Photo by Teemu Virtanen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Decompression Specialist
This specialized classroom course (no water diving) qualifies divers or professionals to master decompression theory, gas physiology at depth, and the software/algorithm tools used for technical dive planning. It bridges recreational and technical diving knowledge with rigorous decompression science, including dissolved and bubble models, and proficiency with advanced decompression planning software. This theoretical foundation is essential for technical divers planning extreme dives.
Centres that teach this course
1 dive centre in the directory publish a price for this exact certification, checked Sep 2026. Each centre's own wording is shown beneath its name. Ranges cover whole-course prices only — where a centre charges per day or per dive, its rate is listed separately below, since a daily figure is not comparable with a course total.
- THB 5,000total
These prices are not like-for-like. Two centres can charge very differently for the same certification because they include different things. One price may cover twinsets, stages, deco gas and cylinder rental for every training dive, a dedicated classroom for the theory, boat or transport to the site, and the agency's registration and materials; another may be tuition only, with all of that charged separately — or the other way round, with a centre bundling in extras the first leaves out. Class size, whether the course is one-to-one, and how many days are allowed for it move the figure too. Check what each centre's price includes before comparing them, and confirm with the centre before booking.
Consumables are usually extra. Sorb, helium, O₂ and other fills, park and cenote fees, certification fees and rental are commonly charged on top.
Packages combining several certifications, upgrades from an existing one, and open-ended day rates are excluded — none of them is the standalone price of this course, and including them would move the figures away from what a new student can actually book.
Prerequisites
IANTD Deep Diver (or equivalent) or professional standing, minimum 18 years old. No water-dive requirements—classroom-only course.
Standards
What a diver must demonstrate to pass this course — not always published by the certifying agency.
Demonstrate mastery of inert gas uptake and elimination, dissolved-gas vs bubble-formation decompression schedules, and proficiency with advanced decompression planning software.
Instructors Teaching This Course
Mexico
United States
Thailand
Other locations
Dive Centres Offering This Course
Mexico
Thailand
United States
We're still building out the directory country by country, so this list isn't every instructor or dive centre teaching it in the world — more locations are coming soon.
Common questions about IANTD Decompression Specialist
How much does IANTD Decompression Specialist cost?
One centre in the TecDiveTools directory publishes a whole-course price for IANTD Decompression Specialist: MV Seavulture, at THB 5,000. Prices differ mainly in what they include, so compare the inclusions before comparing the numbers. Prices were last checked in September 2026.
What are the prerequisites for IANTD Decompression Specialist?
IANTD's standards require: IANTD Deep Diver (or equivalent) or professional standing, minimum 18 years old. No water-dive requirements—classroom-only course.
What is the minimum age for IANTD Decompression Specialist?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 18 years old.
What does IANTD Decompression Specialist training involve?
According to IANTD's published standards: Demonstrate mastery of inert gas uptake and elimination, dissolved-gas vs bubble-formation decompression schedules, and proficiency with advanced decompression planning software.
Where can I take IANTD Decompression Specialist?
53 dive centres and 71 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach IANTD Decompression Specialist, in Mexico, the United States, Thailand and Indonesia. Each is listed further up this page.
Does the price of IANTD Decompression Specialist include gas and equipment?
Not always — it varies by centre. Certification fees, equipment rental and boat or site fees are commonly charged on top of the course price. Each centre's price list on TecDiveTools shows what it notes as included.