Eventually want to get into Wreck Diving - what are the pre-requisites?

[neonstingray]

Unfortunately many discussions about long term progression of training on scubaboard tend to become very academic and theoretical, and the answers given will rarely be given by the people you yourself will be trained by. I would say your first step is to look for shops around that do dive charters to wrecks. Talk to them, tell them what you're interested in doing. They probably offer some trips you'd be qualified for at your current level. Go. If you like them, talk to them about what kind of training and dives with them they'd want you to do before going on more advanced dives with them. Since they'll be the ones you're diving with, their training will be geared towards the dives they do. It doesn't matter how good the reasoning of someone online is, regardless of how good their intents are, if the shop you're diving with requires a different set of classes or skills before diving on the actual wrecks you want to dive.

 

[73diver]

I've have a similar interest. I have had some recreational wreck NDL dives and minimal penetration in the past. My NAUI senior dive check in 1979 required that I remove my tank, hold it in front of me and swim through the wheel house of a wreck in 80 feet of water. Since this was a activity practiced numerous times in the pool, it seemed pretty straight forward. I don't see things like that being done now; but, there are skills to learn. Where I live, most wrecks are deep, dark and cold. In order to go out on charter boats, the captains assume that most divers are equipped for and know decompression. I decided to become a student of one of the wreck diving charter boat captains. He has equipped me and trained me as appropriate for his dive destinations. I don't mind being the rookie. I read, listen and learn. I practice my skills in the pool and at quarries to make maximum benefit of time with my instructor and on the boat.

 

[wedivebc]

Just some random thoughts here but depending on where you live a cavern class will help with the trim and buoyancy needed to be a good wreck diver but hardly practical if for instance you have to travel to get to caverns and you have wrecks in your own backyard.
Likewise a GUE fundies or GOOD intro tech course might offer the same befits if an instructor is readily available to you but neither of those are a substitute for good wreck training.

Now good wreck training is the key. There are plenty of bad instructors out there including some who can offer a wreck cert but finding a good one is key. If you have a chance to see an instructor in the water especially with students you will get an idea of how they teach.

In my experience the very best instructors don't tell you how good they are. Their students do.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Find an instructor who teaches best practices -DIR/Hogarthian- and who is resident & dives regularly on the type of wrecks you are interested in.

An example, for WWII Indo-Pacific Wrecks go either to Subic Bay Philippines with Sam Collett:
Technical Diving | Puerto Galera | Philippines | Tech Asia

Or the best Instructor in Truk Lagoon, Rob McGann:
Welcome to the Official Truk Stop Hotel Website

 

[Akimbo]

I am amazed that nobody has discussed learning about ship construction and research. Understanding that will help resolve tons of potentially hazardous situations… plus it is the most interesting part.

Wreck diving isn’t outside the realm of any other kind of diving. Make sure you have enough gas to get back to the surface and don’t go places you can’t find your way out of before violating the first rule. Whenever in doubt, just ask yourself “Am I willing to stake my life on it?”

Learning not to stir up silt is fine, but you better spend some time in black water/silt-out conditions because it will happen. Either some newbie or shifting debris will eventually plunge you into darkness so you better know how to handle it.

I suggest that you dive a number of purpose-sunk wrecks before selecting a course. Don’t penetrate farther than you can back out and learn all you can from the outside. Between that and learning from others onboard you will be much better equipped to determine how much training you want and how to find good instructor. It will also increase how much you absorb and retain during the course.

 

[Jakeb826]

If it is ok, a few more questions along the lines you have been discussing.....My background is PADI Rescue on the rec side and several years public safety diving (many years in the past since I was active), to include BASIC drysuit, low/zero visibility and body recovery experience. I recently retired after 20 as a municipal police officer and enlisted member in the USCG but am still fairly young (42) and in good shape physically. Just moved to North Carolina recently and started back into diving much more regularly. I mention these items only to show my trainability, reasonable calm under pressure, enormous lack of need to be a hotshot or hero and willingness to take my time and earn my stripes (and not get killed).

The ultimate goal (prepare to flame away) is to safely dive the Andrea Doria, plus the many other wrecks along the way working to it. I am interested in working my way up to a "touch" dive as I have read about and have zero interest in overhead or penetration dives at all. I'm willing to train for that, of course, but I am honestly just interested in working towards the touch goal. Obviously mixed gas and deep training are primary, what else? I have YEARS to get there and am not interested in shortcuts or the easy route. I am interested in the safe, conservative route. I will be working upwards on the rec side concurrently but understand the theoretical divide between the two.

1. What organizations/trainers are the most reputable and how would I discern between the cowboys and the real pros in the beginning?
2. With an admittedly lofty goal, how do I get taken seriously by said pros?
3. Someone had mentioned getting used to a backplate setup earlier in the game. My initial training opportunities will be on the rec side, will this type of equipment put me in the kook category? Would I be I jumping the gun on gear?
4. As some of you appear to be some pretty heavy duty instructors, what progression would you send someone on if you were to model a quality student?

I know I am just barely approaching square one.....where from here? Am I being foolish?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Akimbo]

The Doria is high risk, especially without a chamber onboard. Not a flame, but you have to accept some level of risk that far out to sea. It makes sense to work up to her since she might loose the allure along the way. I spent a lot of time on her, but haven't gone back since I couldn't justify the price of a boat with a chamber onboard. I might feel differently had I not been on her so long (and long ago).

Have you read the various books on diving the Doria and Shadow Divers? If you are want to dive her it better be soon. She could be a pile of steel plate on the bottom after the next good storm. Post WWII merchant ships just don't hold up as long.

 

[Jakeb826]

Meant to respond quicker, my post didn't upload for some reason. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. I went and read Shadow Divers and loved it. Along with some of the Andrea Doria books I have read recently Shadow Divers was a great and constant reminder of the safety issues and hazards involve with this stuff. I am fortunately at a place in life where I can take the time and have the resources do approach something like this safely and methodically. Thanks again for your insight.

 

[DevonDiver]

If it is ok, a few more questions along the lines you have been discussing.....

1. What organizations/trainers are the most reputable and how would I discern between the cowboys and the real pros in the beginning?

As you progress into more advanced levels of diving effective research of potential instructors becomes a more critical factor. Use Google Search to establish some individual pedigree and get references and recommendations from others within that activity-specific community. Facebook also has a number of user groups relating to wreck/technical wreck diving. Having created a short-list - start communicating with them. Ask questions directly - this gauges both their experience, knowledge and expertise... and also their motivation to teach.

Beyond 'recreational' level courses (i.e. basic wreck) I personally don't think that agencies have much bearing on potential quality of specialized/advanced diving. An individual instructor may have certain agency allegiances, but these can be shaped by market factors, or personal history, rather than course design.

First and foremost... vet your instructor. Dive history (frequency/specialism/specificity to your needs/goals), participation in exploration/expeditions, community reputation and authority, training level, etc etc

Be prepared to travel, to get the best instructor you can,...


Article: The Anatomy of an Effective Wreck Course


2. With an admittedly lofty goal, how do I get taken seriously by said pros?

Identify realistic personal goals (short/medium/long term) and communicate them. Ask intelligent questions, based on personal research in advance. LISTEN.

Prepare for training effectively - make sure you are at a high standard of competency as dictated by the prerequisite qualifications for the given course you will attend. You book on a course to progress ability, not to remediate deficiencies from previous levels of training.

3. Someone had mentioned getting used to a backplate setup earlier in the game. My initial training opportunities will be on the rec side, will this type of equipment put me in the kook category? Would I be I jumping the gun on gear?

Not at all. Backplate/Wing BCDs are relatively common now. As is sidemount...

4. As some of you appear to be some pretty heavy duty instructors, what progression would you send someone on if you were to model a quality student?

Crack an exceptional level of foundational skills - this is the bedrock from which you will build upon. Buoyancy, trim, propulsion, situational awareness, team skills, gas management, precision dive planning and conduct (plan the dive, dive the plan).

After each stage of training, allot a significant time to ingrain and embed the new skills, drills and procedures. Do not move forwards until sufficient practice and experience have made the stuff you've previously learned an instinctive operation.

 

[doctormike]

Meant to respond quicker, my post didn't upload for some reason. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. I went and read Shadow Divers and loved it. Along with some of the Andrea Doria books I have read recently Shadow Divers was a great and constant reminder of the safety issues and hazards involve with this stuff. I am fortunately at a place in life where I can take the time and have the resources do approach something like this safely and methodically. Thanks again for your insight.

If you (1) loved Shadow Divers, and (2) want to do wreck diving training, you might like this course: Learn Advanced Wreck Diving from John Chatterton

I took it last year and it was great. John is a terrific teacher and a lot of fun to hang out with...

Mike