What certifications would you say are a "must have"?

[807pailer]

I have just completed my first few dives with just my open water and have been looking into continuing my dive education. Which certifications do you think really open up what experiences you can have while diving? Of those which do you think would be the best to get as a new diver? I personally have been considering either drysuit certification or night diving.

 

[steinbil]

I think GUE Fundamentals is the most transformative class in the industry, and that the skills you are taught there are what really makes any type of diving more enjoyable and comfortable. And I think it's perfect for a new diver, the sooner the better.

/my 2 cents

 

[newman_diver]

It depends on the path you want to take with diving. Are you looking to go down the professional path, technical, cave, wreck, etc. courses like GUE fundamentals or Intro to Tech can be good baseline courses for skills. Finding an instructor that can provide you quality training and mentorship is ideal

 

[wlecyt40]

I used to ask myself the same question when I was first certified in 1985 (yes, I am that OLD!) but I had stepped away in '89 for personal reasons (which is one of the reasons I'm divorced from the "personal reason.") When I recerted in 2019, I decided I was going to go as far as my body would allow. This is part of the reason I am a DM and AI. I am editing because I didn't read the entire post.

Wreck diver is great cert if you plan on diving wrecks. Probably should add deep diver as well as nitrox. But if you're going to do that, Advanced Open Water as well. But I agree with newman_diver. It all depends on which path you are looking at. Profession? Tech? Cave? Talk to your dive shop and the instructors and get information. A good dive shop will try to sell you a cert but will ask the questions that will put you in the right frame of mind and along the path that you want.

 

[NudiBoop]

AOW, rescue and Nitrox

Agreed! Rescue will pre-require FirstAid/CPR cert and Oxygen Admin cert and is probably the hardest you'll work for a scuba cert, but will have the most impact on your diving safety and your ability to be a good buddy. After that, the next certs depend on your interest and where that takes you...

 

[scrane]

AOW and Nitrox will open many doors.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I have just completed my first few dives with just my open water and have been looking into continuing my dive education. Which certifications do you think really open up what experiences you can have while diving? Of those which do you think would be the best to get as a new diver? I personally have been considering either drysuit certification or night diving.

Ive been diving since January 1986. Warm water do no drysuit diving for me.

No one needs a certification for night diving. ATM I am just using my Padi Rescue and Nitrox for dives.
I do not do wreck or cave diving but I do some deco dives from time to time. I have never been interested in a DM or instructor course. I have never been refused a dive. I have BSAC Sports diver as well.

TDI ANDP when you progress and want to have some good training.

I would say this, training and getting a cert is one thing, experience is another. Certs cannot train you about down currents or up currents or going negative off a boat in 3m swells. Dive as much as possible in varying conditions.

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Nitrox, rescue, first aid, drysuit.
Fundamentals for a well-rounded course.

Whatever other card you need to get on the boat (AOW). In the end, most scuba certifications are made up (unless there is an ISO) and what you really pay for is good training from a good instructor to learn new skills.

 

[wlecyt40]

Assuming wlecyt40 meant AOW, then agreed. Rescue will pre-require FirstAid/CPR cert and Oxygen Admin cert and is probably the hardest you'll work for a scuba cert, but will have the most impact on your diving safety and your ability to be a good buddy. After that, the next certs depend on your interest and where that takes you...

I did and edited my post.

 

[lairdb]

I like James from Miami Technical Divers’s take on this.