PADI specialties: how to choose

[Gary_Ward]

Now i was trying to understand what experienced divers would judge useful and what not completely necessary

They key to any type of ongoing education is making sure its in an area that interests you. Many divers do courses in new types of equipment or environments (drysuit, wreck, deep etc), whilst the emerging trend is to do courses which can help you to become more aware of the aquatic environment you're in. These might include the AWARE courses or the likes of Reef Check, Coral Watch etc. There is a real demographic split as to whether these are "useful" or not, but that will come down to whether you want to be taught about the evironment, or whether you prefer to pick up a resource and learn about it yourself. The right instructor can bring the subject to life, whilst one who is only going through the motions can make you want to end yours.....

 

[Blackcrusader]

What @BLACKCRUSADER didn’t make clear was the courses being talked about are income streams for commercial agencies, like PADI. In BSAC’s training these skills are part of the core syllabus.

I was in the BSAC Club in Brunei for 2 years 1986 - 1988. My instructor was also a commercial diver with Shell.

So this just shows that agencies have different training standards. I did PADI OW then moved to Brunei where the dive club said right, now you do BSAC Sports diving, planned deco dives on air with extra tanks at the dive site and on the anchor line. So yes I do forget sometimes that I had regular twice weekly training and regular night dives and weekend wreck diving. There were no specialty course as it was just diving. We wrote out our dive plans before the dive, planned our times and calculated for DECO stops. No dive computer for me back then.

I've dived with friends on their first night dives on a house reef they have dived before. So some familiarity knowing the wall and the exit points and normally we don't go below 15m on a first night dive. All those friends now do night dives but never needed a course for it as its offered in AOW. Is a night course necessary if you are diving with experienced divers and some who are instructors?

 

[David Novo]

Doing It Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving - PDF

This is not the syllabus of GUE Fundamentals but one of the several supplemental readings.

Check the link under "prequisites and duration" on the following page:

GUE Fundamentals

 

[Blackcrusader]

This is not the syllabus of GUE Fundamentals but one of the several supplemental readings. Check the link under "prequisites and duration" on the following page: GUE Fundamentals

Funny it says you have to be a non smoker when I see GUE guys in Philippines smoking

 

[David Novo]

Funny it says you have to be a non smoker when I see GUE guys in Philippines smoking

I heard of at least a case here in Portugal that was denied a GUE certification until quitting smoking.

 

[Ayisha]

Funny it says you have to be a non smoker when I see GUE guys in Philippines smoking

If you check off that you're a smoker or you're observed smoking during your course, you won't get a GUE certification.

They're not the SCUBA police and don't keep tabs on every diver.

 

[TMHeimer]

If you check off that you're a smoker or you're observed smoking during your course, you won't get a GUE certification.

They're not the SCUBA police and don't keep tabs on every diver.

Yeah I was wondering how they would know you smoked unless you were an idiot and smoked in front of them. Then again there were the maskless Trump rallies and Sturgis....

 

[Swedinsidemount]

Yeah I was wondering how they would know you smoked unless you were an idiot and smoked in front of them. Then again there were the maskless Trump rallies and Sturgis....

But there are worse things than smoking, like diving with a cold or heart condition.... <TG>

 

[Ayisha]

Yeah I was wondering how they would know you smoked unless you were an idiot and smoked in front of them. Then again there were the maskless Trump rallies and Sturgis....

Yeah, some divers will sign up for a GUE course even if they don't agree with everything, just to learn the skills. After achieving certification (or not), they may keep up with the skills and disregard the rest of the philosophy or some may get more into it over time.

I suspect they would be more concerned if they got reports of GUE instructors smoking rather than just GUE divers.

 

[Bert van den Berg]

This is a quite good video which covers the topic:

Hi,

Really enjoyed your video - thank you James.

You might want to consider including solo/self reliant in your essential category.

Regards,

Bert