Advanced Training

Deep Diversions receives many questions about the locations with advanced sites we feature and about qualifications to dive those sites. It is a fact that many dive operators will not only require advanced and/or specialty certifications for these dives, they may also want proof of experience from your logbook. This is done for three reasons: First, you can place yourself in danger by not being trained and prepared; second, If you were to have a problem, you could place other divers in danger in their attempt to help or rescue you; finally, the operator must cover themselves for liability reasons.

So how do I become qualified, you ask? Very simple, and lots of fun. Advanced training is available through every certification agency. The classes are short, more informal and with a very minimal amount of academic work. The emphasis is placed on getting out and diving. In fact, you can even complete your advanced class or specialty while on vacation if you like.

While there are several specialties that can be taken after your Open Water training, most require that you have the Advanced Diver class first. In the advanced class you will gain a greater knowledge of diving and be introduced to various specialty dives. Under the guidance of an instructor, you will be able to sample these dives and decide whether or not you would like to pursue them further.

Agencies differ on requirements to complete an Advanced Diver class, with respect to prerequisite number of dives, hours of academic training, and number of dives within the class itself. For example, PADI allows divers to enroll in the advanced class immediately upon completion of the Open Water training, SSI requires divers to gain some experience and log some dives additional to the initial training before signing up for advance. Number of dives required within the class range from four with NASDS, to eight with NAUI. All agencies have the same goal and that is to offer continued learning and experience, which will provide you with more safety and enjoyment in challenging these new frontiers.

Beyond "Advanced Diver"

Once you get your fins wet with the advanced class, you will likely choose an area that particularly interests you and would like to continue in (oh, your hooked now). Whatever your interest, you can continue to learn and gain experience through specialty classes. These will "zero in" on the particular diving of your choice. You will learn about safety and theory, as well as how to use special equipment, required on many specialty dives. I think it was Diver Training magazine that coined the phrase "good divers never stop learning" and this is so very true. Diving provides us with countless new experiences and a great amount of pleasure. By preparing ourselves properly, we can expand this realm of diving enjoyment even more, and take advantage of all that it has to offer. We have listed below just a partial list of specialty dives offered. There are many others only in certain locations.