DevonDiver
N/A
Ok..beating of chest aside... let's consider what a "real" wreck penetration dive is, and how it relates to certification levels. (My article, posted above, spells this out).
1) There is no definition of a "real" wreck penetration. Instead, wreck diving is typically classified into 3 distinct levels:
- Non-penetration diving (i.e. swimming over the wreck)
- Limited penetration diving, within the "light zone", no restrictions
- Full penetration diving, beyond the "light zone", through restrictions
One might compare the differentiation between 'limited' and 'full' wreck penetration as being virtually identical to the classification of cavern (limited) and cave (full) diving.
2) The PADI Wreck Diver course qualifies divers to:
- "Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty certification. Certification means you’re qualified to: Make limited penetration dives into suitable wrecks, staying within the natural light zone and not penetrating more than 40 linear metres/130 linear feet from the surface."
Reference: PADI Wreck Diver Specialty Course Instructor Outline, Rev (5/05) Version 1.06
The fact that some/many/most (*delete as appropriate) wreck diving courses absolutely fail to provide any basis of sound (limited) penetration skills is beyond doubt. PADI is not the only agency guilty of that. I don't know of any major variances between the syllabus or curriculum of recreational wreck diving courses between different agencies. There certainly aren't any in the 4 agencies I am qualified to teach through.
As others have mentioned, and as I clearly laid out in my article, the choice of instructor, location and course structure are critical factors in ensuring a quality course that achieves student competency for limited penetration diving.
It is arguable that no diver needs specific training for non-penetration wreck dives. There are limited hazards; and most of those can be mitigated simply through the diligent application of open-water diving skills - good buoyancy, awareness, buddy system and applying the principle not to make physical contact with the dive environment.
IMHO, too many recreational wreck instructors provide wreck courses suitable only for non-penetration wreck diving. My opinion is that this exists because the instructor themselves has little/no experience of wreck penetration and has qualified to teach the subject without evidence of higher level specialist qualification or proof of expertise in the field. Unlike 'cavern diving', the wreck instructor need not be qualified to a higher level of training. That, in itself, is a huge discrepancy between two diving courses in overhead environments that pose virtually identical risks and require virtually identical skill sets.
3) The conduct of FULL penetration wreck diving, as with cave diving, is strictly within the realms of technical diving levels. Advanced/Technical wreck courses exist to train for this requirement also. Technical wreck might well be considered an 'apex' level training course; as it demands the highest standard of diver competency - at a technical level.
