Considering PADI master diver
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I'd recommend everyone get to a Rescue grade no matter what they aim to do diving.
As for MSD, if you want to do the specialities for their own sake then do it. However i dont see the point in doing them JUST to apply for MSD.
As for getting the actual award itself, i wouldnt bother. Its just extra money for a new card without any extra dives or skills.
So my view, get to rescue diver, do what specialities that interest you (if any) and dont bother with aiming for 5 and paying for MSD.
As for MSD, if you want to do the specialities for their own sake then do it. However i dont see the point in doing them JUST to apply for MSD.
As for getting the actual award itself, i wouldnt bother. Its just extra money for a new card without any extra dives or skills.
So my view, get to rescue diver, do what specialities that interest you (if any) and dont bother with aiming for 5 and paying for MSD.
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MSD is for divers who are emblemised and have broken out in patches.
vablackwater
Contributor
Thalassamania:
I think Rescue is a very worthwhile class.
The value of the "specialties" depends enormously on who teaches them. Mine were fairly close to worthless, except as experience diving with the moral support of an instructor.
I completely five specialties and Rescue (as did my husband) but both of us decided that spending $30 on another card was absurd.
The value of the "specialties" depends enormously on who teaches them. Mine were fairly close to worthless, except as experience diving with the moral support of an instructor.
I completely five specialties and Rescue (as did my husband) but both of us decided that spending $30 on another card was absurd.
Is a "specialty class" worth it? Well, maybe yes and maybe no! I've taken some "merit badge" classes (enough to qualify for a PADI MD) and some were totally worthless (the "boat diver" was the biggest farce -- but maybe because I've been around/owned boats for a good part of my life -- OTOH, if someone had never been out on a boat, big or small, they would NEED the information contained in the "class") and some that were so good I'll take them again (our Pacific Northwest Marine ID Class -- IF you are going to dive in the PNW, this is a class you really should take because it will greatly expand the "scope" of each dive). I took an Underwater Photography class that was excellent -- including taking test shots of a color board to see how much color my strobe added and how far away a subject could be.
Was there anything presented in a class that I couldn't have learned on my own? Nope. But having the material presented in a coherent fashion made the learning experience much better than one that would have resulted from "just diving."
That written, I think only my Nitrox, UW Photog and PNW Critter ID classes were "worth" the money.
BTW, I'd be shocked to learn that the PADI Wreck Specialty "prepares you for being in an overhead environment" as opposed to showing you that you have absolutely NO BUSINESS going into an overhead environment without significantly more training.
Was there anything presented in a class that I couldn't have learned on my own? Nope. But having the material presented in a coherent fashion made the learning experience much better than one that would have resulted from "just diving."
That written, I think only my Nitrox, UW Photog and PNW Critter ID classes were "worth" the money.
BTW, I'd be shocked to learn that the PADI Wreck Specialty "prepares you for being in an overhead environment" as opposed to showing you that you have absolutely NO BUSINESS going into an overhead environment without significantly more training.
ams511
Contributor
fisherdvm:Heck, for not much more than a new regulator, you could travel half way around the world for a diving vacation.... You might focus your dives on a few new specialties (MORE CARDS)....
And you come back a DIVEMASTER, knowing more about sex, ethics, medicine, life, and culture, than any other scubaboard members!!!!
How many girls would not want to sleep with a DIVEMASTER???
I even heard, DIVEMASTER training will increase phallic size, better than VIAGRA!
Just for that, I myself will sign up for divemaster training
I am with you dude, where is a good place?
daniel f aleman
Contributor
All classes are valuble if taken from the right instructor. When I look at a diver's certifications I want the following: OW, AOW, Rescue, Deep, Night, PPB, Navigation, and Search & Recovery. Again, those classes are worth taking if you find the right instructor. Also, you'll receive a Master patch for taking the above.
And beware others who tell you that you DON"T need education, they're not educated.
And beware others who tell you that you DON"T need education, they're not educated.
xiSkiGuy
Contributor
As others have mentioned, the value of specialty classes depends greatly on the instructor. Many instructors just teach the bare minimum standards so you can quickly knock out your requirements and get a patch.skywalk:
I would suggest that if you really want to improve your diving, consider a cavern course, GUE-F course, or advanced nitrox course.
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