Is the PADI "Drift Diving" course worth it?

[String]

Still havent seen anything here to convince me drift diving needs anything extra that isnt taught in other courses and common sense wont copy.

Lets see.. Here we get tidal ranges up to 10m, islands, channels producing 5-6kt currents on the turn. 100% of boating is what you term live boating in those areas. 100% of them end up in DSMB deploying. There is no drift diver course in BSAC yet clubs dont have divers vanishing every weekend or a crazy amount of incidents. Neither to the PADI dive centres or charter boats.

To drift dive you need to be able to operate an SMB and preferably a delayed SMB. Not a hard skill - certainly not something you need to pay for to get the hang of (although there is now a speciality). You need to be able to get off and onto a boat.
You need signalling devices.
None of the above is something that isnt needed in normal diving anyway.

Find me any agency "drift diver" course that includes anything like what you posted and i may reconsider but i havent seen one yet.

The only courses ive seen are extremely basic, teaching nothing that isnt already in existing courses and provide little to no value for money.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

If you can jump off a boat, climb back on a boat and deploy a DSMB then theres no point what so ever.

Drift diving isnt difficult and certainly not difficult enough to warrant paying for.

String, you misunderstand.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything.

My experience in the South Pacific leads me to a different conclusion.

I simply disagree with you.

Dive safe,

Doc

 

[HowardE]

Drift Diving topics… So here are some things that might be covered in a specialty drift diving course:

Doc - quite elaborate. But the key words in your statement are MIGHT BE COVERED. They "Might be" but they're NOT - by anyone. Have you taken a drift diving course? Have you looked at a syllabus for a drift diving course? My guess is NO, and you're just blowing smoke, because you think that String's post was negative. He's just realistic in this case. Drift diving is almost as easy as falling off of a boat... (with maybe a few exceptions that could easily be covered by a good dive briefing)

Your course in surface survival is not specific to a drift dive, but "things that could go wrong, but are highly unlikely to go wrong so you should be prepared for this boat dive" course.

Find me any agency "drift diver" course that includes anything like what you posted and i may reconsider but i havent seen one yet.

The only courses ive seen are extremely basic, teaching nothing that isnt already in existing courses and provide little to no value for money.

I agree


Dive Safely,

 

[scarefaceDM]

I can only attest to the PADI Drift course...SUCKS!!!!..I assisted as DM on that course and frankly....not worth the money.
Up in my neck of the woods...we drift dive alot. The river is swift and the boat traffic is well a hazzard in its self. Freighters pass, Private boaters are well...oblivious.

We in the river do not carry a float..that is just asking for trouble. Plus it is a navigational hazzard to the marnie traffic. Thus you can get a hefty fine for being a navigational hazzard.

In this case, proper planning in any drift dive is a must. knowing how to navigate is vital plus knowing where you are going. Having SMB, strobs or any other saftey gear once you surface is a must especially if you have to sit and wait for pick up. But generally the dive boat is following the drifters and flying a diver down flag for that reason. BUT you can get separate from the leader if your not close together which happens...

Each case, I am sure is different. In open seas etc...where your not a navigational hazzard you carry or drag a surface marker and plan accordingly. That goes without saying...PLANNING. And following such plan.

The only Ocean drift dive I did was in the Dominicain Republic and that was a semi drift along a wall no hell but some folks got separated and the boat picked up the stragllers allong the way. Good thing the water was calm and the sun was shining...did not mind flaoting allong until I got picked up near a hotel beach...along with the DM that was leading the dive...

Safe dives
Stephen

 

[Stu S.]

It may not take a PADI course but..... drift dive training of a simple variety may help some people enjoy it more. We had a good current at Jupiter FL, Saturday afternoon. People come from all over to dive our coast. Some of the divers used air quickly as they tried to "explore the reef" rather than drift it. My daughter and I got 55 minutes per dive, while some only got 20.

To come in from out-of-state and have two 20 minute dives is no good. A simple explanation like a 20 minute course of how we "do the drift" would have made their day more enjoyable.

 

[HowardE]

It may not take a PADI course but..... drift dive training of a simple variety may help some people enjoy it more. We had a good current at Jupiter FL, Saturday afternoon. People come from all over to dive our coast. Some of the divers used air quickly as they tried to "explore the reef" rather than drift it. My daughter and I got 55 minutes per dive, while some only got 20.

To come in from out-of-state and have two 20 minute dives is no good. A simple explanaton like a 20 minute course of how we "do the drift "would have made their day more enjoyable.

Or a good dive briefing from the DM and/or Boat Captain simply stating - "don't fight the current... just go with it" would probably suffice. You drift... you dive... it's not hard.

Granted - the currents in Jupiter are much stronger than further south, but it is the same drift diving concepts that apply.

 

[scarefaceDM]

I do not know about your area there STU...but up here in Canada..we give dive briefings...especially to folks whom have not done that particular dive.

If you have a dive leader DM or one whom is leading the drift, then giving a good sight briefing and dive protocols is needed. Especially if new divers joining in the fun.

This is where anyone with more experience should step up and mention it. SO everyone can have some fun.

Safe dives

It may not take a PADI course but..... drift dive training of a simple variety may help some people enjoy it more. We had a good current at Jupiter FL, Saturday afternoon. People come from all over to dive our coast. Some of the divers used air quickly as they tried to "explore the reef" rather than drift it. My daughter and I got 55 minutes per dive, while some only got 20.

To come in from out-of-state and have two 20 minute dives is no good. A simple explanaton like a 20 minute course of how we "do the drift "would have made their day more enjoyable.

 

[Stu S.]

Well divers, the Jupiter briefing even included a map. Good for us, but on a moving boat, maybe a few visitors were excited, and the concept of drifting did not sink in. There were four or five individuals that could have used something like a 15 minute video before getting on the boat. Not a PADI course, just a little extra training, may have helped them.

The best drift diving lesson for me was at Boynton Beach, FL last March. We got "passed" by a plastic garbage can drifting along at 45 feet. It had perfect buoyancy, and was not kicking. It was in the upright "at the curb" position. That green can was probably going three knots.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Sounds like a blast...with flying debree...I will put that on my Dives to do list...Once I get to Florida this summer.

Safe dives Stu

Stephen

Well divers, the Jupiter briefing even included a map. Good for us, but on a moving boat, maybe a few visitors were excited, and the concept of drifting did not sink in. There were four or five individuals that could have used something like a 15 minute video before getting on the boat. Not a PADI course, just a little extra training, may have helped them.

The best drift diving lesson for me was at Boynton Beach, FL last March. We got "passed" by a plastic garbage can drifting along at 45 feet. It had perfect buoyancy, and was not kicking. It was in the upright "at the curb" position. That green can was probably going three knots.

 

[Stu S.]

If any of you divers have a "to do" list, consider drift diving a reef at night. We do that at Jupiter, FL. I believe Pompano Beach has it too. It is a step up in complexity from your basic boat dives, but won't leave you pooped, either. Night is the time to observe nature, and the lobsters are out.