Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, PADI iJunior Open Water Diver or have equivalent rating.
Be 12 years of age or older.
The Underwater Naturalist Dive from the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or Advanced Plus Course may be counted toward the certification requirements for this speciality at the discretion of the instructor conducting the Speciality Course.

This course is an introduction to aquatic life including an overview of respon-sible human interactions with aquatic life.
The minimum number of recommended hours is 12, with time being equally divided between knowledge development and actual water-training sessions.
To conduct an Underwater Naturalist Course, the following is to be included:

• the planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of diving in different aquatic environments.
• a basic overview of major aquatic life groupings (kingdoms and phyla).
• factual information that dispels myths of potentially dangerous aquatic life.
• an overview of basic aquatic life interactions and associations.
• responsible human interactions with aquatic life.
• diving technique used to help preserve bottom dwelling aquatic life and minimize aquatic life disturbance.