Unusual scuba certifications

[ScubaSteve]

IANTD have Underwater Theatrical Performer and Advanced Sidemount (Sump Diver) and No Mount diver???

I knew I missed a certification when I performed

 

[fire_diver]

To be fair, you can do the same with NAUI ... and probably at least some of the other agencies as well. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, yanno ... local environments are going to have some influence on the types of specialties people might want to take, and it's in both the agency's and the diver's best interest to allow some means to "tailor" a specialty class to what the environment has to offer ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I hadn't heard of it from other agencies, but it wouldn't suprise me.

tailoring a class to local conditions is a great idea, but there are some STUPID "certifications" being created that do nothing to help the diving community.

 

[knfmn]

As far as "unusual" certifications go, this may or not qualify. It's not with any major diving agency as far as I know, but it does require training and testing. It's located at Aquarena Center, in San Marcos, Texas.

Diving for Science : Aquarena Center : Texas State University

The entire facility is built around Spring Lake, which is fed by multiple springs producing millions of gallons of crystal clear water a day. There are five endangered/protected species there, so near-perfect buoyancy is crucial, as is recognition of the species to be protected. There is also a protected archaelogical site within the lake. In fact, there is no true "recreational" diving there. ALL divers must go through the local certification program and diving is only allowed for those willing to volunteer their time to help maintain the facility. Make no mistake, however...diving there is a blast regardless of what you are doing to help out.

It better be a blast if I'm going to pay $230 for the priveledge of volunteering!

Seriously, it looks like a good time, and that's the kind of cert stuff I had in mind when I started the thread.

Kristopher

 

[The Chairman]

My favorite card to show is my Shallow Water Diver Instructor Card from SDI. I have also heard of a Lion Fish Tamer Cert.

 

[kjvander]

Heck....get a card printing machine and you can make up any cert ya want to.

 

[knfmn]

I have also heard of a Lion Fish Tamer Cert.

I would dearly, DEARLY love to see that card and participate in the class...lolol.

Kristopher

 

[Downing]

I plan on getting my PADI Whale Shark cert this summer while spending two weeks in Belize with Splash Dive Center chasing whale sharks.

Per the Splash website:

This specialty from PADI’s Project Aware is actually a non-diving specialty so it is open to anyone of any age, whether a diver or not. However for certified scuba divers we can include an optional Whale shark trip to Gladden Spit at the right time of year, to supplement this course, so what we taught you in the class presentation, you can identify on one of our scuba diving or snorkeling trips to see the Whale sharks at Gladden Spit, near Placencia Belize.

I wonder if PADI puts a picture of a Whale Shark on the card. Would seem appropriate.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

How about underwater Feng Shui ... for those who want to participate in the building of artificial reefs ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[JTH2711]

I guess that's the Jump, dive, and wail

 

[akdeepdiver]

The PADI Tec Cave certification is very similar to the NSS CDS full cave certification, and essentially takes a couple weeks of training to complete.

Other unusual PADI courses:

- PADI California Lobster Hunter
- PADI Polynesian Shark Diver

I am going to submit a complaint to PADI over the second one. I believe limiting this specialty to only Polynesians is racist and full of prejudice!