Cold water divers are better?

[ZenDiver.3D]

I think the OP is trying to say something quite different.
He said:

In the interests of safety and on-going training, should the certifying agencies encourage some recognition of the difference in say the advanced open water cert? (Yes, all the skills for both types are taught but it might raise awareness and preparedness).

I think he states his opinion of warm water divers quite clearly.

 

[tomboyy]

Cold water divers have smaller willies....

thats your story and you stick to it

 

[TSandM]

I think we're looking at the "certified to dive in conditions equal to or better than" idea. What's better than? Better viz is easier. Warmer water is easier (less exposure protection, less thermal stress). Less current is easier. No surf is easier.

I think people who train and dive in cold water and low viz generally find it easier to transition to warm water diving, than the reverse.

I think anyone who is new to currents or surf will be a beginner again in that new environment.

It was very tempting to go and take my technical training somewhere where I'd be able to see. But that wouldn't have readied me for diving in Puget Sound or Lake Washington, where viz can sometimes be measured in inches. So I took my training at home, where it was harder.

BTW, I to some degree object to the statement that cave training doesn't elevate one's skills above those of a competent warm water diver. I don't think there are ANY recreational divers who train as extensively to handle failures with poise and aplomb as cave divers do.

 

[drl]

I would hazard the statement that experience in a variety of conditions makes one a better diver. As for cold water specifically, I won't attempt to generalize, but diving in cold water has certainly made me a better diver. Still, there are difficult warm-water conditions (e.g., strong currents when not drift diving) that I have little experience in, and my cold-water experience would not necessarily help with that. All the more reason to dive as many different places as possible!

 

[Kilili]

There's ice diver cert, which seems valid, because of its unique conditions, but acknowledgements like "certified for 60 degree water, and 2 knot currents whilst wearing a 7 mil suit is too much.

PADI might like the idea though, more money to make.

What really matters is your skill set in the water, not the cards. I collected a stack of them when I started diving, because it gave me incentive to try new things with some direction. They're all in a drawer somewhere, long forgotten. I'm not discounting the experience, just the notion that plastic acknowledgements should mean something to someone else.

 

[Thorndowyn]

Well, I would not say that cold or warm water divers are the better.

But if you consider your typical cold water setup with a thick suit, lots of lead, low visibility, and, of course, coldness, you will get a certain stress level for the diver. Just by the conditions.
You will get used to it and get comfortable with it.
If you remove or reduce some of the factors, it usually lowers the level. So it is / might be easier to go to warm water from cold water than the other way around.
On the other hand, and this was the case for me, it is hard to get accustomed to the different conditions.
Before my first warm water / high visibility dive I did about 80 or 90 dives in cold water (german lakes, baltic sea). You kind of develop a sense for depth, etc.
The first time I jumped into the mediterranean it was very exciting and interesting and actually felt pretty unsecure because it was so different from the usual environment.
You don't "feel" the depth as I was used to in the lakes (temperature, light, visibility) On the second dive we dropped down to more than 30 m and it felt like 10. I got accustomed to it very quickly, though.
Currents are something you can have in cold and warm water seas and in my opinion, it will not be much different if you hit them in either one, except for the stuff you have to lug around.

If you go the other way around, it can be considerably harder. Low vis and darkness, lot of equipment, 2 primary valves, etc. can significantly increase your stress level. And as probably everyone knows, stress is bad So keep it slow

 

[reo]

Cold water divers have smaller willies....

Not all of us :cool2:

 

[ozziworld]

I have had conversations with many DMs and instructors in Tropical Waters (mostly Asia and Mexico) and the general (The OPs post was a generalization ) opinion was that they tend to feel they have to watch out more for the safety of their customers who were "warm water" divers.

My guess would be that it is because they simply find more "vacation divers" among their clients. Their clients that are from "cold water" tended to have more experience and took their diving more seriously simply because it may require more commitment to dive in cold water.

Of course a "vacation diver" from a cold water location will have less opportunities to develop good skills and attitude than say someone who is a regular active diver living in a tropical location. On the other hand, a regular active diver from a cold water location will have more opportunities to develop good skills and attitude than an occasional diver in a Tropical location.

Then of course, few divers would choose a cold water vacation over a warm water vacation.

Of course in the end, the definition of "better" really needs to be narrowed. The best divers are the ones who know their limits and know when to seek more training.

 

[sled600]

My initial instructor made the comment, "Learning to dive in cold water can make you a "better" diver."
Define better.

Sure, I learned in the 50 degree waters of puget sound, and have most of my diving there in a drysuit. A drysuit, adds another level of complexity, no doubt. All of my "Home Dives" have been shore dives.

Sure, I had to learn to deal with the 7mm and drysuit issues. Yes, I often dive in 10 ft viz....

Do these thing make me a better diver than anyone that dives only in Florida and points south? Hell no.

I have several warm water dives with 3mm shorty suits...loved em.... Learning to Giant Stride without looking like a complete idiot was...interesting.

I cant hover around the reefs effortlessly....yet.

They are all just skills.

Diving...as much as possible....makes you a "better" diver. I learn something every dive.....sometimes for the 3rd time....

If you are a vacation only diver Great!!! Take more vacations!

I love my cold, green water here at home and I get my head and hands wet in it as often as I can find a buddy.
I also love the warm waters of the Keys, The Red Sea, the Gilf of Oman and the South China Sea.

I love learning more about newest addiction - Diving.


Responsibility and education make you a good diver. In my humble opinion.

I like breathing underwater, and I want to do it as much as I can!

 

[blue steal]

Cold water divers have smaller willies....

Shrinkage