Is the PADI Drift Diver specialty recommended ?

[BlueTrin]

I found a dive club which is organising drift dives in the UK in Brighton which is fairly close to London.

I know that PADI has a specialty called drift diving, but do you need to acquire a new set of skills to do a drift dive ? Or do you only need to listen to the dive briefing, deploy your DSMB and stay close to your buddy ?

In short: is this a class worth doing or is it not very useful ?

In any case I will probably grab the phone and talk to the dive shop but I am interested in hearing from your opinions.

 

[In2theabyss]

I had a good intructor and great environment for drift (W. Palm) so was worth the investment. Was worth it to me...so as many will state it is mostly about the instructor

 

[BlueTrin]

I had a good intructor and great environment for drift (W. Palm) so was worth the investment. Was worth it to me...so as many will state it is mostly about the instructor

What did you learn that was worth it ?

 

[In2theabyss]

What did you learn that was worth it ?

Mostly how to apply the techniques in a serious drift environment. Never been a big drift diver so was cool applying the fundamentals including finding the boat lol. I did it as a specialty for my Master Diver so since I had to pick 5 i wanted something more valuable than fish ID. If you are doing it to further your eduacation, to me at least it is one of the better ones to select

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

If you are not used to diving in the ocean then maybe but if you understand how the ocean works and you know all the correct gear (reel& dsmb) then you should be fine but it's up to you.

 

[hammet]

1. jump off boat.
2. let current take you over reef while you hold a flag.
3. get back on boat.

 

[BlueTrin]

1. jump off boat.
2. let current take you over reef while you hold a flag.
3. get back on boat.

Flag you mean DSMB ?

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

1. jump off boat.
2. let current take you over reef while you hold a flag.
3. get back on boat.

I have never had to tote a flag on a drift dive. Few dozen drift dives and never once was that a thing. Now River and lake dives it was an every dive piece of equipment.

 

[In2theabyss]

Flag you mean DSMB ?

The course focuses a lot on using the flag....DSMB is most common

 

[BlueTrin]

I have never had to tote a flag on a drift dive. Few dozen drift dives and never once was that a thing. Now River and lake dives it was an every dive piece of equipment.

I would have thought that in a lake this would be less dangerous to get lost than in the Ocean ? Maybe you guys have massive lakes