You’ve discovered one of the best outdoor activities — scuba diving. But do you know what you’re seeing beneath the waves? Can you identify the fish species you encounter? Can you name a few?
If the answer is yes, that’s great! Keep exploring.
If not, no worries! The PADI Fish Identification (ID) Specialty course is here to help. This fun and easy course is designed to teach you how to recognize the different fish species you come across during your dives. During the course, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the underwater world and enhance your diving experience, especially if you’re into underwater photography. The course also covers key fish behaviors, so you can position yourself in the right spot at the right time to capture the perfect shot.
Here are three things you’ll learn during the PADI Fish ID one-day course, which includes two dives.
1. How To Identify Characteristics of Local Fish Families and Species
It would be impossible to recognize the thousands of species of fish in all the bodies of water around the world. Instead, during the Fish Identification course, you’ll learn to group the fish you see, so you can more easily identify families and species. You do this by looking at the physical characteristics of the fish, such as:
- Body shape
- Mouth shape
- Fin position
- Color markings
What’s more, the grouping system you’ll learn is universal — meaning it can be applied to any dive site, anywhere in the world. So, the next time your dive buddies ask, “What fish was that?”, you’ll be able to identify it with confidence (or at least make a well-informed guess!).
2. Fish Survey Techniques & Strategies
Fish help determine the overall health of the marine ecosystem, and as a scuba diver, you notice first-hand the abundance (or lack) of fish in a dive site.
During the PADI Fish Identification course, you’ll learn how to conduct fish surveys to determine the fish population and density at a dive site. You can then volunteer for non-profit organizations or citizen science programs to help collect important scientific data for research purposes.
3. How To Participate in PADI AWARE Activities That Protect Aquatic Life
If protecting our oceans is something you’re interested in, during the PADI Fish ID Specialty course you’ll also learn of the importance of ocean conservation and how you — as a scuba diver — can help. You’ll get an overview of the PADI AWARE Foundation®, a non-profit organization backed by PADI, and learn more about their ocean conservation programs, through courses such as the AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course, the AWARE Dive Against Debris Specialty course, and the AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty course.
Imagine the good you could do!
Course Prerequisites
To enroll in the PADI Fish Identification Specialty course, you must be 10 years old and hold a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver certification (or higher).
Required Equipment
Together with your standard scuba equipment, you’ll need a diving slate and a pencil to record your findings during the PADI Fish ID Specialty course. Depending on where you dive, you or your PADI Instructor might also use a fish identification card with pictures of the local fish.
A Fish Is Not Just a Fish
Scuba diving is more enjoyable and even more meaningful once you learn how to identify the fish around you as well as interpret their behaviors. As a diver, you probably also have a sense of responsibility towards our oceans, and with the PADI Fish Identification Specialty course, you’ll gain the tools you need to help in many ocean conservation activities worldwide.
Learn more about the underwater world with the PADI Fish Identification Specialty course.
