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

[rhwestfall]

It is hard for me to say when you should take the classes. I had a really comprehensive OW course, and dove without charters or shops with just that certification, including deep and night dives in the Great Lakes. It was when I wanted to go out on charters (rather than beating up my own boat) that I suddenly had to have a card... Got that one (AOW), and then dove a whole bunch more in lots of places. When I ran out of buddies (some moved, some quit diving) I turned to classes to meet people....

Look at the time gap in my certs:

Scuba Diver - Open Water: YMCA - May 1988
Advanced Open Water: PDIC - August, 1996
EANx Diver: NAUI - January, 2012
Scuba Rescue Diver: NAUI - June, 2012
Master Scuba Diver: NAUI - September 2013

a bunch more after that, check my bio if you are curious...

I had a lot of dives when I took those classes...

Rescue became important to me when my daughter became active with diving and I had both my wife and my daughter to deal with. Had to make sure I had my "A Game".

 

[TMHeimer]

Rescue is a great course once you've gotten dialed in. I don't recommend it for new divers. Too many moving parts and responsibilities under water during it. It also doesn't open up anything dive related which the OP asked for.

Right, my bad, it doesn't open you up to new experiences. But I think it is something a new diver should do after getting reasonably dialed in. Probably why PADI removed the 20 logged dives requirement many years ago.

 

[Sure Squintsalot]

I'd get solo certifications ASAP. Once you're comfortable diving alone, it'll open up worlds of freedom to dive where and when you want.....up there in the Great White North.

 

[rhwestfall]

I'd get solo certifications ASAP. Once you're comfortable diving alone, it'll open up worlds of freedom to dive where and when you want.....up there in the Great White North.

A "true solo class" is a valuable education, even if you never actually dive alone...

 

[Centrals]

#11 has given the answer. AOW + Nitrox and that should adequate for recreational diver. But there are plenty to learn in scuba diving. It is up to the individual to further his/her knowledge if desired.

BTW, AOW is Advanced Open Water and has nothing to do with Advanced Diving which to me is Technical diving.

 

[onepointfivethumbs]

Obviously fish identification, business of diving, PADI mermaid, and gotta have the boat and DSMB certifications!

I haven't taken Fundies/Essentials yet and I'm holding off until I have some time in a drysuit and doubles; I understand the argument that it's such a transformative class that even a 'Rec Pass' or a provisional pass is going to teach you more than the traditional EANx, AOW, Rescue, Drysuit, ITT/AN/DP path, but I'd like to see what DIR is contrasting itself against and have the cards versus having to fly somewhere to prove myself to a busy instructor and not be able to take advantage of any of their training in the meantime. It may cost a little more in the long run but small, iterative growth might be more sustainable than "all or nothing".

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It obviously starts with OW.
After that do AOW so you can get on boats.
After that:
Nitrox
Rescue
PBB, if you can find an instructor that can teach true perfect buoyancy and perfect weighting, not advanced overweighted elevator diver.
That's a good start.
Beyond that find good buddies that you can learn from. Most learning in scuba comes from just doing it and picking up good pro tips from good mentors.

 

[tursiops]

Obviously fish identification

I agree, but not with your sarcasm. If you are interested in fish, it is a very interesting and useful course.
If you are not interested in fish, then why denigrate it for others?

 

[NothingClever]

@807pailer

I wouldn't focus on certifications as much as I would on developing proficiency in the five fundamentals:

- Buoyancy Control
- Trim
- Breathing
- Propulsion
- Awareness (self, team, crew, surface conditions, subsurface conditions, sealife, graduated levels of medical care and evac timelines)

I wouldn't make up your mind to invest a bunch of time, money and attention in an organization that has the word "Instructor" in their brand name. Their focus is on cranking out instructors because that's how they make their profit. Not always but many times that focus will squelch high quality training.

Don't be fooled because somebody has an "Instructor" badge on their screen name and a high post count. That's exactly ZERO proof they know what they're doing underwater. It pains me to write that but that's my appraisal of the overall state of play with dive instruction.

Set your sights on being a great diver, find some really proficient divers to mentor you and the courses will follow. As you grow, find new divers that can inspire and train you to get to the next level.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I never took a course that did not bring me deeper or further. This means that AOW is a good choice to not have discussions if you go to 30m depth, you can have a nightdive in it and rest is optional.
Then maybe deepdiver to 40m.
And nitrox. AOW and nitrox are the first things I would do.

Courses and training can be good. What is better is experience. Also the OW cert allows divers to dive to the recreational depth limits of 40m. This is why dive insurance company DAN the basic insurance for an OW cert diver is covered to 40m Not saying a new diver with no experience should suddenly be diving at 40m depth. Diving with experienced divers can also be useful.