WetDawg:
Capt. Mike,
I have had a couple brave students ask me this question, for which I could not give them an honest answer.
What would you suggest as the ideal training path to working up to diving the Doria? I don't mean minimum qualification, I mean what would make you say "OK, this person is ready, no doubt" -- of course we know you can't get inside someone's head and truly know what they are mentally prepared for, but what would be the typical diving resume you would be looking for to make you comforatable having a diver on your boat?
We all know that 1000+ dives on tropical reefs do not necessarily qualify you - though it wouldn't hurt. But specifically how many dives in the 150-200' range? How many in the 200-250', etc, etc...?
Does anyone out there offer a complete training package or suggested program? I know that if you're planning to run a marathon there are dozens of training programs you can find online that outline running programs from everywhere from 12 weeks to more than a year to guide you in your preparation.
There are several "complete training packages" available. I offer training through several agencies. TDI offers a curriculum that would include Nitrox, Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Trimix, and Advanced Trimix. IANTD's curriculum is very similar with slightly different names, to include, Nitrox, Advanced Nitrox, Technical Diver, and Hypoxic Trimix.
If a diver aspiring to dive the Andrea Doria took these courses aboard my vessel (or any other vessel in the northeast where they would find similar conditions) with an instructor that knows of their intentions and is unwilling to "fast-track" the student, they would have a reasonable jump on the skills needed to undertake these dives.
I can only speak for myself as an instructor here but if a diver isn't ready to undertake unsupervised dives (attitude, planning, equipment configuration, properly tuned in water skills, etc.) they aren't ready to receive a c-card from me until we complete more proficiency dives and classroom work if necessary, regardless of the level of training they are enrolled in. I strongly believe in the "Pay for Training, Earn Certification" philosophy. To try to put a minimum number on the dives required to be ready for the wreck would be an exercise in frustration as everyone is different and there are far too many variables to take into consideration. This is the same reason why most of my students will always conduct more than the minimum number of dives as listed in the Standards and Procedures for the courses they are enrolled in.
This coursework would allow the diver to conduct their training in an environment similar to the Doria. We would be diving on progressively deeper, darker, more challenging wrecks. Conditions vary and no matter what we do for preparatory dives the Andrea Doria can be host to some very challenging conditions. The fact that the wreck is 90 miles from our home port adds it's own level of difficulty. Just like any dive, if the conditions are beyond your ability you should sit out the dive and wait for conditions to improve.
Unless the diver is independently wealthy or can take extended leave from work I doubt that they would finish the coursework in one season. For this reason, as well as several others, I suggest a regimented training routine with several "work-up" dives in similar environments as the Andrea Doria. Even if a diver has already completed their training, if the majority of the diver's experience was gained in an environment that wasn't similar to what they can expect on the wreck they should strive to develop their skills under comparable conditions.
I hope this helps answer your student's questions.
Mike
Capt. Michael Jensen
SEEKER
Undersea Exploration, Inc.
PO Box 3813
Newport, RI 02840
401-258-2958
www.underseaexploration.com