PADI newest class offering

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texdiveguy

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I thought I would pass this along as an FYI.....may be something a few folks are looking into in the future.

I know there has been some recent growth in side mount gear configuration and diving, particularly in the cavers. Now it appears a select few PADI shops are offering a distinctive specialty class in side mount protocols.

I copied and edited (the shop name) from the some what lengthy e-note I received from an LDS in my area. You might check with your local PADI/DSAT shops to see if they are yet offering this.



"PADI Open Water Side Mount Diver.........

PADI Open Water Side Mount Diver is the newest specialty PADI Offers. Be one of the first to explore this new certification.

Currently there are only three Instructors in the world that can teach this certification, one in Chicago, one in Florida, and one in DFW. With this certification you will be able to manage multiple scuba cylinders above the water and below. This increases safety having multiple gas sources underwater also allowing you to carry smaller cylinders to the waters edge instead of one large heavy cylinder. In addition to the ease of transporting gear, underwater we will focus on trim and new skills.

The Prerequisites:

* Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent certification from another organization
* Minimum age 15

Additional benefits of the PADI Open Water Side Mount Diver:

* Can be applied toward the Master Scuba Diver rating.
* Will allow you to take the DSAT Deep Technical Program including Trimix Diver in side mount gear (providing the Technical Instructor is qualified and approved by PADI/DSAT to conduct this course in a side mount configuration).
* Will allow you to take the PADI Cavern class in side mount gear (providing the Cavern Instructor is qualified and approved by PADI to conduct this course in a side mount configuration).
* As a Certified Assistant you can assist Technical and Cavern classes in a side mount configuration.

Equipment/Gear:

Side Mount

(4 Open Water Dives in Side Mount Gear)

Book work and/or classroom:

None. We will conduct the briefings and practical applications at the lake."

**I am not in anyway trying to promote this class or PADI or any particular shop, just found it an interesting offering and felt it news worthy in terms of the board. Happy and safe diving always. :)
 
This seems to be a distinctive speciality as opposed to one of their general ones. Can't see it being adopted as a full speciality for anyone to have the option though - too niche market and they wont even adopt a twinset one so certainly not sidemount.
 
So basically what they are going to do is show you how to sling a bottle? Sounds a lot like the equipment specialist course to me.
 
This seems to be a distinctive speciality as opposed to one of their general ones. Can't see it being adopted as a full speciality for anyone to have the option though - too niche market and they wont even adopt a twinset one so certainly not sidemount.

I would tend to agree on this point. It sounds like a Distinctive Specialty. However, whether or not it is PADI Sanctioned is another matter; afterall, they would be required to submit a course outline to PADI & have it approved.

Meanwhile, it really isn't part of the usual Equipment Course unless they are offering it as part of an introduction to other gear.
 
PADI are racking up a lot of distinctive specialties that look like Tec. I am guessing they may try and wrap them into an Intro to Tec course at some point. It seems like the only way that they can try and make a dent in the US Tec training market in the US (bizarrely they seem to do pretty well in the UK).

Other PADI distinctive specialties I have seen:

- twin set diver
- full face mask diver
- SMB diver
- advanced wreck diver
- tec basics 1
- tec basics 2

We'll see if it all leads anywhere.

Useful link to all the crap that money can buy (not fair, I know, there are also some decent courses on there):

PADI distinctive specialty overview
 
As has been stated, this is a "distinctive" specialty. Only the authors are allowed to teach those courses after approval from PADI. Distinctive specialties are often geographically and instructor specific. To maybe clarify, there are some where around 25 +/- standardized PADI Specialty Diver courses that PADI Specialty Instructors may conduct, once certified by meeting the requirements to teach those standardized specialties, which are supported by course outlines and various student materials.

Then additionally, instructors may write their own distinctive specialty programs that they may offer upon approval from PADI.


In looking at the aforementioned list provided, I see some that are worthwhile, if taught correctly but, many that I would have no use for applying to certify to teach. Distinctive specialties are fueled by a market, otherwise, a lot of work for no value.

I hope that defines the distinctive specialty courses more for those not familiar with the different courses offered.
 
Other distinctive specialties I have seen...

- SMB diver

You can't be serious

:rofl3:

What's next?

"Dive Light Diver"

An SMB is a piece of equipment that needs to be learned before you should really go about using one, but that could - and in my estimation - should be learned as part of some particular skill-based class. SAR, Wreck Diver, Drift Diver, etc.

To have an "SMB Diver" course really sounds like a shop that has too many customers with more money than good sense.
 
You can't be serious



"Dive Light Diver"

QUOTE]

Yes I currently teach this, the goal is to train the diver in the proper handling care and how to safely dive with a canister style dive light. it is a 2 day course the first day covers charging, maintenance, and how to carry it properly. the 2nd day is 1 confined water dive and 2 open water dives to a max depth of 38fsw.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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