventure.

PADI Open Water Divers who are at least 10 years old are eligible to take the Underwater Naturalist Specialty course.
To complete the academic studies, we estimate 6 hours of independent study.
To complete the two open water training dives will take 1 day (8 hour day).
Besides standard scuba equipment, you’ll use a slate and pencil to record your observations. All required equipment for your course including a dive computer is supplied by ABC Diving.
The total, fully inclusive cost of the PADI Underwater Naturalist Course starts at €210.00 with our ‘Standard’ option. Our ‘Bespoke’ option is €460.00.
This includes:
– All dive equipment needed for the completion of your course
– PADI educational materials
– Certification cost
PADI Underwater Naturalist course - THE LEARNING PATH
An insight into dive 1:
– Passively observe aquatic life.
– Demonstrate and apply diving techniques that preserve bottom dwelling organisms and minimise disturbing aquatic life.
– Locate and identify, by common or scientific name:
– at least two local aquatic plants.
– at least four local aquatic invertebrates.
– at least five local aquatic vertebrates.
An insight into dive 2:
– Passively observe aquatic life.
– Demonstrate and apply diving techniques that preserve bottom dwelling organisms and minimise disturbing aquatic life.
– Find and identify as many symbiotic relationships and predator/prey relationships as you can.
– Find and identify as many human effects on the environment as you can.
The PADI Underwater Naturalist course is designed to help student divers to interact with the living underwater world based on objective assessments and observations. Thus, the goal of this course is to teach student divers to view the aquatic ecosystems scientifically, without biases based on misconceptions and myths. Student divers learn basic organism groupings and identification, but the emphasis is placed on student diver understandings of the relationships between organisms, their environment and humans, as well as on the application of environmentally friendly dive techniques.
how the booking Process works
It's As Easy As ABC!
1. Choose your course option
Click ‘Request to book’ button and complete the booking request form. Only 1 form per group is required.
2. Booking approval
Within 3 working hours, your booking request will either be approved or an alternate date suggested.
3. Pack your towel!
Once the booking is approved, a payment request is sent to you. Upon payment, your booking is confirmed.
Choose your course option
Bespoke or Standard?
Bespoke
€460
- Private Tuition
- Private Transfer Service From Anywhere in Malta
- 1 Day Course
- 2 Open Water Dives
- PADI Underwater Naturalist Certification
- PADI Educational Materials
- Premium Dive Equipment Supplied
- You Choose the Days
- Student Dive Insurance Included
Standard
€210
- Class size up to 4
- Daily pick up/drop off service From Transport Zone*
- 1 Day Course
- 2 Open Water Dives
- PADI Underwater Naturalist Certification
- PADI Educational Materials
- Premium Dive Equipment Supplied
- You Choose the Days
- No Student Dive Insurance Included
*View Transport Zone
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