PADI has launched a challenge to its dive centres: to get as many divers as possible to the Master Scuba Diver level. This requires divers to be qualified as a Rescue Diver, logged 50 dives and completed 5 PADI speciality courses.
In truth, the Master Scuba Diving rating or as PADI likes to describes it “the black belt of recreational diving” has always been a bit of a joke within the diving community. It has no clear definition of diver skill and is largely a badge collecting exercise for the diver and a fee collecting exercise for PADI.
This raises the question: if you want to become a scuba diving ninja which speciality courses should you do?
If you’re not familiar, PADI speciality courses aim to expand or focus in on a particular skill or area of diving. Some give you tangible benefits, allowing you to dive deeper or introduce you to new pieces of equipment. Others’ usefulness is more debatable.
Some of the PADI speciality course are considered fundamental skills and included in the most basic diving qualification by other training agencies. So I’ve taken a look at the myriad of speciality courses on offer by PADI and pulled out a selection of the most valuable, some to consider and some to avoid.
Essential
Enriched Air Diver. A key qualification that allows you to use NITROX up to 40%. Nitrox can extend your no-stop decompression time and reduce your surface intervals. In short it allows you to dive more which is a win. On some dive trips, such as on liveaboards, where there can be repeat (fairly) deep dives, nitrox can be essential. Many dive centres offer nitrox for free so you could be missing out.
Deep Diver. This extends your maximum depth from the 30m of Advanced Open water down to 40m. This is still a ‘no-stop’ qualification so your bottom time actually at 40m is very limited. However, its real utility is in opening up dives in the 30-35m range and combined with a NITROX certification gives decent bottom times.
Dry Suit Diver. The ability to dive in cold water is definitely an essential qualification here in the UK. Diving in a wetsuit is possible but it’s not particularly pleasant… Receiving formal training is important because a drysuit is another volume of airspace to manage, particularly when ascending.
Valuable
Peak Performance Buoyancy. It could be debated this is an ‘essential’ course as good buoyancy is one of the fundamental enablers to becoming a better diver. However, this is a skill that can be learnt purely from diving more and observing the more experienced..
Emergency Oxygen Provider. Delivering oxygen is the first step in many diving medical emergencies. Understanding its safe therapeutic use is valuable to all divers.
Sidemount Diver. Its popularity is increasingly growing. Developed from cave diving, this equipment configuration moves the cylinders from the back to the sides giving improved balance and trim. It’s a totally new configuration of traditional scuba equipment and an introductory course is justified.
Wreck Diver. Scuba diving on wrecks does pose some unique hazards that are certainly worth discussing in detail.
Maybe, if you’re interested
Equipment Specialist. Loads of useful information is readily available online but if you enjoy fettling with kit this could be beneficial.
Search and Recovery Diver. Certainly a useful skill if you ever have the need to actually use it.
DSMB Diver. The safe use of a delayed surface marker buoy is a key skill that needs to be learnt. My reasoning for it not being ‘essential’ is it should be included in all basic diver training. The correct use of a DMSB in the UK is a de facto requirement for safe diving.
Underwater Photography & Underwater Videography. There is so much good free information on the internet paying PADI a fee for the badge isn’t worth it. There is even the odd useful tip on this blog!
No Thanks
Project AWARE Speciality Course. A good nature documentary will give you all the information for free.
Boat Diver. Many people learn to dive at inland sites such as lakes and flooded quarries but I’d be pretty disappointed if I wasn’t prepared to dive from a boat after taking a diving qualification.
Diver Propulsion Vehicle Diver. There are two likely use cases for a DPV. Either as a serious tool for the technical diver or something fun to mess around with. If you’re planning on regularly using one you’re probably in the former category and not planning to pay PADI for the privilege. (They’re also really easy to use…)
Night Diver. There are a couple of nuances to using a torch and hand signals at night but all these can easily be briefed before a dive. A totally unnecessary course.
Final Thoughts
Many divers bemoan PADI’s course structuring. Viewing its multiple incremental qualifications as designed to drive sales rather than produce the safest divers. The classic moniker of PADI as Put Another Dollar In is still a popular description.
However, I’ve always thought that a bit unfair. PADI is a business and has been by far the most successful training agency over the decades. Its aim is to make money. Their course catalogue does contain a fair bit of chaff but if you don’t like it there are other training agencies you can use.
This is just a snapshot of the courses available from PADI. Remember this is only my opinion and if you’re interested and want to do any of the PADI courses listed here, and are happy to pay for them, do them.
