PADI Self Reliant Diver

[gypsyjim]

A local PADI op that I have often used has sent invitations for an open forum evening on the PADI Self Reliant Dive. Is anyone familiar with this class? I am assuming it is very new, and is a PADI attempt to market solo, without actually calling it "solo"? An internet search, and one on SB turned up little info.

I found the attached link to a description of the course as being offered in NZ, but assume it is going to be pretty much the same course.
http://www.techdivenz.com/pdfs/courses/srd.pdf

I realize that simply mentioning PADI here on SB can draw serious flames my way, but I have not found much info and was seeking to open a serious discussion, especially if anyone has any actual experience with this course, as either student or instructor.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

PADI goes solo - Divernet

Found this. I'm not familiar with the PADI course having taken the SDI and hopefully by end of summer be able to teach it. Seems like a good review. Wookie also called their training dept to ask about what it was intended to be since he will allow you to dive from the Spree solo if you have an actual solo cert. He accepts it. See this thread and the last post.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/in...dardized-self-reliant-diver-speciality-4.html

 

[gypsyjim]

PADI goes solo - Divernet

Found this. I'm not familiar with the PADI course having taken the SDI and hopefully by end of summer be able to teach it. Seems like a good review. Wookie also called their training dept to ask about what it was intended to be since he will allow you to dive from the Spree solo if you have an actual solo cert. He accepts it. See this thread and the last post.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/in...dardized-self-reliant-diver-speciality-4.html

Since I am not an instructor my SB privileges do not allow Instructor to instructor forum access Jim. Thanks.

This might explain why my search turned up no info on SB. There are forums closed to all but members and that is where it seems to have been discussed.


Is there any way you could post just a copy of that last post without turning the Mods onto us for violating TOS?

 

[knotical]

There is a thread in the Advanced Scuba Discussions forum:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ad...ns/384026-padi-lacking-solo-diver-course.html

And some here in the solo divers forum:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/solo-divers/404733-why-would-you-get-solo-cert.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/so...ist-agencies-offering-solo-certification.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/solo-divers/379665-padis-new-solo-course-2.html

 

[Colliam7]

A local PADI op that I have often used has sent invitations for an open forum evening on the PADI Self Reliant Dive. Is anyone familiar with this class? I am assuming it is very new, and is a PADI attempt to market solo, without actually calling it "solo"? . . . especially if anyone has any actual experience with this course, as either student or instructor.

What, specifically, would you like to know about the course? I have experience with it, as an instructor. It is a PADI Distinctive Specialty, it has been around since last year, it is PADI's entry into the world of solo diving, but really does emphasize self-reliance in diving, whether you are diving alone or with a buddy. It includes academics (i.e. a Knowledge Review) and three open water dives. There is a required equipment list for students and for instructors. The performance requirements emphasize certain skills not altogether unlike some of those taught in the tech sequence (e.g. gas switching, lift bag deployment, dive planning based on planned depths and individual air consumption data, etc), and navigation skills.

 

[raftingtigger]

I haven't yet taken the PADI Self-Reliant course, but have arranged with my instructor to do it. I have reviewed the complete instructor's guide (I'm a PADI DM so have access). The course uses no particular student manual, but does use info from the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, Rescue Diver, etc.

PADI's stance (my paraphrase) is 1. Encourages buddy diving, 2. Encourages self-reliance and rescue to enhance buddy diving, 3. Acknowledges and accepts that solo diving has advantages in certain circumstances, or may be functionally unavoidable and such divers will benefit with additional training.

The course focuses on having redundant equipment if it critical for safety or mission requirements. Comfort in using the redundant equipment. Good buoyancy, gas planning and management, and solid navigational skills.

The course requires: A knowledge review, skills assessment, 3 OW dives. See manual excerpts below. I'll report back after completing the course.

 

[redacted]

After so much opposition. PADI endorsing solo is like the Republican party endorsing pro-choice and gay marriage. That is why they can't bring themselves to call it something everyone would recognize - a Solo Diving Course.

 

[DevonDiver]

...they can't bring themselves to call it something everyone would recognize - a Solo Diving Course.

I believe the point was that they were simply promoting the course as beneficial to a wider demographic of divers, not 'just' solo divers - but promoting the virtues of that training for those who wish to be safer (more self-reliant) within the scope of buddy system diving.... and also for dive pros who might be considered 'solo' when supervising divers in training.

'Solo Diver' is a beneficial name if your sole purpose is to own some plastic that allows you to do X, Y or Z on a charter boat.

'Self-Sufficient Diver' is a beneficial name to promote some very good training (and it is a good course) to the widest possible cross-spectrum of divers, who otherwise might not recognize the benefits of it for their own use.

 

[gypsyjim]

What, specifically, would you like to know about the course? I have experience with it, as an instructor. It is a PADI Distinctive Specialty, it has been around since last year, it is PADI's entry into the world of solo diving, but really does emphasize self-reliance in diving, whether you are diving alone or with a buddy. It includes academics (i.e. a Knowledge Review) and three open water dives. There is a required equipment list for students and for instructors. The performance requirements emphasize certain skills not altogether unlike some of those taught in the tech sequence (e.g. gas switching, lift bag deployment, dive planning based on planned depths and individual air consumption data, etc), and navigation skills.

You folks are pretty much answering my questions.

As a diver who carries a camera on many, if not most of my dives, I tend to go solo quite a bit.

Also, several years ago when a group of us on a Bonaire trip were discussing the idea of solo, I was coming down pretty solidly on the 'anti' side of that discussion, until a good friend who is an instructor pointed out that I often dive with people who are far less experienced than myself, including family members, who I really could not expect to be rescuing my sorry @$$.

He pointed out that I probably would be a lot safer diving solo, than I was diving with divers who did not have the skills or the strength to rescue me, but were in fact more likely to create a serious issue than resolve one.

After that I began doing selective solos, but have been thinking about doing actual "solo" dive training, parially because I understand there are risks I have yet to fully address, and because I am always looking to expand my skill base anyway.

When I got the invitation to participate in a local discussion on this class I decided to do some research, but found very little posted when I searched: "PADI Self Reliant".

That was why I started this thread. If I have difficulty finding info, and reviews of this course offering, so will others.

 

[Colliam7]

I believe the point was that they were simply promoting the course as beneficial to a wider demographic of divers, not 'just' solo divers - but promoting the virtues of that training for those who wish to be safer (more self-reliant) within the scope of buddy system diving.... and also for dive pros who might be considered 'solo' when supervising divers in training.

In fact, in the Instructor Guide, the identified target audiences include:

1. Instructors and Divemasters
2. Photographers and videographers
3. Traveling divers
4. Wreck divers
5. TecRec divers

'Self-Sufficient Diver' is a beneficial name to promote some very good training (and it is a good course) to the widest possible cross-spectrum of divers, who otherwise might not recognize the benefits of it for their own use.

Well said!