Specialty
Recognise and identify what you're actually looking at underwater. Learn to identify local fish by family characteristics — skills that transfer to any dive destination on Earth.
Get more infoKnowing what you are looking at makes every dive more interesting. The PADI Fish Identification Specialty teaches you how to group and recognise fish by shape, behaviour and markings.
You also learn the basics of simple fish surveys, which can support citizen science projects and ocean conservation.
| Theory (knowledge development) | Knowledge development is usually done through PADI eLearning or self-study. |
| Pool / confined water | Not applicable. |
| Open water | Two open water dives are completed to practise identification and survey skills. |
PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent.
Minimum age: 10 years old.
Training dives: Two open water dives per PADI standards.
Typically one day.
Divers who love marine life and want to understand it better.
Because fish families share characteristics globally, the identification skills you build locally carry over to reefs anywhere you travel.
Classroom theory plus 2 practical open-water dives putting your identification skills to work.
Classroom theory on identifying fish by family characteristics rather than memorising individual species, followed by 2 practical open-water dives putting that identification and basic survey technique to work.
Yes — because fish families share characteristics globally, the family-based identification method you learn locally transfers to reefs anywhere in the world, not just the sites you trained at.
Theory is covered at our Gauteng base, with the practical dives typically scheduled at Bass Lake or Miracle Waters. It's also a natural fit for a coastal trip to Sodwana Bay or Aliwal Shoal, where there's a far wider range of species to identify.
Fish Identification is R4 398 for club members and R4 548 for non-members, including PADI materials. It's a great pairing with Project AWARE and Shark Conservation. Book via our enquiry form or reach out through contact.
No. The course teaches you to recognise fish by shape and behaviour, which applies anywhere you dive.
Yes. Fish surveys can contribute useful data to conservation groups.