Best Wreck Diving Certification?

[Kevrumbo]

The best wreck certification course is with resident instruction at a geo-oceanographic location whose Instructors regularly dive the type of wrecks you are most interested in, and teaches using basic Hogarth/DIR equipment configuration & dive philosophy/technique.

For instance, I'm interested in historical Indo-Pacific/Micronesia WWII wrecks that were sunk-in-action. The best place with good variety of conditions & shallow to technical deep with deco depths to learn & train about diving these tropical wrecks is either Subic Bay Philippines, or Truk Lagoon Micronesia. The best and recommended dive-ops who use Hogarth/DIR overhead teaching fundamentals are Tech Asia Philippines or Truk Lagoon Dive Center at Truk Stop Hotel in Micronesia.

I highly recommend taking a look at Scubaboard's Florida Keys & Wreck Instruction Charter this summer on the M/V Spree Liveaboard (originally suggested by Wookie back in post #20):

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fl...ds-spree4all-keys-wreck-trek-july-2015-a.html

The best Wreck Instructor in the world that I have dived with for many years in Chuuk Micronesia and who I know of in Florida is Rob McGann, former Manager of the Truk Stop Hotel Dive Operations for five years (along with being an able host & guide to many meticulous GUE divers visiting out there in Chuuk), and just now moved back to his home in Florida Cave Country. . .

 

[cnherrick]

Serious again: Where do you think most of your wreck diving will be?

Florida
1. Panhandle - the Wreck groups from P'cola (Oriskany) to Panama City - driveable from Austin, Texas.
2. Spiegel Grove, Keys, etc.

If I were confident and trained and experienced, I'd like to dive wrecks in the Phillipines. And maybe someday go back to San Diego, but lordy that water is _*COLD*_!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Florida
1. Panhandle - the Wreck groups from P'cola (Oriskany) to Panama City - driveable from Austin, Texas.
2. Spiegel Grove, Keys, etc.

If I were confident and trained and experienced, I'd like to dive wrecks in the Phillipines. And maybe someday go back to San Diego, but lordy that water is _*COLD*_!

Tech Wreck Class Report from Subic Bay Philippines 2006:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/wr...nov-06-a.html?highlight=Subic+Bay+Philippines

 

[Akimbo]

Florida
1. Panhandle - the Wreck groups from P'cola (Oriskany) to Panama City - driveable from Austin, Texas.
2. Spiegel Grove, Keys, etc.

If I were confident and trained and experienced, I'd like to dive wrecks in the Phillipines. And maybe someday go back to San Diego, but lordy that water is _*COLD*_!

Florida sounds like a good place for you to start, besides being relatively close. Unless you are in a big hurry, I suggest getting the soft overhead and maybe Solo stuff out of the way before any wreck classes. Make some dives on easy purpose-sunk wrecks first. Most people will get and retain a lot more out of their wreck training by diving a few easy wrecks first. There is plenty to see and learn with no more than poking your head inside to look around.

I bet one thing you can easily do locally is black water training.

 

[oldschoolto]

I spent a lot of time with my wife at the salt pier swimming in and around the pilings.... Then made her do it at night... The skills are boring to learn.... She can dive in 3' of water without her tank out of the water or her belly on the bottom... She can solemn through the pilings and that skill will be handy when moving inside a wreck.... And she learned it in a safe place, NOT INSIDE A WRECK....

Jim....

 

[Akimbo]

I spent a lot of time with my wife at the salt pier swimming in and around the pilings.... View attachment 204591View attachment 204592 Then made her do it at night...

Jim....

You can make your wife do anything? I need some lessons. The best I can do is ask politely or gently convince.

 

[oldschoolto]

You can make your wife do anything? I need some lessons. The best I can do is ask politely or gently convince.

Yes, When it comes to diving, And when I taught her to skydive... She is a very good easy to teach student... Not to good at telling her or making her do stuff about anything else....

Jim...

And wanted to add: She had to learn to ditch and don her gear without a mask before she went inside the wreck... I know, I'm a NAZI....

 

[cnherrick]

...I bet one thing you can easily do locally is black water training.

Oh yes! Any one step into Lake Travis and you're in black water. I had to do my PADI NitrOx cert. dive there. Un-nerving. In 3 minutes, the entire group was gone and I did the dive by myself.

---------- Post added March 13th, 2015 at 02:33 PM ----------

Yes, I gathered that you would suggest this and I shall follow these guidelines, definitely. Excellent points.

Make some dives on easy purpose-sunk wrecks first. Most people will get and retain a lot more out of their wreck training by diving a few easy wrecks first. There is plenty to see and learn with no more than poking your head inside to look around...

In addition to the tech/deco/TDI/GUE skills acquisition, we're planning a trip to Pensacola this summer once the water warms up. Without certs, I believe I can stay about 130' and dive around and stay outside. I'm ok with that until my tech/deco skills are in place.

What was it like the first time you did a technical dive "for real" that required a deco obligation? Is the first time nerve-wracking or straight forward with good training and a good computer?

---------- Post added March 13th, 2015 at 02:34 PM ----------

Speaking of tech/deco/wreck/cave diving and computers, what dive computers are y'all using?

 

[rivers]

And maybe someday go back to San Diego, but lordy that water is _*COLD*_!

Really? Water temp is 63*f fahrenheit right now. A decent drysuit and a decent 200-250 gram undersuit and you would be laughing. I can't wait for the water temps to be that warm.

---------- Post added March 13th, 2015 at 04:08 PM ----------

In addition to the tech/deco/TDI/GUE skills acquisition, we're planning a trip to Pensacola this summer once the water warms up. Without certs, I believe I can stay about 130' and dive around and stay outside. I'm ok with that until my tech/deco skills are in place.

What was it like the first time you did a technical dive "for real" that required a deco obligation? Is the first time nerve-wracking or straight forward with good training and a good computer?

---------- Post added March 13th, 2015 at 02:34 PM ----------

Speaking of tech/deco/wreck/cave diving and computers, what dive computers are y'all using?

Most tech divers know what their deco is going to be before they get into the water. If they dive with a computer, it's back-up to their brain. Some only dive with a bottom timer.
Deco is deco. It's kind of boring. First deco dive i did, 8 minutes into the 6m stop I was bored. That's it really. I tend to doodle in my wetnotes and try to get my team to play naughts and crosses (aka tic tac toe) or hangman.
I've only been doing deco dives for the past 18 months or so, and they've mainly been back gas, all in recreational depths. I may start extending my bottom times a bit more and accelerating the deco a bit this season as well.
I dive strictly with a bottom timer (liquivison xen). I know a lot of guys who rave about the shearwater petrel and ostc computers though.

 

[PfcAJ]

In addition to the tech/deco/TDI/GUE skills acquisition, we're planning a trip to Pensacola this summer once the water warms up. Without certs, I believe I can stay about 130' and dive around and stay outside. I'm ok with that until my tech/deco skills are in place.

What was it like the first time you did a technical dive "for real" that required a deco obligation? Is the first time nerve-wracking or straight forward with good training and a good computer?

---------- Post added March 13th, 2015 at 02:34 PM ----------

Speaking of tech/deco/wreck/cave diving and computers, what dive computers are y'all using?

Having deco the first time didn't feel much different to me. I was aware of it, and it was kinda "cool", but not wild. I don't get bored unless the deco is really long. I always find something to occupy my mind.

No need for a computer. A bottom timer has been sufficient for all the diving I've ever done.