Master Scuba Diver Pathway • 6 Distinct Specialties

PADI Specialty Scuba Courses in Raleigh, NC

Target specific diving environments, master advanced technologies, and earn qualifying specialty credits toward the prestigious PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.

Course Quick Facts

Program Snapshot & Logistics

Specialties Offered
Nitrox, Deep 130ft, Wreck, Night, Nav, Peak Buoyancy
Goal
Targeted Skill Mastery & Master Scuba Diver Rating
Format
Online eLearning + Practical Quarry / Ocean Dives
Locations
Raleigh Pool, Fantasy Lake & NC Coastal Charters
Lead Instructor
Kevin Alexander (PADI Master Instructor #33230)
Prerequisites
Open Water or Advanced Open Water depending on course

🛡️ The By The Shore Training Advantage:

Unlike crowded dive shops that rush students through assembly-line classes, By The Shore SCUBA limits class sizes to low student-to-instructor ratios (typically 4:1). You receive individual coaching from PADI Master Instructor Kevin Alexander in a heated indoor Raleigh pool and calm Fantasy Lake spring quarry.

✓ Small Class Sizes • ✓ Heated Indoor Pool • ✓ Stress-Free Pace • ✓ Authentic Competence

Detailed Course Curriculum & What You Learn

Module 01

Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty (Most Popular)

Breathe up to 40% oxygen to extend bottom times and shorten surface intervals. Complete online theory and a hands-on digital oxygen analyzer workshop.

  • Stay longer at recreational depths (50–100 ft)
  • Essential for Caribbean, Florida Keys & liveaboard trips
  • Zero in-water dive requirement (completed in workshop)
  • Lifetime PADI Nitrox certification card
Module 02

Deep Diver (130 ft) & Wreck Diver Specialties

Explore deep shipwrecks and offshore reefs to the maximum 130 ft recreational limit. Learn guideline reel deployment and limited penetration.

  • Certifies to the 130 ft (40m) absolute recreational limit
  • North Carolina WWII coastal wreck exploration
  • Guideline reel deployment and zero-silt frog kicks
  • Gas calculation and pony bottle emergency protocols
Module 03

Environmental & Handling Specialties (Night, Nav, Buoyancy)

Hone nocturnal animal observation, pinpoint compass triangulation, and horizontal trim weighting to reduce air consumption by 30–50%.

  • Night Diver nocturnal entry and torch signaling
  • Underwater Navigator multi-leg compass mapping
  • Peak Performance Buoyancy trim and weighting optimization
  • All specialty dives count toward Master Scuba Diver

Equipment & Gear Guidelines

Provided For You

Heavy Life-Support Scuba Gear

Specialty oxygen analyzers, navigation slates, guideline reels, and calibration equipment.

Student Provided

Personal Snorkel & Dive Kit

Standard scuba gear plus specialty items (torches, compasses, reels) depending on chosen course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating?

Master Scuba Diver is the highest non-professional rating in recreational scuba. To earn it, you must hold PADI Rescue Diver, 5 PADI Specialty certifications, and have at least 50 logged dives.