To Recreational Divers:
What specialities do you most want to learn?
I enjoyed all my courses. The only ones I have felt necessary, however, were Nitrox, Deep + Rescue. Nitrox because I can get nitrox fills now (have to show the card at most shops_, Deep because I can now dive all the recreational sites with local charters (again, have to show the card if I want to dive sites beyond 18m), and Rescue because the skills I learned on that were very useful.
I have also done Night, Drift and Navigation but this is because I needed four specialties to get AOW. They were fun but in hindsight unnecessary and probably going out and spending the course money on my own night, drift and navigation dives would have been the same level of fun. I did kind of have drysuit instruction in that a former instructor went over maintenance at the store and then came to the dive site with us and helped us do a weight check, but not a formal course (just complimentary with the suit purchase).
I have no further plans for any specialties at a recreational level (Cavern is next eventually
).
And are you aiming for Master Scuba Diver?
No I never planned to get the card. However, the LDS gave me a Master diver card free along with my Rescue card so I guess I am a Master Scuba Diver now
I do not see the point of this certification personally (not bagging out others who do, it is just how I feel about it) as it does not require any extra learning or instructing (at least with PADI and SSI). Some people like the recognition though, probably the majority of people, so I consider myself in the minority here. Honestly, I think given that it is a card of recognition, it should really be provided free when people complete the qualifications. Otherwise I see it as making students pay to be recognised, which I don't get. I guess I could have just answered your question with 'no' but oh well that explains my reasoning.