Unusual scuba certifications

[Akimbo]

… That and the SSI Mine Diver speciality got me thinking…

OMG, I hope you are talking about the mineral extraction industry rather than EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal)!

 

[knfmn]

OMG, I hope you are talking about the mineral extraction industry rather than EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal)!

Now, THAT would be an exciting class!

Kristopher

 

[Akimbo]

Now, THAT would be an exciting class!

Kristopher

I hear the Navy has a number of openings -- and they pay you to attend class!

 

[fire_diver]

OMG, I hope you are talking about the mineral extraction industry rather than EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal)!

I think that would be a pass / fail type of class :nuke:

 

[knfmn]

I hear the Navy has a number of openings — and they pay you to attend class!

Pretty sure they've got lots of openings because of the C students!

Kristopher

 

[CamG]

Greetings fellow diver and I first wish to put a disclaimer on the c-card that I saw.
NO ONE SHOULD ATEMPT TO EARN THIS CERTIFICATION OR ASK ANY DIVE PROFESSIONAL FOR IT!

While cave diving in north Florida I saw a Drunk Diver Specialty C-card!
The picture was right on and was a full fledged c-card prank but it passed.
It was hilarious and very realistic.
I will not comment on the who's or the where's only that it was made known to be in jest!
I will not say what agency or LDS other than it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
The look on the persons face was priceless yet concerned!

Not to mock or take away from any other real cards out there!

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

 

[philmayer]

I'd love an underwater basket weaving cert.

Kristopher

Rutgers offered one in 2009.

Fans of UBW have a Facebook page: EXTREME UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING!!! | Facebook

 

[Guba]

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

Well, it's not as bad a deal as it sounds. The volunteer work isn't totally "slave" stuff. We groom non-indigenous plants from the main channel, clear algae off the archaelogical site, and "fan" debris out of the springs (they build up dark gunk in the sand). We always make some time to simply look around, take pictures and video, and survey the wildlife.

Plus, they provide the air on all volunteer dives. Some of my friends say the same thing..."You mean you have to PAY to volunteer?" Put it this way...going to the local dive park costs $20 a day, three tanks of air at a minimum of $8 a tank--one has spent a minimum of about $88 for a weekend of diving in a quarry where the visibility is FAR FAR from the 75-100 foot vis at Aquarena. At that rate, a volunteer for the Center pays for their certification in less than three weekend visits, and in much more pleasant water (the temp is 72 degrees year round). For me, it's a DEAL!

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Here's a pretty decent list: PADI Instructor News: Distinctive Specialties

I have the PADI Aquanaut card! Actually, it's a bit of a misnomer to call it a "specialty" because it really isn't a certification card, but rather a "recognition" card. While it doesn't appear on the card there is a disclaimer that comes in the letter stating that it IS NOT a certification card. The Aquanaut "C-card" is given in recognition of a 24+ hour mission in an underwater habitat.

Things I did to earn it:

1) Ventured into Jules Undersea Lodge (La Chalupa) with my girlfriend who is also an instructor.
2) Ate shrimp cocktail and watched Pirates of the Caribbean.
3) Dove about an hour.
4) Handled the smell of burnt popcorn in an underwater habitat (my girlfriend was silly enough to select "Popcorn" on the microwave oven when attempting to pop popcorn).
5) Ate crackers and watched Pirates of the Caribbean II in my favorite jeans.
6) Listened to my girlfriend try to convince the person who dialed the wrong number that Elton Gonzales wasn't there and that she was speaking to two divers 20.5 feet underwater in a habitat.
7) Ate steak and chatted with our mission director as he prepared dinner.
8) Watched Hello Down There while my girlfriend napped.
9) Did a awesome night dive - lobsters galore, lots of phosphorescence, etc.
10) Visited Marine Lab
11) Drank hot chocolate and watched Pirates of the Caribbean III.
12) Went to bed ...
13) Woke up and made cereal
14) Dove an hour
15) Had pizza delivered from Tower of Pizza
16) Ate lunch
17) Left habitat 25 hours later and 2lbs. heavier!

Now, the PADI Underwater Habitat Specialist course we did 2 years ago during a 17+ hour mission, well that was a real certification. Actually the class was interesting and we learned a lot about saturation, maintenance, construction, diving procedures, and how to operate the facilities and communication systems: marine radio, intercom, shipboard phone, telephone (then calling was a PITA, now it's exactly like a hotel phone with free local calls), what to do in an emergency, fire, etc.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I once dove with a Norwegian fellow with a Fjord Diver card. He explained that diving in those areas is tricky and demanding due to extreme currents and tides in deep cold water and unpredictable visability.

Sounds just like our local conditions. I wonder if PADI has a Puget Sound Diver specialty ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)