Know of Unique Specialty Courses?

[tcbc8222]

I have decided that the next two years are going to be "Unique Diving" for me. I am doing some specialty work to complete the Master Diver requirements and started to think about doing "Unique" Specialties instead of the standard norm. I am doing those too but I wanted something different. So.... I just sent off some e-mails today to do the Great White Specialty in S.A. next June, I am doing the Whale Shark specialty in December at the Atlanta Aquarium, I am planning a Dry Suit trip in Dec. at Lake Jocassee in SC.(I hope to do some other things there too).

So the question is.... What are some of the Specialty courses out there that are truly unique and are fun doing?

 

[HiQPen]

PADI has a Manta Ray Awareness specialty.

 

[tcbc8222]

Yeah... they have that at the Atl aquarium too. I plan to dive the Maldives next year too and hopefully will dive with the Mantas then.... It just won't be a specialty I guess? Is any dive shops in the Maldives doing a Manta Specialty? I have some friends going next week and I will ask them when they get back.

 

[scubamarketing]

Jack's Diving Locker in Kona, HI has a manta specialty that is put on by the guy who started the Manta Pacific Research Foundation, it's a really great class.

 

[Hawkwood]

Of course "unique" depends on your frame of reference. Ice Diver might be "unique" among divers in the UAE.

 

[Kilili]

Not really a specialty, but Cave Diver [also Cavern] is informative & fun.

There is Self-Reliant [Solo] Diver, Dive Propulsion Vehicle Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver, Kayak Diver, Hard Hat Diver, National Geographic Diver, Ice Diver, Altitude Diver, Sidemount Diver, Reef Safari Guide Diver, Lionfish Hunter, Kelp Diver, Underwater Sign Language, River Diver, Underwater Pumpkin Carving Specialist, Underwater Archeologist.

You may or may not like Golf Ball Diver, Quarry Diver, Cleanup Diver.

PADI Instructor can submit a course outline for just about anything. If approved, it can be taught.

Some more examples:
Underwater model
Aquanaut
Underwater Pilot
Helicopter Diver
Lava Tube Diver
Loch Diver
Submarine Diver
Available Light Underwater Photo
Zen Diver
Backpack propulsion
Spacesuit Diver
Sinkhole Diver
Future Perfect Diver
Magnetometer Diver
Millennium Diver
Railroad Yard Diver
Sand Pit Diving
Underwater Game Player
Underwater Hockey
Underwater Wedding
Y2K Scuba Historian
Underwater Basket Weaving
Edible Marine Life Diver
Gourmet Diver
Seafood Gourmet Cook

All the specialties I've listed above are real. Contrary to belief, there is no Underwater Rock Identification Certification [yet].

There are more, of course, but this would be a good start.

 

[MikeBell]

AquaTrek's Extreme Shark Diver is one I am planning to take next May. The Great White one sounds pretty neat, do you happen to have a link for it? I'm also pretty interesting in racking up some different specialties - not so much to put towards my eventual DM but more because I find them neat! I imagine that you might consider the altitude dives an unique specialty - for us it's just a typical dive in Alberta!

I'll be in India this fall/winter and I'm hoping for a chance to go to the Maldives - though, with the multi entry tourist visa issues, I might not be able to get there and back to India without a lot of headaches.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I would add to the list the diver propulsion vehicle specialty. Now at the risk of being boring, can I suggest you sprinkle in some that are not as "sexy" but that actually make you a better diver. Those are the peak performance specialty course and the course everyone should in my opinion be required to take, navigation.
DivemasterDennis scubasnobs.com

 

[MikeBell]

Now at the risk of being boring, can I suggest you sprinkle in some that are not as "sexy" but that actually make you a better diver. Those are the peak performance specialty course

I don't know, Peak performance is pretty sexy! A diver with a great deal of lung control always gets me going...!

 

[randytay]

Try the PADI DIR Diver Specialty