What's next after "Master" Diver?

[Dehydrated_Atom]

Hello SB.

So at one point I told myself:

"Self, go ahead and get 4 specialties that are relevant to your primary local for diving, then go ahead and get a CPR & First Aid cert and the Stress & Rescue course knocked out, but that's all the dang money you need to give up."

That's taken me through "Master" Diver. Well, I'm certainly no master.

I don't really do any overhead diving, though I might like to penetrate a wreck someday. Woe was me when, after taking the SSI Wreck Diving Specialty, they were like "Congrats, you may or may not see wrecks underwater, this course is designed to tell you that, and don't go inside them."

I feel like I should take Science of Diving, though I have no desire to become a Dive Master/Con or Instructor.

I feel like I should take some kind of Zero Vis course, because frankly, I've thought about what I would do if I couldn't see, and I can't come up with any guaranteed ways of free ascending safely.

I have the Nitrox course taken care of, but I feel like I should at least get familiar with other mixes, as well as closed circuit diving and any other prudent technical diving courses (recommendations/explanations would be awesome), though I have no desire to become a commercial diver.

I wouldn't mind getting an AAUS or some Scientific Diver certification that would allow me to volunteer for surveys and species collection etc.

My quick breakdown:
Specialties: Nitrox, AOW (Underwater Nav, Night/Limited Vis, Deep Diving, Wreck Diving), MD (Stress & Rescue, CPR & First Aid). A number of dives over 100' up to 116'. Over 100 dives. Though I've stopped logging them because "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". I'm not in it for the pissing contests or the prestige, I'm in it to be a better diver compared only to myself and to enjoy and maybe help the oceans.

If you've made it this far, Cheers! Now please tell me your secrets.

 

[Tortuga68]

Forget about certs for a while & do more dives

Continue to gain experince in the different conditions that are found where you dive (currents, low viz, drysuit, deep, whatever)

Dive with people you can learn from

Start logging dives again, it's not just about the number of dives (record your weight, exposure protection, SAC, conditions etc)

Build your dive library & read some good books when you're not diving

Throw your MSD card in the bin

 

[Doppler]

I'm with him (points up); go and log some dives... real dives... get some experience and you may learn a whole lot about yourself and about diving; who knows, it could be fun.

 

[flots am]

I'm with him (points up); go and log some dives... real dives.

Yep.

And stay out of anyplace that prevents a direct ascent to the surface. The reason the SSI wreck class advises against anything more than trivial penetration is because you haven't been trained or equipped to safely penetrate wrecks (or caves) and it's deceptively easy to die in one.

flots.

 

[drbill]

Tortuga68's advice is spot on in my book.

 

[Jaydubya]

Sounds like you have enough training. Now find a buddy and get out and dive some of those great wrecks that happen to be right off the coast there in VA Beach.

 

[Dehydrated_Atom]

I'm with him (points up); go and log some dives... real dives... get some experience and you may learn a whole lot about yourself and about diving; who knows, it could be fun.

I learn something valuable out of every dive, so I won't be slowing down my diving. The question is, what kind of "real" dives can I do without further certifications.

Most of my diving is at 80+' in 5-20 ft. vis with some wiley surges and cold water. I have done night diving at considerable depth, dealing with surges in some places and currents in others. I have done some diving in the Caribbean, drifting in some fighter jet speed currents, and occasionally doing swim throughs where my ability to maintain proper trim and buoyancy are truly tested albeit with perfect vis and water temps.

I can only think, that with my current level of certification, any diving that I would think to be anymore real would be diving at night or in 2 ft of vis, with cold water, at 100+', in a really long swim through and super sonic currents.

Essentially your advice is exactly right, I would love to do some real diving. But how can I push those limits without further instruction?

Edit: I'm onboard with more diving, and certainly getting some good reading in. But is there nothing else that should be done to advance my abilities?

 

[Tortuga68]

The question is, what kind of "real" dives can I do without further certifications?

What he means is non-course dives

Courses are great; give yourself some dives between them to practise the skills you've learned before moving on to the next one. The water will still be there when you're ready for the next course

There's no need to keep 'pushing the envelope'

 

[g1138]

Start logging your dives again, it'll give you time to reflect both minutes after your exit and even a year later.

If you become an AAUS sci diver you'll be require to log dives to keep your certification. You'll usually also have a home base or university where you can volunteer. If you volunteer with a different university they may want your DSO to write a Letter of Reciprocity, or a recommendation letter that says "you're a good safe diver".

Tortuga68 has given you the best advice. If you want a suggestion on what skill to work towards, then make a list of what you can't do well and work on that.
You can try doing free ascents and mimic zero viz by only looking at your buddy and your gauges. I'd start shallow though and practice with a hover first.


And your Master SD card is just a bragging rights thing. The only reason why I keep mine is because it says I'm a Scientific diver for my university. My agency would never reprint that on a replacement card, or so I'm told.

 

[Krazytomdiver]

As a dive guide, Go Pro & make a career out of diving....I love my lifestyle,travel,meeting worldy people,wild adventures,and guiding dives. If you do not mind being dead broke & smiling ALL the time then go for it.

"living life without a hard bottom"
KT