Wreck Courses

[bradells]

I've been mulling over how to approach this next bit of education in my diving.

I'd like to take a/some wreck diving class(es)

The 'local' wrecks are roughly 110-150' to the sand (70-100' to top decks). Still recreational depths, and for most purposes, still Nitrox territory.

I already have PADI AOW and GUE-F

Local offerings are GUE/PADI/SDI/TDI

GUE only has Cave for any overhead training, which would be overkill and a tangent in a wreck (not to mention, not a local course)

PADI has their course, but I can't quite figure out from their descriptions what it is, or entails.

SDI has a wreck course as well, but much like PADI, it doesn't say much about what it is either, aside from 2 or 3 dives if it's non-penetrating or 'swim thrus'

The TDI advanced wreck builds on the SDI course, and lays out what it entails.

So, do the SDI course, then take the TDI course?
Any other paths in the BC/PNW arena?


BRad

 

[lowviz]

Check out the boats going to your intended wrecks. Call up the captains and ask who the instructors are that frequent the boat and produce "solid" student wreck divers.

Ask your targeted instructor what agency he uses.

Oops. Just noticed, BC/PNW. -sorry, never mind. Ignore my eastern advice...

 

[FishLovingStudent]

As far as I know, PADI's Wreck course is the "swim around the outside don't go in" ones (which I quite frankly don't see why it exists).

Ocean Quest has a DSAT wreck penetration course. Not sure if there are any others in the area that offer other agencies wreck penetration.

 

[chrisch]

As far as I know, PADI's Wreck course is the "swim around the outside don't go in" ones (which I quite frankly don't see why it exists).

Ocean Quest has a DSAT wreck penetration course. Not sure if there are any others in the area that offer other agencies wreck penetration.

That's my view as well. If you want to go in a wreck you need to do an overhead environment course and kit up to do that (doubles, long hose etc.) The recreational level courses are good if you want to work out which bit of the ship you are swimming over or similar.

 

[scoobydrew]

The PADI course does have penetration but it is fairly limited and done with a line. The first dive will be surveying and mapping, looking for possible entrance & exit points as well as points of interest and hazards and the course works up to the final dive which involves tying off and taking a line in.

Like most courses it can be really good or an expensive way to go about doing a few dives.

I agree with Lowviz, don't necessarily look for the agency, try to track down a good instructor and talk to him about how he runs his course then see if you feel like signing up

 

[DevonDiver]

I wrote an article today that has some relevance to the OP:

Ten Wreck Diving Tips For Safer Penetration Dives

Also, this older article that I wrote, specifically aimed at those weighing up potential wreck diving training:

The Anatomy of an Effective Wreck Diving Course


The PADI Wreck Diver specialty course is not, IMHO, an overhead environment/penetration course. That said, get the right instructor (expertise/specialism/qualified at higher levels than they teach) and they'll certainly supplement the (very) bares bones of the course with some very legitimate skills and drills. But then, the course standards only allocate the final dive to conduct actual penetration.

I offer the ANDI L2 Wreck Diver course as my main (recreational-level) wreck course now. Prerequisites are AOW and Nitrox. It's all focused on penetration skills (light zone) and is much more akin to Cavern level training. Drills include; black mask, lost line, lost buddy etc. Divers must carry adequate redundant gas. It's a very satisfying course to teach...

 

[macado]

A lot of people I dive with in New England don't really have any "wreck" training but have taken many other courses (cavern, intro to cave, full cave, advanced nitrox, deco procedures) and applied a lot of those skills to wreck diving. The path I see most often is Advanced Nitrox / Deco Procedures (or equivalent from other agencies PADI Tech or GUE Tech) followed by some cavern/cave training.

The PADI Wreck Diver course can be good depending on the instructor and what they want to include but I feel the basic course itself can be limiting especially if you're already at GUE-F. I usually try to teach local wreck procedures and some line work (ties off, how to use a reel, using strobes, etc).

I'd recommend Cavern Diver / Intro to Cave even though you're mainly looking to do wrecks. The procedures I learned these classes I have applied to most wreck diving situation. For the basic line work, cave training is great.

I haven't taken or seen TDI Advanced Wreck taught but it would seem this would be a good course to take. The requirements for TDI Advanced Wreck are Certified SDI Wreck Diver, TDI Cavern or equivalent. So any cavern or basic wreck course should fix the prerequisite for this course.

Did you take your GUE-F in Doubles?

 

[bradells]

I did my Fundies in a single tank, but have dove nothing but my doubles since the course. Just looking to line up a dive for the upgrade.

Cavern/Cave is out, as I don't have the time or funds to head south for the 1+ weeks.

The goal with wreck would be penetration, not just a 'hey look through the opening!', so the SDI/TDI looks like the route to go.

Most charters I've come across let us do our thing after mentioning GUE, even as a single walk on ... (of course, all dives within our certification .... They wouldn't let me do a T1 dive unless I had my T1).

I'll look at the ANDI and other courses as well.


BRad

 

[TMHeimer]

The PADI one I took was OK, but as stated you really don't need it to swim around a wreck (and we did "penetrate"). You can also just read about the dangers being around a wreck may pose. If I ever intend to penetrate I would take much more training.

 

[Akimbo]

A lot of posts in this thread might be useful: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/wreck-diving/485747-wreck-penetration.html