Are Deep Dive and/or Wreck Dive specialties necessary?

[BoltSnap]

IDC course director teaching a PADI instructor a deep specialty course

Was she teaching them how to -teach- a deep diving specialty course or how to actually -do- a deep dive?

 

[34109411]

I'm an AOW/Nitrox/Solo certified diver with 45 years experience, 745 dives to date. I've dived in the cold dark waters of the Atlantic off my own boat, and to depths of 140 feet , and run reels during penetrations in low visibility wrecks. I carry a 2nd bottle as a redundant gas supply and routinely deploy my dsmb from depth at the end of drift dives. On my recent liveaboard in Australia I had to "try out" to prove my skills were adequate enough to solo dive. They had me go through a battery of skills tests, and ultimately gave me the ok. Towards the end of the trip the dive leader told me that many divers try out for the solo diving, often bringing tons of tech gear and they don't make the cut. I was actually one of the few over the past few years that they gave the green light to. I'm not bragging, (although the validation was nice), I'm just making the point that I'm an experienced diver.

I'd think that my credentials are sufficient for any diving within recreational limits but recently I have run into a few dive operators who question the fact that I do not have Deep Dive and Wreck Dive certifications. It has not yet prevented me from doing any dive in particular but it seems to be a trend lately. Those 2 dive operators were in Australia and Thailand.

As I am now retired and living in Europe I'm expanding into other areas on the other side of the world and I'm wondering if this is going to be an issue.

Not really looking to spend the time and the money on two specialties that are not going to teach me anything I don't already know, just to be certain I won't be prohibited from diving a deep wreck because of an overly restrictive dive operator.

In your experience, have you run into this issue, does it seem to be happening more often, and if so, where and with which dive operator? Did it prompt you to get one or both of those specialties?

I'm an AOW/Nitrox/Solo certified diver with 45 years experience, 745 dives to date. I've dived in the cold dark waters of the Atlantic off my own boat, and to depths of 140 feet , and run reels during penetrations in low visibility wrecks. I carry a 2nd bottle as a redundant gas supply and routinely deploy my dsmb from depth at the end of drift dives. On my recent liveaboard in Australia I had to "try out" to prove my skills were adequate enough to solo dive. They had me go through a battery of skills tests, and ultimately gave me the ok. Towards the end of the trip the dive leader told me that many divers try out for the solo diving, often bringing tons of tech gear and they don't make the cut. I was actually one of the few over the past few years that they gave the green light to. I'm not bragging, (although the validation was nice), I'm just making the point that I'm an experienced diver.

I'd think that my credentials are sufficient for any diving within recreational limits but recently I have run into a few dive operators who question the fact that I do not have Deep Dive and Wreck Dive certifications. It has not yet prevented me from doing any dive in particular but it seems to be a trend lately. Those 2 dive operators were in Australia and Thailand.

As I am now retired and living in Europe I'm expanding into other areas on the other side of the world and I'm wondering if this is going to be an issue.

Not really looking to spend the time and the money on two specialties that are not going to teach me anything I don't already know, just to be certain I won't be prohibited from diving a deep wreck because of an overly restrictive dive operator.

In your experience, have you run into this issue, does it seem to be happening more often, and if so, where and with which dive operator? Did it prompt you to get one or both of those specialties?

short story long i will tell you not to invest in those specialties but rather get a tech 40 or whatever they call it (don't remember the exact name).

Cheers

 

[Blackcrusader]

Was she teaching them how to -teach- a deep diving specialty course or how to actually -do- a deep dive?

The student is a padi instructor she taught to get his instructor cert. Now he is doing the course so he can teach the deep diver certificate. So yep teaching him how to teach. I'm like.... this chap teach the deep cert when he only has a few dives deeper then 30m. He did his first two dives deeper than 30m when I was there. He isn't used to being deep yet. Sort of concerns me that he will be able to teach it. lol

 

[Centrals]

Some operators do limit AOW diver to 30m max. Deeper than that would require Deep Specialty cert. There is nothing you can do about that.
Ask ahead if in doubt.
Deep Specialty or Tec 40 is completely different courses.

 

[Centrals]

Where have you been asked for a certification higher or in addition to AOW for a recreational dive?

Subic Bay on wrecks deeper than 30m.

 

[Centrals]

This is actually not correct as discussed in other threads. An OW Padi certification is to the recreational depth limit of 40m. Padi says you should do more training and get experience for deeper dives.

Last week in Cebu I went on a dive with an IDC Course instructor who was teaching a PADI instructor the deep certification course so the instructor can do the deep cert for students.. I asked if I could tag along and take some videos of her training. She replied yeah that would be great for both her and her student.

The deep dive training for an instructor covers also a wreck dive and they had a pony tank and we did an 8 minute safety stop. I am not PADI deep certified. It's not necessary but any dive op can say you need it per their own policy. I have also known this instructor for several years and done many dives with her as well.

Since I got my shearwater Perdix in 2018 I now have 971 dives on it. I've been diving since January 1986

BS.
OW PADI cert is only for 18m.PERIOD.
Why is a computer has anything to do with training and your own experience has nothing to do in this thread.
Brand of computer has no reflection on ones diving ability or lack of it.
I always carry IANTA Tecnical Nitrox card because this will allow me to dive to 50m and using any deco mix including 100%O2. Rec nitrox cert is only up to 40%.

 

[scubadada]

BS.
OW PADI cert is only for 18m.PERIOD.
Why is a computer has anything to do with training and your own experience has nothing to do in this thread.
Brand of computer has no reflection on ones diving ability or lack of it.
I always carry IANTA Tecnical Nitrox card because this will allow me to dive to 50m and using any deco mix including 100%O2. Rec nitrox cert is only up to 40%.

This topic has been discussed nearly an infinite number of times, or maybe it only it seems that many. I'm rather sure you participated in some of those discussions. What you say is incorrect. The depths associated with open water, advanced open water, and deep diver are training depths, not post certification diving depth restrictions.

Of course, as discussed in this and many other threads, operators may place restrictions on divers to participate in certain dives.

 

[Blackcrusader]

This topic has been discussed nearly an infinite number of times, or maybe it only it seems that many. I'm rather sure you participated in some of those discussions. What you say is incorrect. The depths associated with open water, advanced open water, and deep diver are training depths, not post certification diving depth restrictions.

Of course, as discussed in this and many other threads, operators may place restrictions on divers to participate in certain dives.

Also discussed in a thread about diving insurance such as DAN. I wrote to DAN to ask them what depths an OW diver is covered for by insurance. DAN replied that their basic insurance covers an OW Cert dive to the recreational depth limit of 40m. I have a higher insurance that covers to deeper depths.

Also on my dive trip a visiting DM was having dinner with the IDC Director and myself and others. He asked what certification I had to be on the training dive. I replied my OW is all I need for the dive. He then got a bit upset telling me I was limited to 18m on OW cert. The IDC course director had to tell him he was wrong and that 18m only applies to a student doing the course with an instructor. I then told him the instructor taking the course also does not have a deep dive certification. lol

The visiting DM said he had believed all this time OW AOW depth limits applied to post certification. I had to tell him PADI is a private company and has no authority over how deep any diver goes. Some people have this belief that a diving agency policy is some sort of law.

PS I have Centrals on ignore so I cannot see what that member posts.

Maybe Centrals should read this thread and many others that discuss certification depths and DAN insurance coverage.

Thread 'Diving beyond cert?'

Jul 15, 2024

I got OW certified (PADI) in May and have only been on a few dives since. I'd like to go diving again soon, but where I've been invited is generally 60-100' where all the interesting stuff is. I seem pretty comfortable, and am not terribly worried about the depth. I am signed up for AOW next month already. I'm wondering if there's any critical reason I shouldn't do these dives? Dive buddy is really experienced and reassuring, and I'm not above aborting at the first sign of problems or me being uncomfortable. Thoughts please?

• Wheeler925
• Replies: 140
• Forum: Basic Scuba

 

[Blackcrusader]

"credentials" that can't be proven officially are worthless. Like many have said though, only ever asked for AOW and Nitrox. The operators you encountered may have an insurance company trying to decrease liability by requiring those now. This may be become the norm sadly.

In Cebu last week there was a discussion about dive insurance. One woman was telling a diver the insurance wont cover them if the divers dive below training depths and end up in a chamber. I told her she was wrong and she got quite testy with me. She said a chamber doctor would examine the dive computers. Two of the divers in our group are vacation divers with rental equipent helf up their arms.. no dive computers lol

So I pulled out my my phone and showed her DAN email to me stating all certifcations are covered to 40m recrational depth. She reads the email and has to concede she was only repeating what she had heard. I said dont repeat what you hear on the rumour grapevine.

 

[nadwidny]

As I am now retired and living in Europe I'm expanding into other areas on the other side of the world and I'm wondering if this is going to be an issue.

Not really looking to spend the time and the money on two specialties that are not going to teach me anything I don't already know, just to be certain I won't be prohibited from diving a deep wreck because of an overly restrictive dive operator.

In your experience, have you run into this issue, does it seem to be happening more often, and if so, where and with which dive operator? Did it prompt you to get one or both of those specialties?

I'm not a recreational diver. I do tech rebreather stuff. But I find that I'm running into the same obstacles over the last couple of years. More places want to see a card and not a log book. Unfortunately you are at the whim of the operator. Their boat, their rules (however misguided). Given your experience both courses are a waste of time and money.

I feel your pain.