Certification Levels

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I was just curious, for a PADI diver, what are the different classifications of certification and what kinds do you need? Like is there actually a certification to go night diving and wreck diving? What else is there that you need the certifications for?
 
With PADI (and most certification agencies), you start out with Open Water and then there are some follow-on courses you can take, but are not required to take.

Then there are "elective" speciality classes you can take on certain subject, such as night or wreck diving.

Example--
----------------
Open Water
Advanced Open Water
Rescue
Master Scuba Diver

Specialty classes example:
--------------------------
night diving
wreck diving
nitrox
equipment specialist, etc.


Now, you don't have to have taken a wreck diver class to dive a wreck, or
have taken a boat diver class to do boat dives. These are just classes that
are available if you want a "formal class". You will however need to take
the Nitrox class before you can do Nitrox diving....
you can look at these classes here http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/rec/continue/

In my opinion, some of the specialties are kinds a joke and some are
very good (regardless of agency).

One other note though, some dive shops won't let regular open water certified
divers on deep or advanced dives unless they have AOW or can show log-book
proof that they've done such dives recently.

hope all that helps.
 
UnspokenGames112:
I was just curious, for a PADI diver, what are the different classifications of certification and what kinds do you need? Like is there actually a certification to go night diving and wreck diving? What else is there that you need the certifications for?

Mike S summed it quite well.

Nitrox is the only cert you need regarding the purchase of anything, namely the gas blend.

Some certifications will be required by boats for deep dives, caves or caverns on private grounds.

There are places you don't want to go without adequate special training, wreck penetration, caves, caverns, deep diving right into tri-mix beyond 130'

Nearly anything you need or want to know you can lean in a course of in a mentoring situation.

Some are dive skills, Night, Rescue, Deep, Navigation

Some are dive hobbies, UW naturalist, photography.

Remember that this a largely self regulated sport industry, there is no scuba police to save you from yourself so choose you challenges and training wisely.

Pete
 
Get your OW, then do AOW with Nitrox at the same time. AOW is five "specialty" dives including deep, nav and PPB plus two of your choice. This is all you realy need to get going. Also by then you will have a feel of which way you want to go and how things work. Good luck and dive safe!
 
As far as needed specialties go....Nitrox...gotta have a card to get the gas.
The other specialties are in reality an introduction into other types of diving.
You can get the experience on your own but some people are more comfortable having the experience with an instructor.
And it is what I do for money....take them all!

Joe
 
Your training is only as good as your instructor....for all levels of training. The specialty certifications are supposed to be considered "continuing education" to enable you to dive certain areas (night, deep, wreck, etc) under the training and supervision of an instructor. The purpose is to make you a better and safer diver.

That said, we've all heard of the instructors that give no instruction, dive with their student, and approve a specialty card. If all you want is a bunch of cards, this is the guy to find. If you're looking to increase your dive skills and become a safer diver, RUN from this guy!
 
FTR, ppb is not a required dive for AOW through PADI.

There is a lot of good information in many of the specialties, but some of them are crap (take it from a PADI instructor). I wouldn't doubt that you can learn many of the skills from good mentors, but without the assurance that the mentor has the ability to TEACH, you might be better off working with an instructor.

There are a few specialties that I think are essential, and some that are darn good practice and a few that are silly. Nitrox, Drysuit (especially if you may need to rent one), Altitude, Ice, Deep, Wreck, any rebreather, any and all Cavern/Cave are absolutely essential as are any type of extended range/deco/trimix type stuff. The latter are more progressions than specialties, but heed the point. Night, Search and Recovery, DPV, Photography, and PPB all have something to offer from an extended learning aspect if you're interested in any of it. Many of the other stuff like Boat, Underwater Naturalist, Multilevel, etc. can be helpful if you're really unfamiliar with the basics, but I think most divers can probably skip them and be fine.

Personally, I think every diver should endeavor to get through Rescue within the first 50 dives or so. It's the single most useful class you will take and will greatly improve your confidence and you will undoubtedly be a better buddy afterwards.

JMHO.

Rachel
 
I have my OW and im doing Nirtox and Dry cet this month. once i get that done im going to do the AOW so i could take deep, wreck penitration cavern, ice,. but if im going to do the classes im going to do them dry so i can be comfortable during the dive and not be distracted from the cold.
 
Sorry, my bad, your right ppb is not required but is the most important of the optional dives. Night used to be required but is no longer.
 
I'm not PADI, but I don't think it matters that much.

Beyond OW, both the AOW and Stress/Rescue classes are really good.

They add some pretty fundamental skills to the OW list, but also add
some fundamental attitudes to your diving. Stress/Rescue is especially
good at helping you pay more attention to potentially marginal situations
and what your personal response can be.

In my (limited) experience, I have found that the AOW ticket does have
an impact on the diving you may be allowed to do. Two cases I've
experienced:

1) Club Med, Turks & Caicos - they set different limits on depths for OW vs. AOW

2) Rangiroa, French Polynesia (Tahiti) - at the time, my buddy & I only had OW certs.
We didn't know it before the dive, but we were put on the "B" boat with the newbies.
Newbie problems with boyancy at the very beginning of the dive prevented the whole
group from following the planned profile. It was an OK dive, but my buddy and I
were really disappointed where the "A" boat back at the shop was high-fiving and
going on about what a fantastic dive they had. We decided then that we wanted
the cert just to keep from getting lumped with the "B" boat again.

In general, the dive outfits seem to relax a bit when you have a cert beyond OW.

Some of the "specialty" things are a bit silly (boat diving, night diving...), but
hang loose and have fun anyway.

Bob C.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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