Additional Training Programs

[DCBC]

I'm interest in better understanding the type of training programs that you have completed. I've categorized them into interest (specialties) and core training (advanced, rescue, DM, Instructor, technical, etc.) This has not been done to minimize the value of specialty training in anyway, but to differentiate a boat diving specialty (as an example) from a rescue program (or other more involved training). I've also kept the voting open so that you can vote in both categories.

 

[Redshift]

I have voted, but your simplification of things will overlook some intrinsic differences between organizations.
For instance, in CMAS, there are mandatory specialties to be done between the core modules and rescue is a specialty, not a core program.

 

[TMHeimer]

I voted before I knew what you categorized as core. Did 7 specialties plus obviously 3 core, which is not recorded.

 

[Subcooled]

Dry suit diving is included in our elementary cmas p1 course and the p2 course has ice diving included. Core skills embedded in core training. I have seen wetsuit divers abroad

Your poll gives a rough image of the number of courses taken, but perhaps splitting to rec/tec/leadership would have been better. First aid and rescue and search could be one group. That information would be interesting Also put fish identification, photo, video, modeling as one group... Many categories but more information.

 

[DCBC]

Thanks for the input regarding the poll structure. As the number of categories are limited, I certainly couldn't list them all. I thought that specialty and core courses would address most of the respondents, but you guys may be right in-that I could have structured the question better.

Personally, I haven't undertaken one specialty certification course. I did my diver certification course and the next step (at that time) was Instructor. After this was done, I completed diver training with the Navy which was pretty extensive.

I was taught Cave Diving by Dr. George Benjamin (one of the pioneers in the field), but George wasn't a certified Cave Diver either (nor was Jacques Cousteau for that matter ). The first Cave Certification I received was cave instructor III (full cave) after review, examination and check-out dives by CMAS.

I have 24 recreational instructor specialties, but these like my technical instructor ratings (and for that matter my commercial diving certifications) have been obtained largely upon my Navy training and logged experience. I guess I've been Grandfathered for most certifications; although the certification process has been fairly substantial.

 

[scubadada]

Already, this is pretty telling about who participates in SB, most with >3 specialties and >3 core programs. I would wager this is not representative of the average diver

 

[fisheater]

Three "cores" (OW, AOW & Rescue).

Nine "specialties" (Altitude, Boat, California Reef Check, Deep, Drysuit, Navigator, Night, Nitrox, Peak Performance Buoyancy).

 

[scububa]

Specialty
(SSI) - Stress/Rescue, Search/Recovery, Boat, Dry Suit, Navigation, Deep, Night

Core
(SSI) - OW, AOW,
(IANTD) - Nitrox, Adv Nitrox/Deco Procedures, Cavern, Intro Cave (+NSS CDS), Normoxic Trimix, Technical Cave
(PSAI) - DPV, Side Mount

 

[oreocookie]

Specialties - nitrox, deep, wreck, drysuit, sidemount, and ice (as of a week and a bit ago)... plus I guess a couple more that I never got certified in but can teach.

Core - up to OWSI, and currently working on Tec 40


I also find it interesting how what's considered a specialty vs core varies between agencies and between divers... my answers are based on how padi sees them, but some of my specialties could be considered core for the diving i do or intend to do in the future

 

[Centrals]

I have done 5 speciality courses and 3 core programs. But I assumed only one answer is allowed so I selected 3 or more core programs.