Which PADI specialties are useful and which ones are "underwater basket weaving"?

[TMHeimer]

The ones I've done:

Good: Navigator, Deep, PPB, Nitrox, Wreck (only really useful if you plan to penetrate--in which case I would elect to get more training than the basic)

So-So: Night

Interesting but fairly pointless: Equip. Specialist

 

[Travis B]

like many have already said dependant on the instructor,, for me the ones that seem to be a waste are fish id(im a fisherman) night diver(is it not common sense you need a light in deep or dark water?)Boat diver (common sense and courtesy as i dont dive from a zodiac)
Helpfull courses to me in the recreational world where nitrox(used very often) deep dive( pre-rec for other courses and i dive moderatly deep often) drift dive( knowing how to use the currents and eddies in your favour helps with a long wait for the boat or long swim or walk back to beginning) altitude diving(currently all my dives are well over 1000m)dry suit(good to know if you use a dry suit)ice diver(im Canadain,, i needed to do that one but also good learning experience for cold water and gear)rescue diver( i think a must for all divers and AOW was needed for this)wreck diver(i like wrecks)
But most of these are all due to the type of things that intrest me and the diving i do.

 

[racerx_]

agree that its mostly about instructor..

for me, buoyancy and navigation were good.. of course, nitrox. I actually read almost all the other chapters in the advanced book which intros you to the other dives, and in most cases i'd say that's probably enough info on that topic to get where they're going with it and start implementing principles in future dives.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Underwater basket weaving could be a useful skill ... if you can learn to do it while holding a safety stop ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Simon-]

Underwater basket weaving could be a useful skill ... if you can learn to do it while holding a safety stop ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Even more useful for ditching redundant stage bottles in to

 

[Bombay High]

Underwater basket weaving could be a useful skill ... if you can learn to do it while holding a safety stop ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

And the baskets will be useful to store all those little plastic cards that you will earn for each of the million specialities

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

And the baskets will be useful to store all those little plastic cards that you will earn for each of the million specialities

I just toss mine in a drawer ... but nobody says you have to get a c-card for every class you take. I've taken several classes that didn't come with one ... all that plastic's just gonna end up in a landfill someday, after all ... :shocked2:

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[dbulmer]

Underwater basket weaving?

Sounds a bit like a Welsh wreck diving specialty
(look up coracle in the dictionary)

 

[waterpirate]

+3 on the basket weaving, or pumpkin carving while maintaining position and control.
Every course in the PADI arsenal has merit. :shocked2::shocked2: OMG I can not believe I said that!! It is all based on the instructors knowledge and willingness to teach not just turn a dolar and "roll them bones".
Eric

 

[dbulmer]

Come to think of it - maybe Deco for Divers was inspired by the need to warn divers of the dangers of basket weaving.