Are Deep Dive and/or Wreck Dive specialties necessary?

[lermontov]

I had to write my name, "Bert van den Berg" backwards at depth. I wrote "greB ned ned nav treB", writing "ned" twice instead of once.

well it is a handful

 

[lermontov]

I never had any comments about check out dives - I actually think it is a good practise, both for the diver and the operator.

so if someone arrives to do a straight forward 30m wreck dive and they showed you a bunch of cards eg Adv tirimix OC Mod 3 ccr, full cave and adv wreck you'd want to do a check out dive first?

 

[Seepferdchencam]

What additional certification(s) are required?

Some kind of deep.

 

[Seepferdchencam]

Queensland? But what about people who just rent tanks and do shore dives or own their own boats?

No, Melbourne. You can do what you want on a shore dive or with your own boat. Jump on a charter and they'll require the cert.

 

[34109411]

Most likely one of the more open minded divers you can find. I always begin with the mind, and take it from there...

I never had any comments about check out dives - I actually think it is a good practise, both for the diver and the operator.


I´m fully aware of that there are certifications called Solo diver etc, however I acknowledge your time trying to explain it.



I actually do not need any help in this matter, but thanks for the offer.
The answer is, no; I don't dive solo, however I do deeper dives.


I have only said it once. And it might be a cultural issue, Norwegians are generally a bit to the point.


Well, you lost the bet. The answer is No I do not solo dive.


Any more questions - just reach out

thank you for you comments be safe.

 

[Rupert Maclanahan]

Not sure how accurate this is, but I asked Grok (the Twitter/X AI) which livaboards require the deep diver certification, and I got this result.

Specific Liveaboards/Destinations Requiring Deep Diver Certification

1. Truk Lagoon (Micronesia)
   • Liveaboards: Odyssey Liveaboard, Truk Master
   • Why Deep Diver is Required: Truk Lagoon is famous for its WWII wrecks, many of which lie at depths of 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) or deeper. While some wrecks are accessible within AOW limits, operators often require or recommend Deep Diver certification for divers wanting to explore the deeper wrecks like the Fujikawa Maru (bow at 34 meters) or San Francisco Maru (tanks at 55 meters, though this may also require technical diving certification).
   • Typical Requirement: AOW + Deep Diver Specialty (or 50+ logged dives with deep experience).
2. Red Sea (Egypt) - Deep South or Brothers Islands Routes
   • Liveaboards: Red Sea Aggressor, Blue Horizon, Emperor Elite
   • Why Deep Diver is Required: The Brothers Islands, Daedalus, and Elphinstone reefs often feature walls and drop-offs exceeding 30 meters, with marine life like hammerheads or oceanic whitetips appearing at depth. Wrecks like the SS Thistlegorm (32 meters at the seabed) or Salem Express (30+ meters) may also prompt operators to require Deep Diver training for safety.
   • Typical Requirement: AOW + Deep Diver Specialty, sometimes with 50+ logged dives.
3. Bikini Atoll (Marshall Islands)
   • Liveaboard: Truk Master (repositioned seasonally)
   • Why Deep Diver is Required: This remote site features nuclear test fleet wrecks, such as the USS Saratoga (38 meters to the deck) and Nagato (deeper still), where depths often hover around or exceed 40 meters. Due to the technical nature and isolation, Deep Diver certification is a minimum, though many divers here hold technical certifications.
   • Typical Requirement: AOW + Deep Diver Specialty (technical diving certs often preferred).
4. Palau (Micronesia)
   • Liveaboards: Palau Aggressor II, Black Pearl Explorer
   • Why Deep Diver is Required: Sites like Blue Corner and German Channel have walls and plateaus that can extend beyond 30 meters, especially during drift dives or when chasing pelagics like sharks. While AOW is often the baseline, some operators require Deep Diver certification for itineraries including deeper sites or for divers lacking extensive logged experience.
   • Typical Requirement: AOW + Deep Diver Specialty (or 50-100 logged dives).
5. Maldives - Deep South Atolls (e.g., Huvadhoo, Foammulah)
   • Liveaboards: Emperor Voyager, Maldives Aggressor
   • Why Deep Diver is Required: The southern atolls feature channels and pinnacles where tiger sharks, hammerheads, and other species often appear at 35-40 meters. Operators may require Deep Diver certification to ensure divers can safely handle these depths during multi-dive days.
   • Typical Requirement: AOW + Deep Diver Specialty + Nitrox (sometimes 50+ dives).

Note, I went to PADI travel and looked at the listing for one of these (Pelau Aggressor II) and it said OW only required.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I don't know about the thinking from headquarters, but I was glad it was gone. (BTW, it did not have to be math.)

The problem I had was that in most cases, the students did just as well or better at depth as on the surface. Thus, they learned from the experience that narcosis was not a big deal, nothing to be concerned about. I suspect that was the reason it was stopped.

Mine was a combination lock, and I was twice as fast at 100 feet. The instructor said that was unusual. What I discovered over time was that in many instances, narcosis took the form of tunnel vision or being task focused. To the exclusion of other things like how much time has passed, how much air I have left, where my buddy was, etc.
As a result, I developed a ritual, if you like, when doing deep dives. It was a mental and physical checklist to maintain my situational awareness. People would see my hands moving to different places on my gear and I'd be looking around quite a bit.
When I started teaching deep classes, I incorporated this into lessons, and for the "test" at depth, it was something that required the student to use all their senses.
Tie off a reel, signal buddy to swim with them using touch contact, swim 50-75 yds, stop and make the turn, before starting back, hand the reel to the buddy and maintain touch contact to the tie off.
Then, untie the reel, hand it to me, and signal the ascent.
As we started up, I'd get their attention and give an out of air signal and drop my reg.
Ready to grab them if necessary. Then see how long it took for one to share air.
I found the task loading "test" to be more beneficial and revealing.

 

[Blackcrusader]

No, Melbourne. You can do what you want on a shore dive or with your own boat. Jump on a charter and they'll require the cert.

Yes. I was trying to inform the OP that on a private dive you can do as you please. He seemed to think laws covering commerical operators applied to non commercial private divers.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Not sure how accurate this is, but I asked Grok (the Twitter/X AI) which livaboards require the deep diver certification, and I got this result.



Note, I went to PADI travel and looked at the listing for one of these (Pelau Aggressor II) and it said OW only required.

Legal max depth limit in Maldives is 30m lol

 

[34109411]

Legal max depth limit in Maldives is 30m lol

just asking what happen if you go at 31m ? does the scuba police show up ?