Diving specialties

[fjpatrum]

I selected EAN, Navigation, PPB, Stress/Rescue, and Dry suit. Of those, I'd pick EAN, Nav, and Stress/Rescue first.

I didn't bother taking a dry suit course (and if you're a warm water/vacation diver you probably won't ever need it anyway) and just learned from mentors. PPB I think is really helpful but I find I do well enough (I think) with mentors and some video feedback of myself diving. EAN just makes sense if you think you're ever going to do live aboard diving or something deeper than 60 feet/18m.

 

[maniago]

Out of curiosity what would you all think would make a good first specialty. I know there are a few that would only be relevant/ useful in certain parts of the world.

Ok so I get that the OP said "specialty", but I read it as "what should I do after OW"? The OPs 'about me' page list him as OW only.

If this is correct, then hands down, AOW should be next before any true specialty - you get a lot in AOW that you can then build specialties on. And you might not even need or want the extra info that the in-depth specialties do provide. Just food for thought.

Otherwise, I agree with nitrox.

 

[TomZ]

My first Specialty (PADI) was Nitrox. I voted for PPB, which I've never taken, lol. If properly taught, it shouldn't be necessary, however...
I got the most out of Rescue, but I think you should have a good number of dives as a prerequisite.
A number of the other choices are dependent on the type of diving you do.

 

[fjpatrum]

Ok so I get that the OP said "specialty", but I read it as "what should I do after OW"? The OPs 'about me' page list him as OW only.

If this is correct, then hands down, AOW should be next before any true specialty - you get a lot in AOW that you can then build specialties on. And you might not even need or want the extra info that the in-depth specialties do provide. Just food for thought.

Otherwise, I agree with nitrox.

See, I read it as "specialties" to take as part of AOW. I wonder which it actually is. The only one of those I would pay for outside of AOW would be EAN (which I did and haven't done AOW) and an actual Rescue course. Everything else I wouldn't bother paying for as a unique specialty, personally.

 

[TMHeimer]

Ok so I get that the OP said "specialty", but I read it as "what should I do after OW"? The OPs 'about me' page list him as OW only.

If this is correct, then hands down, AOW should be next before any true specialty - you get a lot in AOW that you can then build specialties on. And you might not even need or want the extra info that the in-depth specialties do provide. Just food for thought.

Otherwise, I agree with nitrox.

Agree that AOW should happen before any specialty. Agree with many who say Rescue should go ASAP, and even before completing AOW (as you only need Adventure Diver to do Rescue). Exactly how many dives you should have done before any of this is a SB debate. As you & I point out, neither is an "official" PADI specialty.

 

[Bob DBF]

Agree that AOW should happen before any specialty. Agree with many who say Rescue should go ASAP, and even before completing AOW (as you only need Adventure Diver to do Rescue). Exactly how many dives you should have done before any of this is a SB debate. As you & I point out, neither is an "official" PADI specialty.

Stress and Rescue is SSI and I don't believe there are any prerequisites other than OW, CPR, and First Aid.
I believe that NAUI Rescue prerequisites are OW, CPR, and First Aid as well.
I couldn't tell you if they consider it a specialty as such, but I don't really see it as much different than any other specialty, except more usefull and necessary .

I took the Sonoma County Dive Rescue Workshop which certified Rescue divers with OW back in '90. I don't know if it was a direct cause but it stopped after the participating dive shops stopped certifying for the Workshop and only certified Rescue with inhouse programs. In 2010 I did Rescue Diver again with PADI.



Bob
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That's my point, people, by and large, are not taught that diving can be deadly, they are taught how safe it is, and they are not equipped with the skills, taught and trained to the level required to be useful in an emergency.

 

[Gilchristz]

I did base everything off of SSI as thats who I was certified with. Also with SSI there is no AOW specific class instead you have to take 4 qualifying specialties and have the required number of dives.

 

[DCBC]

I suppose it depends upon how often and where you dive. If you dive cold water (40 degrees or less) you might want to understand a dry suit even if you're going to 20 FSW. Secondly, it depends upon how comprehensive your OW course was (they are often different in content and difficulty). Solid rescue skills are a requirement imo; even for an OW diver. Needless to say buoyancy skills are essential, especially when many new divers don't have them. Get the skills you need by taking a comprehensive program or other training to get your skill set to an OW diver that was certified in the 80's. Some Divers may require to learn to swim...

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Part of the problem with the list is where do you start?
There are so many things that should be standard with any open water program that aren't.
I was lucky that I was a freediver before I got certified so I had a lot of ocean skills and already knew what to expect.
But I feel for brand new divers that have never done any diving of any kind that go through open water and only get a very abreviated introduction to diving. There's a clear gap between what OW gives them and what they should have in addition.
All these so called "specialties" should really be part of a basic class before they should be going out in the big wild ocean. It's kind of like teaching someone to drive a car but their basic drivers license is only good to 25 miles per hour, they can only use first gear, they can't drive at night or in the rain. There are more specialties for that like night driver, rain driver, Manual transmission specialist (where you get to actually shift gears), and high speed driver (good to 65 MPH or top speed limit), And oh yeah I forgot "freeway driving specialty". Oh BTW, each additional driving class is $200, plus the book.

What a ripoff, I'm surprised any of them even continue.
Pay premium dollar for a basic dive class, then you are told you need to buy more to be safe and a better diver.

 

[rx7diver]

Out of curiosity what would you all think would make a good first specialty.

I chose "Other." IMHO, the DAN Diver Emergency Medical Provider course, a 15 hour comprehensive first aid course which covers CPR, oxygen administration, and more, would be a perfect "first specialty." (If you're already CPR certified, for example, you can take only the parts of this DEMP course that you're not trained in.)

A perfect "second specialty" imho would be a good stress & rescue course.

These two specialties are fundamental—essential—imho.

Get experience diving (within the limits covered by your first open water course) while you complete these first and second specialty courses.

Safe Diving,

rx7diver