What is the craziest "specialty" you have heard of that you know is actually real?

[LakeCountyDiver]

We all know a very well known training agency is known for it's many many many many many specialities they can offer. I want to know what is some of the funny or off the wall maybe down right crazy specialties you have encountered.

This is not an agency bashing thread please. Just a genuine question.

 

[kelemvor]

Is there really any crazier c-card than "Zombie Apocalypse Diver"?
PADI Zombie Apocalypse Diver Distinctive Specialty - Central Coast Dive Center

I doubt it, but I would be greatly entertained if I was wrong.

 

[maj2]

This one: Zombie Apocalypse Diver

@kelemvor just beat me to it.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

Is there really any crazier c-card than "Zombie Apocalypse Diver"?
PADI Zombie Apocalypse Diver Distinctive Specialty - Central Coast Dive Center

I doubt it, but I would be greatly entertained if I was wrong.

This has to be a joke... no way this is real lol

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

I have seen "gas management" diver which hey should be learned in OW. I've seen "Fish ID" which I find silly. Boat diver.............. In Florida..... And another silly one "Zen" diver

 

[maj2]

There is an old thread on this same topic: Best and worst PADI distinctive specialties

Zen diver was mentioned there as well. Alas, the URL for t appears to be dead now.

 

[kelemvor]

This has to be a joke... no way this is real lol

I'm sure there are a lot of chuckles involved. I think @boulderjohn once explained that anyone (any instructor anyway) can write course materials and submit them to PADI for official sanctioning. The description makes it sound kind of like a "rescue-lite" course with a bunch of fun and photos thrown in. I don't know anyone who's done it.

 

[broncobowsher]

There is a dive shop in town claiming that they are the only one that is approved by PADI to teach the Zombie class, the others that have the class are not. If you want the real Zombie class you must go to them.

 

[Scuba-74]

I've heard of the "PADI Volcano Diver Specialty", which is apparently awarded for diving a specific dive site in Iceland where there is a bit of volcanic activity underwater.

 

[maj2]

I think @boulderjohn once explained that anyone (any instructor anyway) can write course materials and submit them to PADI for official sanctioning.

That's exactly how it works. I did a distinctive specialty in underwater archaeology that was done just that way-- the instructor submitted a description of the MAST course in Ohio, and we were able to get a c-card for it through PADI after we did the MAST program.

Dive Koh Tao has also put together a few distinctive specialties that look interesting for fluorescence night diving, fluorescence photography and fluorescence videography: PADI Fluorescence Night Diver Specialty Course | UV Dive Koh Tao.