Is this a certification course?

No. This is an educational lecture series with no exam or certification; it focuses on science and practical decision-making.

Who teaches the series?

Instructor Brandon Wolters, a technical instructor with 21 years of diving experience, leads the sessions.

What is the minimum age?

Minimum age to attend is ten years old.

Do I need to bring any equipment?

Bring your dive computer, recent dive logs or screenshots, and a notebook; no diving equipment is required for class.

How large are the classes?

Classes are limited to eight participants to encourage discussion and personalized feedback.

What languages are offered?

Instruction is offered in English.

Decode Your Dive Computer: Decompression Theory Series in Punta Gorda | Scuba | Workshop

At the edge of Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda, Florida, the Decompression Theory Lecture Series offers a compact, three-evening dive science workshop that changes how you read your dive computer. Held at Depth Finder's Scuba, sessions run in the evenings (approximately 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and are built for certified recreational and advanced divers who want practical, research-based insight rather than textbook simplification. Instructor Brandon Wolters, a technical instructor with twenty-one years of experience, leads small, conversational classes capped at eight participants. Over three evenings the course moves from history to application: Haldane’s 1908 experiments, modern decompression research, gas uptake physics, and how current algorithms estimate risk. You will learn why computers sometimes disagree, how oxygen exposure affects margins, and how to make conservative choices for cold, deep, or repetitive dives. This is not a certification course; there is no exam and no card. Instead, attendees receive a curated reading guide of peer-reviewed studies and leave with concrete changes to apply on boat dives, shore entries, and multi-day trips. The classroom’s proximity to Charlotte Harbor’s mangroves, seagrass flats, and estuary currents gives local context to the theory, making examples immediately relevant. Format emphasizes dialogue: bring dive logs, computer screenshots, or profile graphs for tailored feedback. Minimum age is ten, instruction language is English, and group size makes time for one-on-one discussion. Expect concise primers on tissue compartments, bubble formation, gradient factors, and oxygen toxicity. Practical takeaways cover ascent techniques, gas planning, and when to dial your computer conservatively. For visiting divers, the series turns abstract models into field-ready choices and makes Depth Finder's Scuba a distinctive local resource where classroom science directly improves safety on the water. Beyond the content, the format rewards curiosity. Sessions are discussion-driven, so experienced divers and instructors exchange practical fixes for recurring problems. If you dive frequently, bringing recent profiles yields immediate adjustments to gas use and surface intervals. The reading list bridges classroom concepts and current literature, allowing attendees to follow new studies after the series. Punta Gorda itself is an accessible staging area: harborside lodging, boat ramps, and local charter operators make it easy to practice lessons on the water. Whether you plan a weekend of classroom learning followed by a day of guided diving, or a quieter study sequence, this series gives a practical toolkit. Come prepared: questions, logs, and an open mind will let the small group format deliver real change to the way you plan, execute, and think about every dive. Book through the provided referral link for availability and to confirm dates with Depth Finder's Scuba. Sessions often sell out, so reserve early; focused instruction here pays off with measurable improvements to dive planning, execution, and overall safety.

About Depth Finders Scuba

Depth Finders Scuba is a Punta Gorda, Florida dive center offering a broad range of scuba training, guided dives, and community events. The business provides NAUI courses—including Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and a NAUI Dive Master course—alongside specialty training such as Enriched Air (Nitrox) classroom and eLearning sessions. Depth Finders Scuba runs Open Water classes in day and weekend formats at locations like Lake Denton and Florida’s East Coast, plus guided two-tank dives at Boynton Beach and Gulf dives with Florida Gulf Coast Scuba.

For technical and rebreather divers, Depth Finders Scuba offers Intro to Technical Diving courses, CCR Crossover programs, and a CCR Cave Diver Crossover Course. Specific CCR training includes a CCR Crossover Course tailored to the Dive Rite O2ptima chest-mount unit, and multi-day cave crossover instruction focused on closed-circuit rebreather techniques and scenario-based training.

Training formats vary by course: brief classroom and eLearning sessions for Nitrox certification, two-day CCR crossovers, 2–3 day technical introductions, and three-day cave or rescue courses. The shop also organizes a Dive Club social event with presentations, trip planning, and member networking opportunities, and seasonal experiences such as Underwater Pictures with Santa.

All offerings emphasize hands-on dives, unit-specific skills, emergency protocols, and buoyancy management where applicable. Depth Finders Scuba operates from Punta Gorda, FL and coordinates dives across nearby springs, keys, coastlines, and Gulf locations. Interested divers can select entry-level certifications, advanced training, technical rebreather crossovers, guided reefs and wreck dives, or community events. Registration and scheduling information is available on-site directly.