Wrecks beginners guide
Wreck diving is one of the most fascinating and rewarding aspects of scuba diving. Imagine diving in and around a piece of submerged history from the two world wars or some fascinating freight vessels. These underwater adventures can be yours, but we do strongly recommend that you undergo some specialized wreck diving training if you are serious about this aspect of diving. There are some wreck sites that lie in the shallows and can be enjoyed by novices, and many custom built marine parks cater for the beginner too, with their purpose-sunk novelty wrecks. But for the hardy adventurer, there are greater rewards to be found in deeper waters and for this you need to visit our training section to find a course, which will have you well prepared.
If you are interested in wreck diving, then it's essential that you begin by gaining our scuba diving certification from PADI or another accredited body (see our Training section) If you are already a qualified scuba diver we still strongly recommend that you undergo some specialized wreck diving training if you are serious about this aspect of diving, and indeed the lure of exploring sunken ships, cars and even planes is something most divers can't resist. PADI offer a very good wreck diving course, which is an excellent place to start. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course introduces you to wreck diving and helps you develop the skills and knowledge necessary for safe and fun wreck diving. In order to embark on the course you will need a PADI Adventure Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization) and you'll need to be at least 15 years old.
Information contained in the wreck diver program includes:
- The planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of wreck diving
- The preparation and use of lights, air supplies, special equipment, penetration lines and reels
- Limited-visibility diving techniques and emergency procedures
Training normally takes 24 hours in total spread over a number of training sessions, and the minimum open water requirement is four dives over two days. You'll need a pack of specialized equipment known as a Wreck-Pak, which includes manual, video and log insert. Your Adventures in Diving Wreck Adventure Dive may count towards a Specialty certification at instructor discretion. This Specialty certification also counts as one of five Specialty certifications required for your Master Scuba Diver certification, should you choose to take your scuba diving to a higher level.
SSI also offers a Wreck Diving specialty course. Each specialty course at SSI uses a complete training system. Their system uses their own special wreck-diving manual; including chapter review questions, and a short video to present key concepts and skills. |
