Thinking about PADI "Wreck Diving" Cert

[Dive-aholic]

I've always seen the Basic Wreck course as a way to learn about wreck diving. It covers such things as assessing the wreck from the outside, noting hazards, familiarization of the wreck, planning dives around the wreck, using the wreck to shield from current, etc. I also include things like researching the wreck and its history. A basic wreck course has the ability to be a really good course on how to truly appreciate wrecks when diving them. And there's an optional penetration dive into well lit areas of the wreck. It could be the cavern course of wreck diving with Advanced Wreck as the next level.

 

[Buoyant1]

I've always seen the Basic Wreck course as a way to learn about wreck diving. It covers such things as assessing the wreck from the outside, noting hazards, familiarization of the wreck, planning dives around the wreck, using the wreck to shield from current, etc. I also include things like researching the wreck and its history. A basic wreck course has the ability to be a really good course on how to truly appreciate wrecks when diving them. And there's an optional penetration dive into well lit areas of the wreck. It could be the cavern course of wreck diving with Advanced Wreck as the next level.

That's how it was presented to me when I took the course in the Keys....(AND...it ended up being an inexpensive way to dive some wrecks with a guide to tell the truth) But I learned a lot from my instructor! I wouldn't say it was a precursor to doing anything crazy (deep penetrations out of the light zone) but it DID give me a lot of good insight on evaluating and diving most of the good recreational wrecks I've encountered in the Keys.

 

[DevonDiver]

Just an update for those who may search/browse their way onto this thread for information about wreck courses. I recently wrote an article dealing the research and selection of quality wreck diving tuition. It may be an interesting read for those considering potential classes...

The Anatomy of an Effective Wreck Diving Course

 

[TMHeimer]

The PADI Wreck course is an odd one. The optional penetration, as stated, is for very simple penetration. I would agree that getting tech. certified to do more than that is a must. As far as the rest of course goes, there are some good things to learn (ei. watch out for sucking currents, unstable areas, wear gloves always, etc.). But I would think almost all of this stuff is really just common sense. I guess the course is an OK start if you want to get into serious penetration.

 

[CamG]

Hello PC great posts to your thread so far.
I would echo the focus on the instructor who is going to train you for the dives you want to do.
Basic / Advanced either will do but one will limit you.
With that being said limits are good things they keep our dives safe, conservative, well with in our training limits.
Wrecks are dangerous overhead environments make no mistake!

Personally I chose to seek out advanced / Tech training and have loved every minute of it.
It takes a while but that is my path and you must form your own dive goals / training path.
Good luck and take your time train well, dive safe / conservative, love every minute of it!

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I've got AOW, Nitrox, Rescue. Going to Caymans on Aggressor in August - and it looks like there's some cool wrecks we'll be diving on - the Kittiwake and a Russian ship.

So, I'm kind of a "by the book" guy - and would stay out of wrecks unless a DM said, "swim through, from here to there" like I did once on one of my AOW dives. But I'd like to go in the wrecks - so is the Wreck cert worth it? Some friends (with way more experience) were like, aw, you don't need that. But I've read a few books about accidents and posts - I'd rather have some basic training at least.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

PC

Forget the padi course and get a 'real' certification from a tech agency. You will learn far more and have useful skills at the end of it.

Sent via teletype

 

[BDSC]

I've got AOW, Nitrox, Rescue. Going to Caymans on Aggressor in August - and it looks like there's some cool wrecks we'll be diving on - the Kittiwake and a Russian ship.

I have dove both of these wrecks recently and like someone else mentioned, they are "staged wrecks" I guess you would call them. There are several places along the wrecks that you can easily swim in and out of and swim thru the wreck from one side and out the other and it's not much more than a swim-thru along a coral reef. For this type of situation, you really don't need to take the wreck diving course. If you come across any place along the wreck that you don't feel comfortable going in to, just don't. A little common sense will carry you far in diving.

 

[HowardE]

Forget the padi course and get a 'real' certification from a tech agency. You will learn far more and have useful skills at the end of it.

Sent via teletype

It depends who your instructor is

The PADI course isn't inherently not a "real" certification... like any scuba training you take, it's

a) what you make of it
2) who teaches it to you

 

[diversteve]

The Kittiwake was fully prepped for diving before they sunk it. The hatches, windows, most entanglements were removed.

While the Kittiwake has been opened up with large access holes both vertically and horizontally,

The top is also 15' below the surface - they run daily snorkel trips there as well. It's 64' to the sand there as well. Divemasters were given a pre-sinking tour of the prepped wreck. Even AOW divers are required to be escorted. If you're OW, you're limited to the 1st three decks, AOW can go into all five of them but not the restricted areas unless you have a wreck cert.

The Official Website for the Kittiwake Shipwreck - Home - check Safety for details. Also a lot of the images show how open it is now.

I've been thru longer overhead obstructed coral swim-thru's off the north wall - like Big Tunnel nearby.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

It depends who your instructor is

The PADI course isn't inherently not a "real" certification... like any scuba training you take, it's

a) what you make of it
2) who teaches it to you

That may be true to an extent, but you're not going to show a PADI 'Wreck Diver' card to the charter captain and be approved to do a real wreck penetration dive. You would need a tech-level card.