Wreck Speciality

[FafferUK]

Hi

I am a new diver (AOW, 20 dives) and am thinking of taking the PADI wreck speciality course. My main question is, is the the course neccessary. Do I actually need to have the qualification to be able to penetrate wrecks or could I learn just as much from fellow divers.

Wreck diving is one of the areas I think I am going to be most passionate about in my future diving life, so if I have to take it then no problem. I just dont want to spend the 500 bucks if it isn't neccessary.

Thanks

Dan

PS. The wreck im looking at doing the course on is the HMAS Brisbane, so any reviews of that would be sweet aswell!

 

[300bar]

Ok you asked about wreck penetration.
I'm a PADI instuctor, for real penetraition of wrecks and caves,PADI is IMO not the way to go.
1st you need much more dives,before thinking about wreck diving.
But the way you (IMO) see wreckdiving,you need a technical training.

Just get 100 dives under your belt,get the skills up to "perfect"and then do some serious tech.training.
Take a look at some of the GUE training.

btw.IMO you have to spend a bit more than $500. if you want to go that way.


Hope it helps a bit.

 

[String]

A lot depends on what you're doing. The PADI wreck spec isnt terribly detailed but for most occasional divers its enough.

Things start getting complex if you're thinking of penetrating wrecks. In that case you need to start diving fully redundant gas sources (twinsets), line laying skills, gas planning and so on. These factors get even more complex fast if the wreck is deep and likely to incur deco.
So for anything like that i'd recommend one of the TDI or other wreck courses along with the advanced nitrox/deco procedures stuff (or iantd etc equivalents).

If all you want to go is get to a wreck and look at the outside of it and appreciate a bit more of what you're seeing the PADI one is fine. For everything else you need to start investing in more complicated kit and training.
(im also a padi instructor and can teach wreck)

EDIT:- Just read up on HMAS Brisbane. This would appear to be an artificial reef (ie plastic fake-wreck) deliberately sunk shallow (27m) for divers along with holes cut everywhere for exits and dangerous parts sealed up or removed. Going by that assuming you aren't thinking of penetration at all (in which case you need a twinset and so on) the padi course may well do. However i'd question whether you need ANY course just to see that wreck from the outside. Just save the money and go diving.

 

[Jimmer]

Hi

I am a new diver (AOW, 20 dives) and am thinking of taking the PADI wreck speciality course. My main question is, is the the course neccessary. Do I actually need to have the qualification to be able to penetrate wrecks or could I learn just as much from fellow divers.

Wreck diving is one of the areas I think I am going to be most passionate about in my future diving life, so if I have to take it then no problem. I just dont want to spend the 500 bucks if it isn't neccessary.

Thanks

Dan

PS. The wreck im looking at doing the course on is the HMAS Brisbane, so any reviews of that would be sweet aswell!

PADI Wreck doesn't teach penetration whatsoever. If you are serious about wreck penetration in your diving future, you'd better be prepared to get over the not spending $500 thing, cuz that wont even buy the light you'll need for true wreck pen., let alone the rest of the gear and training.

 

[String]

PADI Wreck doesn't teach penetration whatsoever.

It does to an extent. Dive 3 (and presentation 3) teaches it but to a limited extent. In other words you must remain in the light zone (similar to cavern zone) but it does teach basic line laying, finning techniques and basic equipment (it wants a minimum pony bottle and 2 torches). However its very limited in scope (lost line drill -- swim towards the light etc) and its only 1 dive.

 

[RJP]

PADI Wreck doesn't teach penetration whatsoever.

That's not exactly true.

...you better get over the not spending $500 thing, cuz that wont even buy the light you'll need for true wreck penetration.

...but that is.

 

[mwilding]

PADI Wreck Diver is not a serious course about wreck penetration. It's about diving on wrecks and penetrating within the light zone only.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Find a SDI/TDI shop. You can start with the SDI Wreck course. When you get more experienced then you can then take the TDI Advanced Wreck course and/or the TDI Cavern course.

 

[k ellis]

Honestly I think if you are penetrating the wreck then the above statements are all true, But if you are like me and love to just marvel from the outside then no you dont need the specialty

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

Hi, I am also a new diver (AOW, 52 dives) so take what I say with a bushel of road salt.

I am a new diver (AOW, 20 dives) and am thinking of taking the PADI wreck speciality course. My main question is, is the the course neccessary. Do I actually need to have the qualification to be able to penetrate wrecks or could I learn just as much from fellow divers.

Please imagine I am saying this gently and with concern for your well-being: is this the attitude that you want to take toward an activity that is known to kill people? Don't get me wrong, PADI Wreck may be a complete waste of time and money, but I would encourage you to approach your training with more of a "I will do whatever it takes to learn what I need to learn to be a save wreck diver. Is PADI Wreck a good way to get started" type of question...

Wreck diving is one of the areas I think I am going to be most passionate about in my future diving life, so if I have to take it then no problem. I just dont want to spend the 500 bucks if it isn't neccessary.

Many people have said you need to spend a lot more than $500, but your question might mean you don't want to spend $500 more than necessary, which is perfectly fine. $500 could be the difference in price between a used but ok canister light and a brand new and excellent light. Or the difference between H-Valve and Doubles.

So it's perfectly ok with me to scrutinize every dollar. That being said, you can always rent gear but knowledge is forever. So I suggest you do this:

• Do a lot of recreational wreck diving without penetration.
• Meet as many serious wreck divers as you can.
• After you've dived 20 wrecks recreationally and have met a dozen or so wreck divers on charters, you will probably have the answer to the question "what training should I take."

In the mean time, why not read each and every post on wreck diving here on ScubaBoard?