Which specialties are worth the money?

Rhone Man · Oct 9, 2008

Quick poll, just for fun, which specialty course are actually worth the money (in your opinion). Multiple selections allowed.

Not counting Rescue Diver/Stress & Rescue as a speciality course for these purposes.

The following dropped off because I didn't have room:
- Peak performance bouyancy / advanced bouyancy
- Multilevel / computer diver
- Waves, tides & currents (SSI only)
- Boat diver

Yes, we know it is all about the instructor, etc., etc., it is only a bit of fun - not an SAT test.

Blackwood · Oct 9, 2008

Some are regional. Wreck won't help someone who isn't near wrecks. Same can be said for Cavern and Ice. That said, there is value in the mindset that should go along with overhead courses.

Other than that, most of those hardly require coursework (nitrox, solo, and -depending on how it's taught - deep not withstanding), and thus I don't see the courses as being worth paying for, at least at their basic levels. Some instructors offer fairly extensive courses that go beyond what I'd call "specialties" though the share the same names, and they may be well worth it.

OldNSalty · Oct 9, 2008

What is DPV? and what exactly is an equipment specialist? Also, I assume you mean which ones we think are worth it even if we don't actually have interest in doing the particular activity? i.e. I don't live in a place where ice diving is an option but if I did, yea, I would probably take a course.

Blackwood · Oct 9, 2008

^^ Diver Propulsion Vehicle, aka 'scooter'

I think an equipment specialist is someone who is taught a little bit about the workings of various pieces of equipment, but not to the level that they would be considered technicians. I don't get it.

Tomeck · Oct 9, 2008

I think nitrox is only an very useful course.

I know very well ice, deep, wreck and deep, but I don't have these certifications.

Rhone Man · Oct 9, 2008

Bugger - I should have included "Drysuit" in there.

That's the trouble with diving in the Caribbean all the time - you forget these things (although Blackwood's point on "location" is well taken in this case!).

Randy43068 · Oct 9, 2008

I didn't see: "None of the above" listed.

JeffG · Oct 9, 2008

Wreck
Ice
U/W Photographer
U/W Navigator
DPV
Night
Equipment specialist
Shark diver (SSI only)
Solo diver (SDI only)

Done all of the above without any certification.

Now some of them (Wreck and Ice in particular) I did have a mentor, I just do not have a piece of plastic to show for it.

OldNSalty · Oct 9, 2008

Thanks Blackwood-and so now I know they are not useful

I said Nitrox but only because it is required to show the card in some places in order to get the gas. I suspect that any of them could be self taught really but Tomeck made a practical point of the 'regional factor'-to him diving in ice is probably nothing, to me, the only time I see ice in my water is when I am at a bar so I might be willing to pay for the knowledge before jumping in.

JeffG · Oct 9, 2008

OldNSalty:
to him diving in ice is probably nothing, to me, the only time I see ice in my water is when I am at a bar so I might be willing to pay for the knowledge before jumping in.

Ice diving (IMO) is the most dangerous "recreational" scuba diving out there.

Anyone who would just "jump in" is an idiot.

Which specialties are worth the money?

Which specialties are worth the money (multiple selections allowed)?

Enriched Air / Nitrox

Wreck

Deep

Cavern

Ice

U/W Photographer

U/W Navigator

DPV

Night

Equipment specialist

Shark diver (SSI only)

Solo diver (SDI only)

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