Non diving courses a way to Master Diver?

[Racer_X]

Looking at my diving patterns, I get a shot at a diving vacation maybe two out of three years. Even then, only a few dives as the family doesn't dive. After my AOW experience this weekend, it seems that taking courses will be better for me than taking a refresher, as pool time is of very limited value.

Since I'll be taking courses once a year or so, I'll "end up" with a master diver. However, these days Nitrox is more or less a mandatory course - too many advantages not to do it. No dives with the nitrox course though, so I was curious as to how those "count" towards master diver.

Thoughts?

Also, it would be REALLY useful if PADI would POST the dive requirements for the courses in the course briefings on their web sites. If a course has one dive, or five, tied to it, it might be useful to know... If any one has a primer laying out courses and #/type of dives, that'd be great.

 

[bbarnett51]

Not sure about PADI but SSI requires 2 dives to count as a specialty. You can get certified without the dive but it doesn't count as a specialty course for master. I have heard that PADI is the same but haven't verified.

 

[TMHeimer]

I believe any course, dives or not, counts. I've always had a problem with this, as I feel specialties required for MSD should only be ones that improve safety and efficiency diving--ei. Project Aware specialty may be good, but it is one of several that doesn't do that. Just my take on it. MSD would seem to mean more if the specialties were only "core" ones IMO.

You could contact PADI to find dive requirements for courses. Or better, just contact a shop and ask, as you'll have to take them at that shop anyway.

 

[Dive the World]

Looking at my diving patterns, I get a shot at a diving vacation maybe two out of three years. Even then, only a few dives as the family doesn't dive. After my AOW experience this weekend, it seems that taking courses will be better for me than taking a refresher, as pool time is of very limited value.

Since I'll be taking courses once a year or so, I'll "end up" with a master diver. However, these days Nitrox is more or less a mandatory course - too many advantages not to do it. No dives with the nitrox course though, so I was curious as to how those "count" towards master diver.

Thoughts?

Also, it would be REALLY useful if PADI would POST the dive requirements for the courses in the course briefings on their web sites. If a course has one dive, or five, tied to it, it might be useful to know... If any one has a primer laying out courses and #/type of dives, that'd be great.

Well to be a Master Scuba Diver - you need OW, AOW, Rescue, 5 Specialities and min 50 dives.

The question is - how will it help you as a diver - try and dive more often in your location - whatever type of diving it is - it would be a lot more beneficial to you as a diver to have more dives

 

[Racer_X]

# of dives isn't a problem, it's the frequency. I don't have the option to dive more in my location - time is a finite resource. How it will help me as a diver is irrelevant, as a master diver won't help anyone be a better diver at all.

I understand the master diver requirements, however I was curious as to how non-diving specialty courses counted towards it, since I'll end up with the master diver anyway.