PADI Deep Diver specialty course worthwhile?

[NCadiver]

Lorenzoid I‘ve taken the padi deep diving course many years back and I enjoyed it. At this point all you want to do is recreational deep dives. I think the course will benefit you with your diving.
By doing the padi deep diving course you will not need to get all the extra equipment for the tech class and you will get to work with the instructor most likely one on one for the course. By taking the course it may bring up some things from the deep dive during your AOW course and add some knowledge you don’t have at this point.
North Carolina would be the best choice for the course.


The Divemaster course and certification does not require the deep diving specialty certification.

 

[Simon-]

The guy asks a question about a specific course (recreational), and it doesn't take long for the "you should do tec" comments to start. Maybe ask him if he interested in tec diving before presenting it as an option.

To the OP, NCadiver is correct, you don't need Deep specialty for DM certification, but you do need experience in deep (amongst others) under the new DM program.

 

[Centrals]

The guy asks a question about a specific course (recreational), and it doesn't take long for the "you should do tec" comments to start. Maybe ask him if he interested in tec diving before presenting it as an option.

Next one could well be fundies!!!

 

[DevonDiver]

Tech courses represet a considerably large commitment in terms of money and motivation. Learning decompression procedures and accelerated decompression is complete overkill for a diver who wishes to remain within no-decompression limits to a maximum depth of 40m.

A deep diver course, taken with a well motivated and knowledgeable instructor, will provide tools, techniques and knowledge that help mitigate risk within the deeper recreational diving ranges. The primary thing missing from that course syllabus is gas management. However, a properly educated and experienced instructor should be able to supplement this into the course to ensure completeness (if they cannot, they shouldn't be teaching deep diving).

Sadly, it is true that not every scuba instructor should be teaching deep diving. The skill, experience and knowledge requirements for becoming a specialist deep diving instructor with PADI, and many other agencies, are virtually non-existent.

One option for ensuring that your instructor is suitably knowledgeable is to search for a technical diving instructor (or, at least, an instructor that is technical diving qualified). Otherwise, you will need to confirm the instructor's suitability and knowledge by interview.

To conduct deep diving, it is vital that core/foundation scuba skills are effective and ingrained. Buoyancy, weighting, propulsion, equipment familiarity, buddy procedures, navigation, situational awareness (depth, time, NDL and buddy awareness) and other safe diving practises must all be at a high standard.

Critical factors that need to be expanded for deep diving are:

1) Inert-gas narcosis awareness and management
2) Precision dive planning
3) Gas management
4) DCI awareness and first aid
5) Equipment configuration and appropriate redundancy
6) Team/Buddy Procedures
7) Situational awareness
8) Advanced buoyancy skills
9) DSMB deployment
10) Use of appropriate lighting
11) Emergency decompression procedures
12) Self-sufficiency and self-rescue

 

[ajduplessis]

Instead of the PADI Deep course, you might consider the Recreational Trimix course from IANTD--a little He would clear your head on the deeper dives and you would still be staying within NDL limits.

Based on your post and experiences at depth this is most likely the best advice. You will enjoy your diving more and feel in control. It’s also a good stepping stone if you decide to take things deeper or longer.

 

[cooperscuba]

The thing I don't like about the Deep Speciality is that PADI recommend none of the 4 training dives should be conducted below thirty meters. Did the course for two gentleman a couple of years ago, and the whole reason they were taking the course was they wanted to dive at Scapa and the charter company would only allow divers with a minimum certification of Deep Diver (or equivalent). So, if I'd gone by the book, I take them no deeper than they'd already dived and then hand them a certification saying they had trained for a maximum of forty meters. Just doesn't compute that.

 

[RTee]

The guy asks a question about a specific course (recreational), and it doesn't take long for the "you should do tec" comments to start. Maybe ask him if he interested in tec diving before presenting it as an option.

To the OP, NCadiver is correct, you don't need Deep specialty for DM certification, but you do need experience in deep (amongst others) under the new DM program.

Simon...whatever. Either you take courses for the sake of taking courses or you do it so you can accomplish certain things. If his intent is to eventually dive to that depth to look at stuff then there are courses that would seem to me to be more appropriate to make it worthwhile.

 

[ozzydamo]

Simon...whatever. Either you take courses for the sake of taking courses or you do it so you can accomplish certain things. If his intent is to eventually dive to that depth to look at stuff then there are courses that would seem to me to be more appropriate to make it worthwhile.

I hear He. is an expensive gas and makes your testicles shrink. even equipment set up starts to get out of hand.
Fill me in on your experiences?

 

[Simon-]

Deleted - Double Post

 

[CamG]

Greetings Lorenzoid easily what has already been said some great information for you to mull over.
In my experience I agree with Jim my DD instruction was far beyond the normal Padi taught coarse and included much of the list in the afore mentioned thread.
I am not bashing the Padi coarse because I looked at it as the first step in performing deep dives safely.
It is a starting point from which to progress into further training if you desire it.

To gain the familiarity at depth you must dive and train to learn your personal comfort zone.
Next you need to always dive within your experience and training level.
Take your time getting comfortable with depth and read up on the specific hazards.
I recommend reading accident reports as they will help you focus on the risks and train to handle them correctly.

If your dives are moving into the advanced realm seek more training from a qualified instructor and I also endorse the use of Helium.
It helps to eliminate some of the risks but also imposes a few others that you need to understand.
Deep diving is to be taken very serious so I recommend a sober evaluation of your skills and a personal diving goals.

The rest is easy dive and have fun.
Dive safe,

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!