Duane Johnson - Technical Diving Instructor
1) Buoyancy – Peak Performance Buoyancy, Advanced Buoyancy, or whatever people want to call it in my opinion is the most important class a person should take right after getting certified. This class should teach students how to position their weights to achieve good trim, what is good trim, proper weighting, correct breathing patterns, and thoughtful movements through the water column. Propulsion techniques should also be added.
2) Advanced Open Water – Many people argue that the AOW classes do not make people truly advanced divers. This may or may not be true, however it is a great chance to introduce students to better diving habits, situational awareness, increase comfort in the water and experience with underwater navigation and slightly deeper diving than at the open water level.
3) Nitrox – If students haven’t been exposed to Nitrox as part of their open water or AOW classes, then Nitrox should be on the list of classes to take. Nitrox gas allows for extended bottom times and shorter surface intervals. This certification is probably the most useful one in scuba diving, after open water that is.
4) Wreck – Hey, I love shipwrecks. I think everyone should learn to dive shipwrecks safely.
5) Rescue – The rescue diver class is a great class that it teaches divers not only self rescue techniques, but how to help your buddy or fellow diver. In my opinion, divers who go up through the rescue diver level, along with dives in between, is on a good path to becoming an advanced diver.
What are your top 5 scuba classes after getting certified?
Dive Safe,
Duane Johnson
Precision Diving
Technorati Tags: scuba diving classes, open water class, Buoyancy, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Advanced Buoyancy, Propulsion techniques, Advanced Open Water, AOW, situational awareness, Nitrox, Wreck, shipwrecks, Rescue, rescue diver class
About Duane Johnson
Hi Duane,
I completely agree with you but what path to follow when you want to enter the world of tech diving? Stick with one organisation: DSAT, GUE or do a bit of all together?
What about rebreather? First trimix OC or first rebreather because the unit will be more economical in the long run?
Tell us how you developed recreational diving into tech diving.
Cheers,
Marius
I would love to take a buoyancy class…i have nitrox and am taking aow now, but the closest dedicated class is in ct. with ed hayes….too far…maybe i can sneak it in durring aow…your a great source of info. thanks dj
I took PPB, but it was not worth much. And it could be.
I agree on Nitrox, and I’d add a gas management class.
Fundies, Essentials, or something equivalent….
Hmmm. Interesting. I’d go more along the lines of Lynne (although I feel EANx should be given from the getgo–as should gas management), but that’s just me…:-).
Great article!
Thanks for the comment Marius. The list I had was for new divers right out of OW. At that point in time, I don’t think divers should be thinking about tech. If they are, then they should look at the recreational class a tech instructor teaches. The agency should matter to much. So it can be mixed and matched if the student gets a thorough education.
I did make the mistake when I created my list. I listed the classes I feel are important, the way I teach them. So I do include gas management in all of my classes. But I would agree, that if a student hasn’t been exposed to a gas management strategy, then that should happen right away.
Thanks for the comments.
Duane