PADI specialty dive question

[tursiops]

Thank you both. This does make since in both your posts. I got the Nitrox specialty and yes that was money well spent. These others to me seem like money grabs. Just wasn’t sure if there was some reason of their worth I was missing.

The principal value to most of those distinctive specialites is to the instructor who wrote them and to the instructor/shop/facility that teaches them.

 

[yle]

Thank you both. This does make since in both your posts. I got the Nitrox specialty and yes that was money well spent. These others to me seem like money grabs. Just wasn’t sure if there was some reason of their worth I was missing.

Your instincts serve you well. I would agree they are money grabs. If you're wondering if there is some advantage to having these "specialty" cards for your future diving, I would vote "no". You've already discovered that having a nitrox card is important if you want to get nitrox fills. I've never used any other specialty in my diving, although I have seen altitude, deep, drysuit and DPV used in a practical situation (to either participate in a particular diving activity or to rent equipment.) There might be a couple more "practical" specialties (i.e. that will be used to allow you to do what you want to do) but most specialties are for personal enrichment only... and for collecting plastic cards that you can fasten to your BCD like patches to impress other divers.

 

[flyboy08]

Nitrox, AOW and S&R is what I would work towards.,.,,look up each required class and take those.

 

[Justink25]

Thank you!

 

[Bob DBF]

So main question is what is the specialty I am paying for? Is it mainly just a card I give $85 for saying I am a Bonne Terre Mine specialist diver?

It's the diving equivalent of an overpriced "I was here t-shirt."

It always good to talk to the instructor about the knowledge portion of the specialty to find out if has any.


Bob

 

[Justink25]

I called again this morning. Asking what am I getting for the specialty. All I was told is after 2 dives I qualify for mine specialty. So mainly feel like I’m giving 85 bucks for a card.

 

[JackD342]

It's the diving equivalent of an overpriced "I was here t-shirt."

It always good to talk to the instructor about the knowledge portion of the specialty to find out if has any.


Bob

You beat me to it. Couldn't decide if I wanted to use the t-shirt metaphor, or patch collector.

But... a better comparison might be selection of college courses, or even local community adult continuing education courses. Some of them have seriously useful content and provide a necessary foundation for what will follow, and some are just for fun. Because they exist side by side in the same brochure does not mean they will have equal value to all people. It is up to you to decide what value it has for you.

A little more to add - part of that added cost for the Specialty dive is the c-card itself, not just course content. Did they include anything else with that aquarium dive? You know, like a sticker? (or patch... or t-shirt...)

 

[JackD342]

BTW: If you are working towards PADI AOW or Master Diver, then the Distinctive Specialty can count towards one of the required dives/certifications.

Also, here is a concurrent thread on Distinctive Specialties:
What is the craziest "specialty" you have heard of that you know is actually real?

 

[Justink25]

We got to watch them feed the whale sharks. But that was about it

 

[AdivingBel]

Nitrox, AOW and S&R is what I would work towards.,.,,look up each required class and take those.

I would add PPB. Getting a few dives in with a good instructor emphasizing buoyancy, trim, and propulsion techniques (especially after you have a few dives under your belt so things start to "slow down") can have a long term, positive effect on your diving.