Wreck Diver Certification (Blindfolded reel-in)

[tursiops]

contrary to the stupid advice that you could refuse those technicals dives

Thank you for your "stupid" input. My point was that the blindfolded reel-in is NOT part of the PADI Wreck course, and it was not proper for the instructor to demand it be done. Yes, the instructor could suggest it as a challenging addition to the course, but NOT require it for certification. In any case, the Wreck standards wait until Dive 3 (not Dive 2) for reel work. The instructor did NOT teach according to standards. Your opinion is irrelevant as to PADI standards and certification.

 

[passeparici]

Thank you for your "stupid" input. My point was that the blindfolded reel-in is NOT part of the PADI Wreck course, and it was not proper for the instructor to demand it be done. Yes, the instructor could suggest it as a challenging addition to the course, but NOT require it for certification. In any case, the Wreck standards wait until Dive 3 (not Dive 2) for reel work. The instructor did NOT teach according to standards. Your opinion is irrelevant as to PADI standards and certification.

Nobody said the instructor required it for certification... You are just making a story where there is not need to. Who could give such a stupid advice !!!

 

[boulderjohn]

In any case, the Wreck standards wait until Dive 3 (not Dive 2) for reel work.

It is possible there was some confusion about the dive number. The wreck specialty requires 4 dives. The first of those 4 dives is also the wreck dive for the AOW certification class, and it does not need to be repeated when taking the wreck specialty. In that case, the second dive taken during the wreck specialty is actually dive #3 of the course.

 

[Wibble]

Sorry to ask an off-topic question; when, on the PADI Wreck course, are you required to lay a line into a wreck?

Am curious as most wrecks have swim-throughs or dead ends that are barely longer than a few feet. It’s pretty uncommon to come across a large overhead corridor with multi-deck navigation, certainly in vintage shipwrecks. For those wrecks that do require navigation, a simple “Wreck” course is clearly inadequate; you need full cave skills and techniques. These are very much rigorous technical diving courses with a lot of skills practice which you wouldn’t get on a recreational taster “course”.

 

[boulderjohn]

Sorry to ask an off-topic question; when, on the PADI Wreck course, are you required to lay a line into a wreck?

Dive Four A
• Plan and perform an actual wreck penetration under the
direct supervision of a Teaching status PADI Instructor:
• Determining air supply and penetration limits.
• Swimming without causing excessive silt disturbance.
• Maintaining contact with the line.
• Using a dive light while following a penetration line.

 

[tursiops]

Dive Four A
• Plan and perform an actual wreck penetration under the
direct supervision of a Teaching status PADI Instructor:
• Determining air supply and penetration limits.
• Swimming without causing excessive silt disturbance.
• Maintaining contact with the line.
• Using a dive light while following a penetration line.

Dive 4A is optional, at instructor discretion depending on the wreck and the student and the conditions. Dive 4B is the alternative, and has no penetration allowed. The PADI Wreck course is purely recreational, it is not a technical course nor is it a penetration course.

 

[NauticalNick]

Sorry to ask an off-topic question; when, on the PADI Wreck course, are you required to lay a line into a wreck?

Am curious as most wrecks have swim-throughs or dead ends that are barely longer than a few feet. It’s pretty uncommon to come across a large overhead corridor with multi-deck navigation, certainly in vintage shipwrecks. For those wrecks that do require navigation, a simple “Wreck” course is clearly inadequate; you need full cave skills and techniques. These are very much rigorous technical diving courses with a lot of skills practice which you wouldn’t get on a recreational taster “course”.

The recreational wreck course is similar to cavern (I think?) in that it's a 40m linear path from surface (ie. 30m depth and 10m penetration) and within the light zone.

 

[tursiops]

The recreational wreck course is similar to cavern (I think?) in that it's a 40m linear path from surface (ie. 30m depth and 10m penetration) and within the light zone.

Exactly, although 18m/60 ft is the recommended max depth for Wreck, whereas 21m/70 ft is the recommended max depth for Cavern.

 

[Wibble]

To clarify my question; when, or why, is it recommended to lay line into a wreck?

Laying line in an overhead environment is non trivial and something that could cause more problems and encourage dangerous situations. Should a diver with “recreational” standard skills really be doing this?

A line is required for navigating where or when there is no clear exit. It is easy enough to do this where the visibility is poor and you need, for example, to return to the shot line. It is a substantially more difficult task when doing a wreck penetration—an overhead environment—where superior skills are required to not degrade conditions.

Following a line is easy. Following a line in silt-out conditions is fairly straightforward provided you have the core skills (finning techniques, excellent buoyancy and trim) to not pull on the line. Following a line in a three dimensional overhead environment with zero visibility is something cave divers train hard to perfect including touch signalling and they also have redundant gas and equipment, something well beyond “recreational” standards.

Is laying line penetrating into an overhead wreck environment pushing people’s expectations beyond their skills and a dangerous activity to encourage?

 

[tursiops]

Is laying line penetrating into an overhead wreck environment pushing people’s expectations beyond their skills and a dangerous activity to encourage?

I've taught the full PADI Wreck course a number of times. Only once have I exercised the option for the Dive 4A penetration, and that was a mistake; the student got task loaded and hyperfocussed and I had to grab his shoulder and shake it to get his attention and tell him to turn around and exit.