Question about Boat Diver Cert

[Jato4x4]

If you're doing the AOW dives from a boat, is it recommended to choose Boat Diver as one additional certs that you get to choose for that? Kinda seems like you're already getting that info. But I don't know if it would still be beneficial or not. I know the more the better, but wouldn't this stuff already be covered since you would be doing your dives from a boat? Thanks in advance.

 

[herbdb]

With the exception of Deep and Navigation, the AOW dives allow you to sample something you may not have done before and gain a little knowledge.

But, in my opinion, some of the certifications are just silly. Boat Diver is one of them. Nothing wrong with doing your first boat dive with an instructor, but paying extra for a specialty card or even counting it as one of your dives would be a waste. Pick a dive where you learn something new.

 

[macado]

If you're doing the AOW dives from a boat, is it recommended to choose Boat Diver as one additional certs that you get to choose for that? Kinda seems like you're already getting that info. But I don't know if it would still be beneficial or not. I know the more the better, but wouldn't this stuff already be covered since you would be doing your dives from a boat? Thanks in advance.

Waste of time. Like most people, I dont have "boat diver" certification yet half of my dives have been on boats.

For Advanced Open Water (AOW), it is basically a sampling of 5 different specialties. Navigation and Deep are required.

 

[fjpatrum]

I would recommend something that might actually teach you a new skill for diving. Everything you need to know to dive from a boat you should have gotten in OW. IE how to do a giant stride and backward roll. Getting back on the boat is always boat specific so they can't really teach that.

 

[Jato4x4]

That's kind of what I figured. Thanks for the quick reply. I was wanting to do the Peak Buoyancy and Drift. Then for the third one I'm kind of undecided. Deep diver is something I want, which is included as well as navigation. Which leaves me with stuff like the photography or Fish ID, which the ID would be cool, but don't really know how much that class actually teaches.

 

[spectrum]

I would definitely try to not let them call "boat diver" one of the allotted adventures. I'm sure that there is as much potential information on the topic as most but much of it is either common sense or easily gleaned by paying attention. Watch he movie Open Water and do the opposite.

Pete

 

[Dr. Lecter]

This sort of thing is exactly why some ridicule those who mindlessly parrot the "NEVER DIVE BEYOND YOUR [-]C-CARDS [/-]TRAINING!" stuff to new divers.

For the OP, no, you should not make Boat Diver one of the AOW dives. And you definitely should not waste resources on a Boat Diver cert. What many would consider the only really tricky thing about boat diving -- reboarding a violently bucking ladder on the stern of a dive boat in heavy seas while weighted down with nearly 200lbs of tec gear -- is not covered in that course anyway

 

[flots am]

If you're doing the AOW dives from a boat, is it recommended to choose Boat Diver as one additional certs that you get to choose for that? Kinda seems like you're already getting that info. But I don't know if it would still be beneficial or not. I know the more the better, but wouldn't this stuff already be covered since you would be doing your dives from a boat? Thanks in advance.

The c-card isn't worth anything but the information is. "Boat diver" sounds stupid, but if it's cheap enough is actually worth something.

You'll learn how to pack your stuff so it's where you need it, when you need it, how to keep out of everybody's way, how to not p*** off everybody else on the boat and how to not break your foot or the boat, with various falling heavy things, how to not get turned unto chum by the props and a bunch of other stuff.

This is all stuff you could get by talking to anybody who's been diving on a boat for a while, but if the class is $75 and includes a couple of boat dives it's probably worth it. It it's much more than that, find someone who's been boat diving for a while and buy them some beer and pizza and go out for some dives.

Don't bother trying to make it part of AOW. It's pretty much a waste.

flots.

 

[Rich Keller]

When I saw this thread I thought it was a joke! PADI has a Boat Diver Cert? What did they do rename the underwater basket weaving cert? What other waste of time and money certs do they have?

 

[WheelsUSN]

When I saw this thread I thought it was a joke! PADI has a Boat Diver Cert? What did they do rename the underwater basket weaving cert? What other waste of time and money certs do they have?

Hey guess what, NASDS merged with SSI who offers a Boat Diver Cert. I guess your agency is no better than the rest of them.
I agree that the Boat Diver Cert is pretty useless but no reason to single out one agency when most recreational agencies offer it.