A PADI Master Scuba Diver is never deterred by cloudy weather or cold water. Like a true creature of the sea, the Master Scuba Diver simply adapts to the conditions; and for many, a dry suit is the way to experience cold water diving.

In many areas of the world, dive conditions are at their best during the winter months. While the fair weather dive crowd hibernates for the winter, dry suit divers often make their best dives of the year. Cooler water and fewer active divers can mean above-average visibility for viewing the best the underwater world has to offer.

Many divers purchase a dry suit thinking they'll only use it for cold water diving, but after the experience of diving dry, some never switch back to wearing a wet suit. It's not uncommon to find dry suit devotees so loyal to their dry suits, they wear them year-round – even in water temperatures of up to 21º Celsius/70º Fahrenheit.

If you've ever been curious about whether dry suit diving is for you, there's never been a better time to find out. PADI's Dry Suit Diver Specialty course is the Specialty of the Month for January. In the PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty course, you'll learn about different types of dry suits and some basic dry suit use skills. Though a dry suit is fairly easy to use, it's important to get proper training. Otherwise, you may find yourself upside down, legs full of air and headed for the surface (a good laugh for your buddy, but not the safest way to end a dive). As a certified PADI Dry Suit Diver, you'll learn how to avoid common problems and practice skills in the pool before moving on to two open water dives.

During the month of January, you can earn a free PADI T-shirt for enrolling in a PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty course (but wait there's more). DUI is offering free dry suit accessories to PADI Diving Society members who enroll in a PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty course and purchase a DUI dry suit. For complete details, please download the DUI free accessories redemption form (.pdf).

For more details on the Specialty of the Month program, visit the Specialty of the Month area at padi.com. To join PADI Diving Society, please visit your local PADI Dive Center or Resort, or use our online application.