Do I need to get certified?

[IDS_Bill]

why not add Deco diving to the list, after all all you have to do is do a few stops at a few depths off a table, how hard could that be, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[HowardE]

why not add Deco diving to the list, after all all you have to do is do a few stops at a few depths off a table, how hard could that be, what could possibly go wrong?

There's a lot more to Deco diving than just extended stops.

 

[IDS_Bill]

There's a lot more to Deco diving than just extended stops.

I believe that is the point he is trying to make.................

 

[HowardE]

I don't necessarily agree that formal training is required for wreck diving. Most certainly, the skills needed for wreck diving can be garnered without taking a formal class. True, the same can be said for most any diving course, as ultimately, its up to the diver to want to learn the required skills, or just hope for the best, and roll the dice when they dive beyond their limits.

For example: Here are the list of requirements (that I could find) for an advanced wreck course:

Land Drills:

1. Proper deployment of guideline
2. Proper technique for following guideline 3. Use of safety spool for lost line and lost buddy procedures 4. Proper technique for touch contact communication 5. Properly analyze all gas mixtures to be used 6. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning

Pre-dive Drills:
Use START* before every dive START is...
• S-Drill (OOA) & Bubble Check
• Team / buddy equipment checks
• Air / gas matching
• Route / entry & exit, planned path underwater
• Tables / depth, duration, way-points & schedule

Stress analysis and mitigation techniques

In-Water Drills & Demonstrations:

1. Demonstrate specialized propulsion techniques for an overhead environment
2. Deploy guideline with immediate attention to environment and conditions
3. Demonstrate lost line and lost buddy drills
4. Follow guideline with eyes open and with eyes closed or mask blacked out
5. Air share with team mates while exiting confined spaces with eyes open and closed, or with mask blacked out
6. Remove and replace mask while in contact with guideline
7. Demonstrate light and hand communication with team members
8. Demonstrate touch contact with team members
9. Simulate primary light failure and deployment of back-up lights
10. Demonstrate correct procedure for staging decompression or back-up gas outside wreck
11. Demonstrate procedure for isolating and switching a malfunctioning regulator
12. Demonstrate ability to deploy a lift bag from depth as emergency ascent line and as alternative buoyancy device
13. Demonstrate emergency blue water ascent with marker deployment from staged stop below 30 feet
14. Demonstrate understanding of basic wreck layout and special considerations for navigating a wreck
15. Demonstrate procedures for dealing with a diver presenting signs of serious DCS at the surface
16. Properly execute all dives within pre-determined limits
17. Demonstrate proper navigational techniques on all dives
18. Demonstrate out of air sharing from long hose through a restriction
19. Deployment of lift bag or up-line for decompression
20. Silt-out procedures
21. Follow line while sharing air
22. Follow line with eyes closed or mask blacked out while sharing air.

Many of these skills are learned or can be learned in a basic technical course.

The skills you learn in a basic tech course include drills and prep for emergencies. Granted wreck training also does that, but a lot of the troubleshooting is the same, with the exception of running a line, and losing that line.

Without being drilled, or quizzed on basic decompression procedures, I don't think people could/should acquire the skill set on their own.

 

[IDS_Bill]

I don't necessarily agree that formal training is required for wreck diving. Most certainly, the skills needed for wreck diving can be garnered without taking a formal class. True, the same can be said for most any diving course, as ultimately, its up to the diver to want to learn the required skills, or just hope for the best, and roll the dice when they dive beyond their limits.

For example: Here are the list of requirements (that I could find) for an advanced wreck course:



Many of these skills are learned or can be learned in a basic technical course.

The skills you learn in a basic tech course include drills and prep for emergencies. Granted wreck training also does that, but a lot of the troubleshooting is the same, with the exception of running a line, and losing that line.

Without being drilled, or quizzed on basic decompression procedures, I don't think people could/should acquire the skill set on their own.

You said that you don't think formal training is required but then you said that a lot of these skills can be learned in a technical course.....?

Assuming that someone is just going to figure out what to do when they get deep inside a wreck is pretty silly. Training can come from related courses, mentor diving or any other type of learning situation. Cave Training and Technical training will get you 90% there but then you need to learn on the wrecks and dive wrecks.....

 

[HowardE]

You said that you don't think formal training is required but then you said that a lot of these skills can be learned in a technical course.....?

Assuming that someone is just going to figure out what to do when they get deep inside a wreck is pretty silly. Training can come from related courses, mentor diving or any other type of learning situation. Cave Training and Technical training will get you 90% there but then you need to learn on the wrecks and dive wrecks.....

I'm saying that a formal "Wreck Certification" may not be required.

 

[IDS_Bill]

I'm saying that a formal "Wreck Certification" may not be required.

Gotchya - like I said certs won't save your life - training will.....

 

[SailNaked]

Ok I have said this before, there is training and then there is experience and sometimes they do not come from the same source. I am certain there is a whole lot to deco,cave,wreck diving that you learn some while talking to people that have done it, some in a course and some by doing it.
courses attempt to warn you of all the possible hazards and some possible solutions or way to prevent their occurrence, people can give you real world examples of what happened to them or their friend, and then you have to just go out and learn for yourself.

obviously some people can learn from their own experience and not die, some get a cert and then die on their 10th dive because they got over confident or just plain forgot something.
There is a difference between learning and training and experience, lots of experience in an artificial wreck might train you to begin penetrating natural wrecks, but as with all things in life you have to know what you are trying to learn, you have to be told what you do not know you do not know so you can learn it.

my answer is no, you do not need a cert, but you definitely need training and experience to do any of the three advanced skills involved in "tech" diving.

and you have to be lucky.

 

[theduckguru]

Overhead dives are a blast.. Just have to be ready for that OH CRAP moment.. WOW that looks funny after toning it down

I have heard the same thing from Ice Divers. My question is what do I see under the ice I can't see without ice in summer?

Is what you see make it a blast or the thrill of the risk?

 

[HowardE]

but you definitely need training and experience to do any of the three advanced skills involved in "tech" diving.

and you have to be lucky.

Could you explain this a little more?

What are the three advanced skills?

Luck shouldn't have anything to do with it.