It's happened to more divers than you think. After a beautiful dive, the group surfaces and there's a collective groan as everyone realizes the dive boat is a tiny speck in the distance. Somewhere in the middle of that 10-minute surface swim, the divers realize, "Maybe it's time to sign up for that underwater navigation specialty."

By learning a few simple navigation skills, you can increase your confidence underwater, avoid long surface swims, and make the most out of every dive. The importance of knowing where you are and where you're going in the underwater world is something many divers overlook.

Solid navigation skills will serve you well no matter where you dive:

• Maximize your time on a wreck dive by navigating directly to the dive site.
• Find out about the island's best shore dive by asking local divers for directions from the beach.
• Spend more time relaxing, and less time swimming by surfacing at your pre-planned exit point.

You can complete your PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course in as little as one day and you may be able to credit the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive from your Adventures in Diving program towards your specialty course.*

This March, PADI Diving Society members are eligible to receive a free knit cap from PADI for enrolling in a PADI Underwater Navigation couese.

To find out more about the Underwater Navigator Specialty course, contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort or visit padi.com. For more information on the Specialty of the Month program, including the complete 2007 calendar, visit padi.com/specialtyofthemonth

*The Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive from the Adventures in Diving program may be applied to the Underwater Navigator Specialty course at the instructor's discretion.