Will Taking a Civilian SCUBA Diving Course Help You at Dive School or BUD/S Second Phase?

Quick Answer: Yes and Maybe...

Taking a civilian scuba course before military dive school can be beneficial by improving water comfort, providing basic equipment and physics familiarity, and building confidence in the water. All of which can make a difference, but the most significant factor remains that the student needs to learn new tactical skills quickly. Because it's not a substitute for military training, as military diving uses different systems, such as closed-circuit rebreathers, and instructors will retrain all techniques to military standards. Ultimately, mental and physical capability in the water is more critical than a prior scuba certification. 

Personally, I had been SCUBA diving for nearly 10 years before going to BUD/S. I thought it was helpful, but the learning curve was still steep, as you will be doing things that you never learned on a PADI SCUBA course.

Benefits of prior scuba training

• Increased water comfort: Being physically and mentally comfortable in the water is a priority for military dive training, and scuba courses help build this foundation. I have seen D-1 swimmers and water polo players fail BUD/S SCUBA tests, so it is more than just water comfort.
• Familiarity with gear: A civilian course introduces you to some basic equipment and how it works, which can make the initial stages of military training smoother.
• Basic skills and knowledge: You'll gain an understanding of diving physics and basic procedures like planning and executing a dive, even though military diving will have its own methods. There will be dive physics tests using introductory algebra, and dive medicine and emergency procedures that will be new to you as a military diving student.
• Confidence building: Gaining experience in a less stressful, recreational environment can boost your overall confidence before tackling the intense demands of military training. This is the most significant benefit of receiving a civilian dive qualification.

No SCUBA Course will prepare you for OC-8 (aka pool comp)

Limitations of civilian training

• Different equipment: Military diving primarily uses closed-circuit rebreather systems, unlike open-circuit systems used in recreational scuba, which release bubbles. You will learn both types of diving in the military, depending on the diving course you take.
• Different doctrine: The methods, dive tables, and operational procedures used in military diving are different from those taught in civilian courses. Similar but different, so some relearning is needed as a military dive student.
• Military-specific skills: You will need to learn military-specific skills such as tactical entry, combat diving tactics, and team drills with a full combat load, which are not part of any civilian course. 

Army Guys Dive too... Two Special Forces members dive in a closed circuit rig

Overall, I am biased because I have diving experience before BUD/S. But I have seen many students whose first time diving or even seeing the ocean made it through the program. So, in the end, it comes down to how well you handle stress, new skills, and perform emergency procedures that matter the most.

There is More To StewSmithFitness.com than You May Know

(In fact, there are more than 40 books, 1000+ articles, online coaching - and more) 

Who is Stew Smith CSCS? Coach, Trainer, Writer, Podcaster: I'm the former Navy SEAL that tactical candidates go to for books, ebooks and online coaching to prepare themselves to get to and through intense tactical assessment and selection programs and qualify for service in their chosen tactical profession.  See More at StewSmithFitness.com

Here is a list of what we do at StewSmithFitness.com

Core Mission

• Tactical Fitness Training For the Candidate / Recruit: Specializing in preparing individuals for military, special ops, law enforcement, and firefighter selection programs (getting you "TO and THROUGH" training). 
  
  
• Functional Training for Both Active Duty / Recruits: Utilizing a seasonal tactical fitness periodization system that balances longer workouts of running/rucking, swimming, and calisthenics during the Spring/Summer when days are longer. Then, the focus shifts in the Fall/Winter to lifting (Cals/cardio maintenance) when the days are shorter/colder. This process has 25 years of proven success building tactical athletes who improve in all areas of fitness: strength, power, speed, agility, endurance, muscle stamina, mobility, flexibility, and grip.
  
  Becoming an Asset for All Types: Even non-tactical athletes want to be of use in situations that require some level of fitness to get through the day. Be an asset, not a liability, in potentially dangerous situations, whether natural or man-made. Fitness can be a common denominator in successfully enduring life-or-death scenarios. 

Specific Programs & Courses

• The Ageless Athlete (Fitness Over 50): A 22-week program designed for beginners to advanced trainees looking to regain fitness, flexibility, and energy.
  
  
• Tactical Fitness Over 40: After training people for over 25 years now, many who started with me in the early 2000s are now in their 40s and beyond. Learning how to shift training to remain an asset while also offering longevity, flexibility, and mobility is central to this 52-week program. (4-part series)
  
  
• Tactical Fitness Course: An 80-minute course on preparing for Spec Ops selection, getting TO and THROUGH the toughest military special ops’ programs using this two-phase system.
  
  
  Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization - A 25 Year proven system to become a tactical athlete. 
  
  
• The Never Quit Mindset Book and Course: The "Never Quit Mindset" book and course is a deep dive into building constructive habits that incrementally improve discipline, build mental toughness, and foster a Never Quit Mindset in anything you want to do.
  
  
• Specialized Workout Plans: Specific, tailored programs for Navy SEAL (Phases 1-4), SWCC, Army (SF/Ranger/Airborne), USMC MarSOC / (RECON), Air Force (PJ/CCT), Coast Guard, Law Enforcement (FBI/DEA/FLETC), Fire Fighter, and general fitness too for beginners and advanced athletes alike.
  
  
  

Resources and Content

• • Extensive Content Library: Over 1,000 free articles, 200+ podcasts, and social media content (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram) featuring Spec Ops swim critiques and LIVE QA sessions.
    
    
  • FREE Local Training for those preparing to serve! Check out HeroesofTomorrow.org for our location and schedule.
    
    
    
  • NEW SKOOL.com Tactical Fitness Community
    
    
  • Educational Materials: Over 40 options for eBooks, videos, printed books, podcasts (200+), and online video courses.
    
    
  • Apps: Pushup Push, Pullup Push, FBI workout, and Navy SEAL exercise apps (iPhone/Android).
    
    
  • LIVE QA Sessions Each Week: Monday and Tuesday, 9 am EST on social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook) and Skool.com Tactical Fitness community.
    
    
  • Online Coaching: Personalized programming based on specific goals, equipment, and your time availability.
    
    
  • Membership Site: Access to hundreds of weeks of training, unpublished workouts, and exclusive content, weekly newsletter sent to subscribers with the week's latest articles, videos, and workouts (beginner/intermediate, and advanced special ops prep workouts).