Do I need to get certified?

[Blackwood]

I guess ice diving is perhaps a bit fringe?? But the way I see it is that this course could just cover the "generic" mechanics of line use, then in Wreck 1, Cave 1 (and Ice 1?) you then start applying the motor skills in the context of the specific environment.

Pretty much.

First we did dry drills, both with sight and blind, including (at least): primary and secondary ties, placements, ties, end ties, lost line, lost buddy, broken line, team formation, blind communication, gas sharing, tie navigation, jumping the line, etc.. We then did all of the above in shallow open water using blacked-out masks to zero the viz.

We also discussed gas management, with particular emphasis on open water wrecks given the immediate training goal (thirds less rock bottom computed immediately prior to penetration), environmental concerns, etc. etc..

Will experience the actual environment this weekend (Wreck 1).

 

[AndyNZ]

Will experience the actual environment this weekend (Wreck 1).

Have fun, I am definitely jealous.

 

[Aquaventurewhitetip]

I don't hold any cave or cavern certs and have only had limited exposure to them in Mexico a few years and like it. They were not so deep but quite long and had dry chambers above the surface in a couple of spots.
I am and have always been a wreck diver and a couple of years ago took my wreck diver instructor course.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and as I had hoped gave me more skills and techniques. I guess there are many similarities in all types of overhead environment diving, including procedure, dive planning drills and hazards. There are however some specific things relating to penetrating wrecks that in doing the course I know you would benefit from and enjoy.
Hope you make the right choice and good luck with your eventual course.

Happy and safe diving.

 

[Rhone Man]

TDI also has a course "Advanced Wreck Diver".

When I did Advanced Wreck the instructor (Howard: FYI it was Uwe) borrowed liberally from the cave diving courses, to the extent that he had us reading from cave diving manuals rather than the TDI Advanced Wreck manual.

I have never done caves, but a lot of the areas that appear to be common to both disciplines seem to receive much more systematic treatment in cave training.

 

[SailNaked]

All of the things we now have courses for were at one time done without courses. people took all available information (not as easily shared as it is today on the internet) and did the best they could, when something happened that was out of the ordinary and maybe dangerous they worked it out, some died, the rest came up with ways to avoid the instance and maybe then also included it in the "course" that they either were teaching to real students or just to their friends.

Maybe there are only adventurers and engineers. maybe there is a third category that learns as much as they can then pushes the limits a little at a time learning as they go. I was in a six month training seminar one time and the instructor said "that which does not kill you will make you stronger" ok to be an engineer, but then sometime it is also fun to be an adventurer.

 

[IDS_Bill]

All of the things we now have courses for were at one time done without courses. people took all available information (not as easily shared as it is today on the internet) and did the best they could, when something happened that was out of the ordinary and maybe dangerous they worked it out, some died, the rest came up with ways to avoid the instance and maybe then also included it in the "course" that they either were teaching to real students or just to their friends.

Maybe there are only adventurers and engineers. maybe there is a third category that learns as much as they can then pushes the limits a little at a time learning as they go. I was in a six month training seminar one time and the instructor said "that which does not kill you will make you stronger" ok to be an engineer, but then sometime it is also fun to be an adventurer.

I am both an engineer and an adventurer - why can't you be both?

We coined a phrase while we were floating next to a capsized boat in the middle of the South China Sea - "A Great Adventure is not always fun while it is happening" - HA!