Flying High as a PADI Helicopter Diver

If you’ve ever imagined leaping from a helicopter like an action hero, Trident Adventures in Oahu, Hawaii, can make your dream a reality. Owner Steve Kaplan, a retired United States Navy SEAL, started Trident Adventures to offer the most exhilarating aspects of his military service to civilians.

His favorite SEAL activity was helicopter water insertions, known as “helo casting.” But when Kaplan told people he wanted to have scuba divers jump out of a helicopter, nearly everyone said it was impossible.

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One of the biggest hurdles was FAA approval. Helicopter Diver couldn’t get off the ground until the Federal Aviation Administration gave its blessing. With the help of Richard Schuman, owner of Magnum Helicopters in Oahu, and Chief Pilot Doug Froning, Kaplan transformed Navy procedures into FAA-approved protocols.

The PADI Helicopter Diver Distinctive Specialty series has four levels. Level One is the introductory experience. Certified divers receive an hour of classroom instruction and an hour of practical training before jumping out of a helicopter wearing only a wetsuit.

Once in the water, divers swim to a support boat for their dive gear. They don their gear, pair up with a buddy and go for a dive.

“Divers jump from 8 to 65 feet into an FAA-designated drop zone,” Kaplan says. “The height is determined by the jumper and the Helicopter Cast Master/Instructor. We usually start around 25 feet. The jumper stands on the skid outside the helicopter and signals thumb up or thumb down to go higher or lower.”

Since the course launched in 2019, hundreds of people, ranging in age from 10 to 84, have earned the PADI Helicopter Diver Level One certification. The training, jump and scuba dive can be completed in just one day.

In Level Two, divers drop their bundled dive gear out of the chopper and jump in after it. The helicopter maintains a forward speed of approximately 5–7 knots so the diver doesn’t land on top of their equipment.

“The jump height is only 8 to 12 feet. We don’t go higher because it increases the risk of damaging the scuba equipment or hurting the jumper,” Kapan says.

Level Two is the only certification level with two jumps because divers typically don’t master the skill on their first attempt. When the diver successfully retrieves and dons their gear, they make a dive with a buddy.

At Level Three, divers jump out of the helicopter wearing all their dive gear—with one important modification: Their fins are strapped to their shins, not their feet. Divers enter the water positively buoyant, put their fins on at the surface, signal their buddy and start the dive.

By Level Four, divers jump into the ocean wearing all their dive gear and are neutrally buoyant. They put their fins on underwater, find their buddy and dive.

Levels Two, Three and Four are all one-day courses, but Level Four has additional prerequisites. Before starting Helicopter Diver Level Four, participants must have PADI Drift Diver and PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy certifications.

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Ambitious divers can complete all four levels within four days, though prior planning is required. But you don’t have to do all four levels. Kaplan encourages divers to try Level One, then decide if they want to go further.

“It’s a life-changing confidence builder,” Kaplan says. “Our favorite students are those who think they can’t do it.”

For divers who want to unleash their inner action hero, The PADI Helicopter Diver Distinctive Specialty series is a one-of-a-kind opportunity. It combines expert training, adrenaline-pumping adventure and stunning scenery into one unforgettable experience.

When to Go

Helicopter Diver is offered year-round. Advance booking is recommended during Hawaii’s peak seasons: mid-December through March and June through August.

»This column features unique scuba courses at PADI Dive Shops around the world. To recommend a course for this column, please email edit@padi.com.