I really do think it comes down to the instructor. For example, the wreck classes taught out of one of our local shops consist of swimming out to a wreck in our local dive park and looking at it. They are not taught by people with specific interest in or experience on wrecks.
My guess is that there are instructors out there who are really into wreck diving, who can take you through researching a wreck, looking at deck plans, recognizing the various things of interest (personally, I can barely tell the difference between an engine and a prop) and can make the whole thing worthwhile.
I did a wreck workshop about four years ago. It included a lecture on the specific hazards of diving wrecks, and on ways to locate and put divers on a wreck (anchored boat, shot line, etc.) We spent the rest of the evening practicing running line (which is not a bad skill to have, even if you never intend to do any penetration, because just getting from the downline to the wreck can sometimes require a line, if you intend to get back to the upline to do your ascent).
We did a day of critical skills dives, including line running and following and simulated zero viz, and bag shoots and green water ascents. This was to be followed by a day of experience dives on real wrecks, but we got blown out and did a second day of critical skills instead.
That workshop was fabulous, and the guys who ran it weren't even certified instructors -- rather, they were very experienced cave and wreck divers who shared a bunch of great information with us, and imparted useful skills. THAT kind of class would be well worth your time; I'm not sure how you find one.
My guess is that there are instructors out there who are really into wreck diving, who can take you through researching a wreck, looking at deck plans, recognizing the various things of interest (personally, I can barely tell the difference between an engine and a prop) and can make the whole thing worthwhile.
I did a wreck workshop about four years ago. It included a lecture on the specific hazards of diving wrecks, and on ways to locate and put divers on a wreck (anchored boat, shot line, etc.) We spent the rest of the evening practicing running line (which is not a bad skill to have, even if you never intend to do any penetration, because just getting from the downline to the wreck can sometimes require a line, if you intend to get back to the upline to do your ascent).
We did a day of critical skills dives, including line running and following and simulated zero viz, and bag shoots and green water ascents. This was to be followed by a day of experience dives on real wrecks, but we got blown out and did a second day of critical skills instead.
That workshop was fabulous, and the guys who ran it weren't even certified instructors -- rather, they were very experienced cave and wreck divers who shared a bunch of great information with us, and imparted useful skills. THAT kind of class would be well worth your time; I'm not sure how you find one.