Padi - Equipment Specialist ???

[Mscdex]

So my local dive shop is offering the Equipment Specialist class and I can not find any info on it. Is it worth taking? Do they teach you have to McGiver a leaking hose when you are 60ft down or how to superglue the lens on your mask?

 

[WarrenZ]

No it is usually a theory of operation and a inspection class. Most of it is a if it doesn't look right bring it to the authorized tech type of stuff.

 

[Steve_C]

I took the SSI version. We went over the different equipment, how it worked, differences in types. Also went through drysuits, their maintenance and use. Pleasant class especially if you are not an equipment junkie but want a basic understanding. Ours was taught by a service dept head.

 

[robertarak]

So my local dive shop is offering the Equipment Specialist class and I can not find any info on it. Is it worth taking? Do they teach you have to McGiver a leaking hose when you are 60ft down or how to superglue the lens on your mask?

I hope not!

This is one of those classes where it really IS the instructor. This can be a great class, or a not-so-great class. At very minimum you should learn;

The theory, principles and operation of scuba diving equipment. Routine and recommended care and maintenance procedures.
Equipment storage.
How to overcome common problems with equipment.
Recommended professional maintenance procedures.

There is much more a good instructor can add in. I cover wetsuit and zipper repair, regulator adjustments, building a proper save-a-dive kit, and a lot more.

 

[Mscdex]

So I guess some of you had good experiences with it. Since the water is getting cold, it seemed like a good way to keep me somewhat busy.

 

[antattack]

I took the class twice. On the first occasion, where I earned the PADI C-Card, the class was about two hours long. I learned less than I did when I did my NAUI Open water certification. The second time was after I was already a Divemaster, and I was just in the class because I was friendly with the dive shop. In that class, the instructor had a regulator for everyone to take apart and put back together. Not a rebuild, just enough to get you comfortable cleaning sand out of the diaphram. How to field change o rings on hoses. What to look for as your gear wears out. How to adjust the pull dump on a Zeagle BCD, how to clean the bladder in your BCD. What kind of hoses work best for different applications (Cave divers might prefer a heavy long hose- they don't want hoses floating against a ceiling... etc.) How and why you might want to add a hose swivel... How does an Octo + work? What kind of glue should you have in your save a dive kit? What is duct tape good for in you save a dive kit? Lots of good information!

Roberarak is spot on. If the instructor is proud of what they are teaching, this is a good use of time. If it's taught by an instructor to fill out an obligation to the shop or punch the ticket on the way to becoming a master instructor... not so much.

 

[Traijin]

I agree with the previous statements about the instructor driving the quality of the course. When I teach it, I have a full power point presentation along with tool kits, work mats, and examples. The shop I work with has all the pre-made kits with the tools, a first stage, second stage, SPG, Inflator and tank valve. I go into detail about the types of first stages and second stages, the inspection of hoses, SPGs and BC Valves. I also explore the cost of rebuilding things versus replacing for inflators and the facts about damaged and unrepairable SPGs. Everyone will get to take apart all of the above to see how it works.

You will not get rated to service equipment, but my students love the hands on "this is how it works" explanation. This is a very popular class for us.