Requirements Padi deep diver specialty

[DevonDiver]

I've encountered many. Probably most around the tourist areas in SE Asia.

The refusal is normally followed by "...but we can fit you on to the next ______ course, so that you have a license for doing that."

 

[boulderjohn]

I have never encountered a recreational dive op that limited depth based on certifications.

It is an interesting side note that you have not encountered any of the many dive operators around the world that require certifications beyond AOW for certain dives. With the amount of time you have been diving and writing on ScubaBoard, it is certainly surprising as well.

 

[mselenaous]

I have never encountered a recreational dive op that limited depth based on certifications.

Happens everyday in the Keys. Local dive ops wont let you dive the Spiegel Grove, Duane, Vandenberg without an AOW cert unless you are in a class or hire a guide due to depths & currents.

 

[redacted]

I have never been to the Keys, and have no regrets. My impression is that good dive ops are more interested in experience and demonstrated skills than certs.

And I do remember Andy mentioning this before in SE Asia. Scratch another destination. I' ok stick with the Caribbean.

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

Go ahead, awap, get the card! Why would you cut yourself off from some if the finest diving over a couple hundred bucks for "the card.?" I went ahead and got mine after 1200 dives because many ops in the Keys won't take you out to the good wrecks without one. I expect the trend will spread.

 

[Lorenzoid]

As Ron says, are you looking for a quick qualification to hit some depth or are you serious about a methodical approach to safe deep diving?

I think after you do fundies the answer might reveal itself.

Okay, I'll spell it out for the OP: When you complete your Fundies class, you will probably believe you should not be doing dives over 28 m without significant additional training. (see rivers' post above)

I felt like chiming in because I, too, took the PADI Deep specialty not long before I took Fundies. I realize that the material taught in the PADI course can vary a bit depending on instructor, but for me, the PADI Deep course was frustrating. The message the instructor conveyed was completely ambiguous, along the lines of: "Dives in the range that PADI considers 'deep' for recreational dives carry increased risks, but if you decide to take these risks here are some things to think about that might help you mitigate these risks." GUE, in contrast, conveys a fairly unambiguous message that a student might sum up as: "Don't do those dives." Two different approaches.

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

Yes, decompression's post above shows the difference. With GUE, you will need extra training with tech gear (doubles) and trimix to dive 40m. A very large difference in expense, and effort, than what PADI deep will require.

 

[boulderjohn]

What some of these posts seem to be saying is they were shocked to learn that two entirely different courses with entirely different purposes ended up being--wait for it--different! Who could possibly have expected that?

 

[kafkaland]

I have never encountered a recreational dive op that limited depth based on certifications.

Here is an example from my neck of the woods. Deep required to go below 100ft:

Four Fathoms

 

[Flipmode85]

No its not that i want to "score" a card to dive deep.
I feel no need to dive deep EXCEPT some nice dives on vacation. (Wrecks)

But YES i want to dive save no matter what. So i think ill just do a REC2 or REC3 class somewhere next year.

Thanks for all replies