Drift Diver
Go With the Flow. Discover a Different Way to Dive.
Discover the Freedom of Drift Diving
Drift diving offers a different way to explore the underwater world. Instead of swimming continuously to move around, you allow the current to carry you along a reef, wall or dive site.
The Drift Diver course introduces you to the techniques and considerations involved in diving in moving water. You'll learn how to prepare for drift dives, understand current conditions and work effectively with your buddy and dive team.
Across four open-water dives, you'll practise maintaining awareness, controlling your position and developing confidence in suitable current conditions selected by your instructor.
Whether you're looking to expand your diving skills or experience a new way of exploring underwater sites, drift diving is a great addition to your diving experience.
What Will You Learn?
Develop the knowledge and practical skills to prepare for and enjoy drift dives, while becoming more confident in moving water.
Knowledge & Preparation
- Understand how currents form and how they can affect a dive.
- Learn how to assess current conditions before entering the water.
- Understand the importance of dive planning and suitable entry and exit arrangements.
- Learn how to maintain contact with your buddy and dive group while drifting.
- Understand the role of surface marker buoys during drift diving.
- Develop awareness of buoyancy, positioning and your surroundings in moving water.
Practical Skills
- Practise entering and exiting the water in suitable drift conditions.
- Maintain buddy contact while moving with the current.
- Control your position and buoyancy in moving water.
- Practise deploying a surface marker buoy where appropriate.
- Maintain awareness of the current and the surrounding dive team.
- Complete four open-water dives applying your knowledge and techniques.
How Does the Course Work?
The Drift Diver course combines knowledge development with practical open-water training. Across four dives over two days, you'll develop your skills and experience different aspects of drift diving.
Learn about currents, drift-diving conditions, dive planning and the techniques used to make drift dives enjoyable and well organised.
Prepare your equipment and learn about the importance of planning, communication and coordinating with your dive team. Divecrew provides the SMBs and reels used during training.
Complete four open-water dives over two days, practising drift-diving techniques and developing your awareness, buoyancy and buddy procedures in suitable current conditions selected by your instructor.
Complete the required training and demonstrate your understanding of drift diving to achieve your Drift Diver speciality certification.
Prerequisites & Requirements
The Drift Diver course is designed for certified recreational divers who want to develop their skills and experience diving in moving water.
Certification Requirements
- Minimum Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.
- Minimum age of 12 years.
- Suitable for certified recreational divers looking to develop their drift-diving skills.
What Else Do I Need?
- Be comfortable participating in open-water diving.
- Bring your own mask and snorkel.
- Bring suitable exposure protection for the dive conditions.
- Divecrew provides the BCD, regulator, fins, cylinders, weights, SMBs and reels required for training.
What's Included?
Your course includes instructor-led training, four open-water dives and the equipment needed for your practical sessions.
Included in Your Course
- Professional instructor tuition.
- Course materials.
- Four open-water training dives over two days.
- Use of BCD, regulator, fins, cylinders and weights.
- SMBs and reels for training.
- Practical drift-diving instruction and skills development.
- Drift Diver speciality certification on successful completion.
Additional Information
- Course price: £305 per diver.
- Students must bring their own mask and snorkel.
- Dive-site entry fees are additional and payable separately.
- Dive locations and conditions will be selected by the instructor, taking suitability and safety into account.
Why Train With Divecrew?
At Divecrew, we want you to get the most out of every dive. Our friendly instructors provide practical guidance and support, helping you develop your skills and become a more confident, capable diver.
The Drift Diver course gives you the opportunity to build on your existing experience, learn new techniques and enjoy a different way of exploring underwater environments.
- Friendly, supportive instructors.
- Practical, experience-based training.
- Guidance to help you develop confidence in different conditions.
- Skills you can take with you on future diving adventures.
- A welcoming community of divers and instructors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is drift diving?
Drift diving is when you allow a natural current to carry you along an underwater site, rather than swimming continuously to move around. It can be an exciting way to explore reefs, walls and other dive locations.
Do I need to be an experienced diver?
You need to hold at least an Open Water Diver certification or equivalent. The course is suitable for certified recreational divers who want to develop their skills and learn about drift diving.
How many dives are included?
The course includes four open-water training dives, completed over two days.
How long does the course take?
The Drift Diver course takes two days, including the knowledge development and four open-water dives.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age for the Drift Diver course is 12 years.
Will I need to bring my own SMB and reel?
No. Divecrew provides the SMBs and reels required for your course training.
What equipment do I need to bring?
You'll need to bring your own mask and snorkel, along with suitable exposure protection. Divecrew provides your BCD, regulator, fins, cylinders, weights, SMBs and reels for the course.
Are dive-site fees included in the course price?
No. The course price is £305, and dive-site entry fees are additional and payable separately.
Ready to Go With the Flow?
Interested in the Drift Diver course? Get in touch with our team or book your place and discover a different way to explore underwater.
