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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.
Night - Deep - Wreck - Boat
Drift - Navigation - Search and Recovery
Multilevel - Photography - Naturalist/Fish ID
Hunting - Buoyancy - Cavern - Research
Ice - Altitude - Dry Suit
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