🧜‍♂️Scuba Diving Instructor Ranks Scuba Specialty Classes... the 👍, the 👎and the 💩‼️

Scuba Diving Specialty Certifications! Which ones are worth your money? And which ones are just 💩?! This professional Scuba Instructor has strong opinions about Scuba Specialty Courses, and he's sharing them with you!
Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox, Buoyancy, Boat, Ice, Dry Suit, UW Photography... the list goes on and on. With so many choices for Specialty certs to get you to Master Scuba Diver level, how do you know which dive courses are of value, and which are a waste of time?
We ask 3 simple questions of each Scuba Course and rank each course's value for you. So before you sign up for your next Padi elearning course, WATCH THIS VIDEO!
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Scuba Diving Instructor Ranks Scuba Specialty Classes... the bad the good and the crap‼️
Though we are based in Florida, Hawaii, California, and Michigan have 100 ft and 300 ft ocean and lake underwater coral reef, shipwreck, cave diving, freediving, scuba diving, and closed circuit rebreather trips. To learn full face mask, beginner scuba diver, advanced scuba diver, tech scuba diver, cave diver you can reach out to a professional scuba diver. Everyone should get scuba diving insurance with Divers Alert Network.
We support all types of diving that can be found at PADI, DALLMYD, Dive Talk where they talk about cave divers react, Waterline Academy and BlueWorld TV.

[@janinacooper4199]

Wow, I mean with some of the courses it's kind of obvious that it might not be essential. But this video is brutally honest and on point. For a newbie like me, super helpful and good to know!

[@DiversReady]

Thanks again Janina! Welcome to the channel and the scuba community! James

[@arlomatthias6492]

You all prolly dont care at all but does someone know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I somehow lost my account password. I love any assistance you can offer me.

[@nathanielmorgan129]

@Arlo Matthias Instablaster =)

[@arlomatthias6492]

@Nathaniel Morgan Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process now. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@Hinru13]

@@DiversReady What would you say about Public Safety Diving and or Courses tailored to that? Thank you for any insight.

[@sremagamers]

"that's a very big camera, are you sure you're qualified to use it?" I asked once, underwater, while the guy was completely out of trim and kicking up the coral behind him

[@Asgaia]

Thats normal. 5 logged dives after OWD but the biggest Canon and underwaterhousing including lamps and flashes ...

[@barryinkpen6026]

Being a diver for over fifty years, I just sat in my chair nodding my head over and over as I watched this one. I have been diving with so many new divers that had major issues in the water, that I would like to strangle their instructors. And then read, that the new diver can go on to the next level of training with virtually no experience!!!! It is truly sad. As you stated in one of your other videos, "when you look for a diving course, look for the instructor" (more or less) When I get asked by potential new divers "what course to take?", I have a short list of instructors in the back of my mind who will train, guide, and mentor the new diver to give them the best chance of starting off on the right foot. Keep up the good work; even old dudes like me still learn..

[@DiversReady]

Barry, thanks for watching, Friend. James

[@richardhouser2414]

@Cyber Explorer After open water, that's debatable. For most, Nitrox will probably open up your possibilities the most. Then again, if you dive inland lakes without much to see below 30ft, that's probably useless.

[@attiumeyami417]

problem is a good majority of dive classes due the very bare minimum instead of actually taking the time to teach.

[@spencerdurham206]

After dropping a few grand on dive equipment & the open water course, my dive center is already trying to sell me on the next cerification & my funds are diminishing! This video was extremely helpful & honest for those looking to avoid what's actually pretty scammy. P.S. The video is not too long it is simply thorough! Don't make shorter videos to appease those that want instant gratification; instead maybe add little tabs for the different sections. Thank you!

[@shesnydr8280]

I totally agree with this video ! It’s sad when dive shops take advantage of new divers that don’t know any better .. thank you for this video I have a lot of students ask me what there next step should be and I tell them to watch this video 😇

[@DiversReady]

Thanks so much She Snydr! Let me know what other videos you wish you had available to show your students! Thanks for watching! James

[@ernestoramosfelipe1320]

I always love it when someone can genuinely give you good advice, and especially one that comes from honesty. This video is quite informative and useful. As a passionate-beginner diver, I feel better informed. I thank you so much for making this video, it has been very helpful. Great job 👍🏻 and God bless.

[@Andre-De-Warr]

Thanks for this. New to diving and you've just opened my eyes and saved me some money

[@eamonshields2754]

Awesome video some people get so wrapped up in getting the "next certification" they forget to just got out and dive ! Obviously you need the essential certifications and never dive above your limits, but experience is where you REALLY LEARN !! Go dive

[@windwaker9000]

As someone about to start their instructor course and someone who would say just give me the works, this information is invaluable to me. Really appreciate it.

[@willlamb9062]

As a newly certified open water diver this video is extremely helpful to put diver progression in a better light. Thank you for all of the videos and all of them have been extremely helpful and relevant years later. Love the platform!

[@toeticket]

Thank you for summing up what I have felt since getting my open water card. It's nice to hear someone in the dive industry say this.

[@earlgrey2130]

Decompression chamber specialty is fun. Just because you get a legal high 😁 when you hit -60meters and everyone starts singing in the chamber.. good times 😁

[@Convexhull210]

Does it feel weird came in the chamber?

[@lmlmd2714]

@@Convexhull210 I did a chamber ride (as an exercise, not in anger), and it doesn't *feel* weird, but there are weird effects, like the density of the air making light things like paper falls noticeably more slowly. Also the temperature swings are pretty wild as the chamber depth is changed. I felt absolutely freezing when we ascended. Despite that it felt pretty uneventful to me - though it should be said that I have a very high tolerence for weird stuff. I'm not brave, I'm just not bright enough to be scared ;) lol

[@jeffherder2609]

As a new diver, you answered so many questions that I had about certifications. This will really help with my scuba learning journey. Thank you!!

[@thegregescape]

Great video! I have only one thought: Drysuit I don't know what it's like in the rest of the world... and I've never rented a drysuit before (I bought my own right after OW)... but here in Manitoba, Canada (the prairies) you will absolutely be asked to show your drysuit cert when renting a drysuit. Shops here in Winnipeg will not rent out a DS without a cert. So, regionally, the DS cert in my opinion is essential, not an add on. :)

[@richardhouser2414]

I was surprised that Ice was listed as essential, and Drysuit was not. I live in MI, and had issues finding someone that would allow me to take Ice in a wetsuit (with an established low SAC in cold water - plus shallow lake, excellent wetsuit fit, and previous confined water experience). It took two years to get into a class with a competing agency, and I almost had to drive 3hrs each way.

[@BjerkeRobin]

I get why they require some form of proof that you know whats what ith dry suit. The way you manage your buoyancy is entirely different, and novice ivers with poor control, trim and improper weighting can get into some really nasty spots if they don't know how to manage the air in the suit. Especially considering a rental suit may not be the best fit always. Everything from the feet first rocket mentioned in the video to severe suit squeeze and general michelin man ungainlyness can easily ensue. If I was renting out stuff I would want to be covered from the shenanigans of idiots.

[@lukem2889]

My friend did his OW in Calgary and taking a drysuit certification was mandatory as well. I think the dive shop was trying to cover their butt, because when you're in 8-10C water in summer, even with a 7mm wetsuit you may still experience some cold stress, and not only would that be dangerous but also pretty uncomfortable (it may even turn you off the hobby completely)

[@derpartyrapper]

Not only renting but its an insurance thing too.

[@svolkmer]

I see that both ways. If you were certified in a shortly in warm water, then yes, you need to take a class for sure. If the drysuit was part of your OW course because it's cold where you learned, I'd say probably not. Learning the basics of drysuit diving would likely be part of the OW course.

[@KevinMalliaTheMaker]

I am a new diver and only been diving fir two years. Last month I just got my Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certification. I felt this was an awesome video and extremely helpful. Thank you for the advice. I really enjoy you videos, keep them coming 👍🏽

[@1985rbaek]

List of courses that are a must have here in Denmark: Nitrox Dry suit (it gets cold in the winter on the surface as well, small boats and often long time until getting on land). First aid / probably rescue diver under ssi (we have CMAS as sports diver club, which contain it under two star). For historical interest, I recommend wreck and deep diving courses. I would say night dive is a bs course, because it is mostly to remember to have 2 lights with you, and circumstances doesn't differ that much from a low visibility dive (you only need like 3 signals with the light), in which you get a lot of in this area of the world.

[@nathanjohnson9231]

Just finished my OW and trying to decide where to go next. Thankfully I have a great instructor who seems to agree with this video and is suggesting first I get several easy dives under my belt, and after that get the courses that are really necessary, like the Deep diving. He offered Enriched Air combined with OW, so I'm already starting with that. He took time with me over the last several weeks to discuss what my diving goals were, both immediate and long term, and discuss what certs I needed, and what I could learn without taking a class directly. He'll sell me whatever course I want, and I know he has some card collector clients, but he also knows not everything needs a card. I passed on another local shop whose plan is OW straight to AOW straight to MD (I think) with all training classes and no outside experience. May be fine for some people, but not what I'm looking for.

[@skyisblue987]

Spot on! I'm an instructor and I'M 100% AGREED WITH YOU! Thank you for sharing this.

[@austinsings666]

This video has so much more views and likes compared to your other vids, glad you’re starting to get the recognition and appreciation you deserve!! Hopefully they watch the other videos for more great content

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Austin! Appreciate your support, buddy! This was a good hit for us. Plenty more coming! James

[@darkburnstar9269]

Took a screenshot, subscribed & liked your video. Unfortunately a lot of establishments are $ driven. I have my OW & FFM cert., waiting on quarantine to be over to do my AOW/ Nitrox & my Deep diver cert. Happy to see I didn’t fall into the “other” categories 👍🏼

[@chrisl129]

You just saved me time and money. I’ve completed my OWD, but wasn’t sure which Essential to take, but was told some of the BS ones I need to take ...thanks for posting this video 👌

[@zedbox]

Hey James. PADI to BSAC to GUE diver here. I discovered you and subbed about a month ago via a friend who's interested in getting into the sport. I'm really enjoying your content and woukd thoroughly recommend it as essential viewing to any new or developing divers. Love your bluntly honest attitude, and how you never hesitate to say it how it is. Always for the betterment of others. Good job.

[@ellendinsmore1362]

Loved Peak Performance Buoyancy and recommend it to new divers. It was helpful in me building confidence back when I did it and it was a lot of fun. I still laugh when I recall some of the antics of our group.

[@melvinpasleyadaptivescubai7301]

Amazing, you said exactly what I always stay. "If an instructor trys to sell you a peak performance buoyance course, you should demand your money back for your basic open water course". SCUBA Basic Open Water standards of most (pretty sure all) Certification agencies require the student to demonstrate "competency in buoyancy control". My students must hover a foot above the pool bottom, come to midwater in the pool then 1 foot below the surface and back to 1 foot off the bottom with only lung control before we leave the pool for the open water. Open water, max depth is 5 feet above the bottom (and above 60 feet) at all times. We will do skills above the bottom and not kneeling ever on the bottom. Handicapped SCUBA Association International (HSA) and NAUI Instructor

[@johntchibukdjian2901]

Nice to see an instructor be so honest.there again honesty is not on commision

[@adambokfi8700]

Great video! I find your content very useful, practical and straightforward.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Adam!

[@sharpeye6760]

Love the videos and you're sense of humour is perfect

[@louwgreeff6591]

Propably the very best and most informative info i ever came across and a agree 100% with your selections on criteria.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Louw!

[@andrestherock1]

I took the navigation course and was amazing was an extension of the aow training, the exercises that I made help me to improve my skills and I feel very happy to had taken this course. By the way good videos!

[@bobthediverdudemerrick6811]

I absolutely love this video, the honesty, the delivery, and everything else about it. Much of it is pure common sense. Everything you do when diving, you get better with more dives. So anything that is just going to teach you how to wear a mask better, be better at buoyancy, take better pics, hunting, whatever, you will get better at it the more you do it, and getting help from someone that does it a lot, is way better. DEEP DIVING, Nitrox, Wrecks, caverns, that should be all common sense to someone. You can't do these things without serious training and you do not want to unless you like dying. Pure and simple.

[@devonsjourney7901]

Finishing up my open water certification this was super helpful info thank you !

[@michaelnieuwenhuizen]

Great video. Totally agree with the stuff you said. I've never given any specialty courses and fortunately my dive school never pushed them.

[@peterklepec7673]

Just love it. Our list looks almost identical. Thanks for this, most of B.S. courses are actually a pure robbery. 30 years ago, when I started, most of the courses were complex in the sense that e.g. ice diving was not only a weekend course and had dry suit incorporated . And so on ...

[@grene1955]

This had me laughing out loud! I have my Advanced, Dry Suit and Nitrox certs. You are , in my opinion, mostly right on. I decided to get my nitrox cert after getting bent diving in the Pac NW in Washington State, USA. That was 20 years ago, and I haven't used it since. But I still appreciate the extra knowledge I gained. I think if you dive a lot, and have a lot of diving friends, you can learn a lot from them. But if you dive a few times a year, mostly on vacation, a real dive class can be a great refresher, and remind you of the skills you may be rusty on.

[@kentemple6498]

Just found your channel and I must say, "Great content with great enthusiasm and passion!!! Love it! It is so refreshing and validating to hear you say what I've thought for years. Some of these classes are total BS. My OW instructor and I spoke of this very topic when I wanted further training and I'll never forget what he said about the Boat Diving cert; "If you wanna learn how to dive from a boat, lets book a charter and go diving from a boat." LOL! I speculated early on in my dive career that many of the add on specialty classes were simply money makers for the dive agency and I still believe that to be true. Wanna attain perfect buoyancy, dive more often and with divers who have more experience than you. Great content in this video and your categorized chart is spot on. Safe diving.

[@tomlester4597]

Thx for your candor and honesty

[@louwgreeff6591]

By far the most valuable piece of info i ever got and i fully agree on your selection criteria. Thanks you James for the best info ever. That said where i dive its a small close diving community and we have a pretty passionate instructor earning his living / money elsewhere, that said he will certainly not try sell you a bs course, however a good weekend of propper diving ( we dive mainly deep lakes ) will put you back a fair ammount of dollars in terms of bottle rental and nitrox refills. The cost of the gas and bottle rent may exceed the amount of a small bs course, which we then buy from the instructor who only charges us the ammount due in commision for the said training agency and adds no personal profit. We pay him for that in copious ammounts af alcohol after a good day of diving. Bonus is the proposed bs course content includes kit en bottle/gas, we actually use or abuse the system a little, all these courses have a min duration or ammount of dives but none specify a max number and these are incl in the costs of the said course at the expense of the agency. Thus we get to pay less for a bs course and save more than what a normal bottle rent/ refill weekend would cost you and bonus is you get the plasticy thingi for braging rights

[@splitti]

Awesome video, thanks so much for this honest review! One thing I would classify differently tho is CPR. IMHO that is essential - You might not have to show the card, but it's a prerequisite for the PADI rescue diver and you can't really properly learn by observing or asking others, I think. If you dive a lot, you hopefully won't need it, but keeping it fresh in your mind is definitely not a bad idea.

[@els1284]

Cracking video. I was just about to get sucked into this trap. I am planning my advanced course and was going to pick buoyancy over Nitrox as I thought it would help me be safer. Your right. I can learn on point buoyancy at my dive club. Great video. 10/10.

[@DiversReady]

Hi Pete! Thanks for watching! You can also ask an Instructor or DM to go dive with you and give you some skills and drills. There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve your buoyancy, you just don't need to pay for a formal course to do it! Keep rocking buddy! James

[@louwgreeff6591]

No such crap as a buoyancy course i.m.o, do another 10 dives, get yourself a smb and play around with that and before you know it you mastered it yourself

[@kencochrane8795]

Excellant video. In the old days when I was certified, we didn’t even have Nitrox! Open Water was about it! Been diving for around 60 years!

[@MrDallaskincaid]

As always, you nailed it with pragmatic advice.

[@ilciavo]

I love this video!! My wife and I have finished our dry suit certification with IDEA, and it was worth it. This week we'll do NITROX with PADI and hopefully ice diving in winter. Do you have a video comparing diving organisations ?

[@yurgon]

Loving your videos! You popped up on my home screen from the algorithm since I've been searching all things diving. I recently graduated to Open Water Diver with Nitrox. I'm definitely going to progress my skills and asked myself this exact question. Thanks for addressing it. I figured some classes were better off being learned by seeking advice from other proficient divers ( not necessarily instructors) and I had a feeling some courses would most definitely need to be administered by a trained professional instructor. I'm going to copy the list you made. I've subscribed now as this is around the 6 or 7th video I've watched from you and I'm a fan. I also live in Florida. I'm in the Tampa Bay area. I'd love to join you on a dive some day. My current end goal is cave diving. I'm sure I'll seek some of the other disciplines such as dry suit, rescue diver, search and rescue ,night, solo and deep diving. I'm most likely going to knock out most everything else as a progress to cave and do that last. Cave diving appears to me to be the highest risk, but I'd love to be able to start doing it within a few years from now.

[@jpmproductions862]

Hey James, great video. I have OW w/Drysuit, Nitrox, AOW, RESCUE DIVER instructor included Emergency O2 Provider, and Deep. Scheduled DM-however COVID-19 interuptus.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

I’m getting ready to get my basic open water cert in the next few months and am already setting goals that I want to attain. (Master diver eventually). This video really helped me write down a list of speciality certs that I should get to help me get there. I love your videos, keep me coming!!

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Robert! Good luck with your OW course. Where are you doing it? Thanks for watching. James

[@Robert_H_Diver]

Divers Ready live in Tuscaloosa, AL. There are a few dive centers about an hour or so away. Probably going to do it at scuba ventures in Pelham, AL.

[@seanspartan2023]

Excellent video! I am in agreement with most if it. I would add Rebreather (probably as Add-on) and Cave (as Essential Access).

[@marcverfaillie8358]

I have been diving for 24 years and fully agree with what you said... been a divemaster for 21 years... the more you dive the more experienced you shall become...👌👌

[@BigJacoblhc]

Thank you for this video. It helped clarify somethings.

[@jpmproductions862]

Thanks James. I am fairly new, OW/Dry suit together in APRIL 2019, Nitrox MAY 2019, AOW MAY 2019. Waiting on dry suit to arrive for Rescue diver course.

[@DiversReady]

Love it! Thanks for watching JPM Productions! James

[@wirdahrajab3103]

This is awesome. Thanks james!

[@kirkcooper8184]

Thanks for the table with three columns in it for each box I’ve screen shorted so now have the list I can use when I start 😊

[@DiversReady]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mxaexm]

Great video! I’m about to take the refresher course (It’s been many years since I got certified). The next class I might take will be the buoyancy (I know from the BS list!) the reason being, we are still a few months before our season opens up and the buoyancy class in the pool might be fun as an additional refresher...so it all depends on the experience, expectations etc.

[@sorenweisshartmann]

Thank you for yet another excellent video and providing relevant content. Keep them coming :)

[@DiversReady]

Thanks, will do! James

[@sethghantous2084]

Working on my DM now and this was very helpful information

[@joshrowland4595]

James, I could not agree more. Nothing in the BS section did i need an instructor for and the Add on section i would agree with you on as well and i think you are spot on in the Essentials. Thanks again for more great content.

[@derpauloferreira]

Great advice! Thanks 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@gelsaesser]

I’m a new diver. Love your channel. Thank you!

[@DiversReady]

Welcome!! Thanks George!

[@InternetOblivion]

Thanks for this. I'm hoping to take my sidemount soon!

[@markthomson6912]

Good video good honest advice 😉

[@mikehodges8286]

I really appreciate this and many of your other videos that help people navigate the dive training/certification industry. My first experience was SSI/OW during a three month University course taught by a commercial/Tec Instructor back in the mid 90’s. We spent three hours per week in the classroom and pool. You would have thought we were training for a S.E.A.L/Special Boat Service mission! I see and hear a lot of his attitude/philosophy on diving and dive training in these videos. Now PADI AOW/Nitrox.... looking to work on Deep and Wreck Specialty next. Keep posting these great insights into the world of Scuba Diving!

[@DiversReady]

Mike, thanks! I appreciate your kind words. That’s kind of how I learned in the 90s too! It was eight weeks of 2hrs in the classroom before we even got in the pool.

[@mcmoore02]

​ I learned the same way in the 80s with a comprehensive OW course taught by an experienced commercial instructor. Now, I have switched to PADI and they want a cert for almost every nit pick e.g. I did deep dives (120') as part of OW, but now you have to take AOW or the divemasters say "how can you prove you have experience at that depth? I don't trust your log book." Now I have a card 🎉🙂.

[@saar144]

Cavern speciality, also known as Suicide speciality.

[@antoinev5144]

Very interesting, and I agree with you... based on the criteria that you mentioned. That's important because it allows for everyone to make their own list. As an example, I put Drysuit in the essential column for me: that's because I learned to dive in tropical waters, and only recently moved to NYC. Without Drysuit, I cannot dive (and learn additional skills) around home now, so it's definitely a stepping stone for me to then go with Deep and Wreck.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Antoine! I learned to dive in England and did my OW course in a Dry Suit. I never did a Specialty Course because it was all I knew. If I did my OW in a wetsuit, I would have definitely needed a Dry Suit specialty class. Thanks for watching. James

[@terrywalker41]

thanks for your chart of essentials. it does assist in the progression of certifications

[@kidoptikoftalmologiepediat4511]

Great video again! I have a different point as it regards navigation and drysuit. Navigation goes to add ons and dry suit to essential. Try to find your way in an unknown place and without compass, bad visibility, or at night...You get the point. A dry suit can harm or kill you if not used and maintained properly. So I would take formal training for myself.

[@CorrupteddSanity]

this session was hilarious and truthful - thanks

[@mikegamerguy4776]

Everything I needed to know about shore diving I learned in my Night/LowVis class lol.

[@tristanfoy9073]

In general I think this a good video. My thoughts: If you like to learn formally and study, a bookish person like myself, don't be afraid to take any of these courses, even if they are in the first or second categories. I took PPB (Peak Performance Buoyancy) for example. Did I really need it? Probably not. Would I have figured everything out? With enough time and advice from divers, possibly. But it fast tracked a lot of those details into a few hours instead of months of diving. What did I learn specifically? I learned about positioning the tank differently on my back (for me I needed to place it higher). I also found out I had been overweighted for dozens of dives. My instructor also gave me advice on how to hover which I had been struggling with and still need to practice, but I'm much better at it than I had been. All of these things were specific to me and another dive might not need them, but instead have other blind spots. The point is, find what is valuable to you, and if it is worth actually studying it, then that is your business and don't let anyone convince you that it was wasted money if you personally feel like you've gotten something out of it. (Except for those books. Those thin little things are overpriced, but that's true for most of the courses.)

[@miks8]

Yes all true, but what is the value of that certificate? Why couldn't you just get the instructor to do all that but without Padi issuing you a card?

[@mcmoore02]

@@miks8 Yes, and you can get a lot of the knowledge by viewing KZbin videos and asking feedback questions from buddies / divemasters / instructors. The course information is available in PADI course information for free. Most divemasters and instructors are good at offering PPB feedback to you without paying for a specific certification course. So according to James' categorization, it is BS and I agree. Is PPB essential knowledge to progress, absolutely. And Tristan accelerated this training which made sense to him.

[@samb1097]

Nice video, well justified and explained!

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for watching Samuel! Appreciate ya, brother!

[@karlgiel8891]

Best info ever. I am instructor. Thanks man

[@superbholidays3520]

Brilliant video 👍. As a new PADI diver at “ open water certification” 6 months getting wet .... I have just received my Drysuit certification as the water was 14 degs C at surface and becoming not enjoyable and I wanted to dive through the “ Spanish winter”. And enjoy and not freeze my nuts off. I will now focus on Advanced open water and on essential access. Looking at Nitrox as my next training. I was happy to pay my instructor for the reassurance of using a dry suit under his instruction for the first training dives and pool work ..plus it gave us time to choose a dry suit to buy which would be with me fir a very long time .

[@gkoryniaka]

don't you think AOW is also a BS course? It can be a prerequisite in PADI, but if you go with SDI (for example) you can skip this and just do the deep speciality

[@philbaugh6076]

Nice one James, love your content! I would pretty much align with you on this topic. I’m aiming for Divemaster, up to Rescue so far, but the only courses I will be doing are dry suit, because I’m in the UK and want to dive at home and be safe, deep and nitrox, everything else for me is BS 😂

[@gibanez1]

as always you are right on point!

[@briancohen2555]

Just like your other videos, this one is loaded with common sense. I am occasionally asked by my dive shop and other divers if I’m going to take specialty courses or get AOWC. With only a dozen dives under my belt since my OWC from last year, I told them (as you recommended) that I just want to get more experience to perfect buoyancy, equalizing, breathing, trim, etc. This is all very similar to martial arts, which I’ve trained on for over 13 years. Almost all instructors now guarantee that if you pay testing fees, along with class fees, you’ll get your black belt (sometimes in a year). But it actually is a matter of what you know through years of training, not your rank or certification.

[@barryinkpen6026]

Yup; I agree 100% Well done.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Barry!

[@pauldesmarais8104]

This was awesome. I am emerging as a diver and at just over 100 dives am justn ow starting to feel in control in a variety of dive conditions. I've done the deep diver (SSI) and Mitrix (PADI) courses and agree, 100% with Boat, Computer, Drift, Ecosystem/Fish ID, Beach/Shore, Hunter, and Photo/Videographer courses as B.S. I can see some value in some of them, like navigation and bouyancy for divers who want to jump-start their skill set and learn more quickly; but cannot argue with the reality that you can learn these things informally. Personally, I think the DPV course could be a B.S. listing. A class would accelerate mastery, but skills will come down to practice more than training. I love the whole - I am a horrible underwater photographer thing, because, though I am a retired professional photojournalist, my under water photos suck, not because I don't know how to make good pictures, but because good photography is effortful and when I'm diving I am in the moment and enjoying the unique environment first, second, and third. Taking pictures is a an ancillary thing I do to help me relive the diving later. I just do not put the effort into thinking about composition, lighting, focus and so on during the dive. Otherwise, I think the list is spot-on and a good guide for people with limited budgets who want to prioritize their scuba training.

[@martinpacatang5652]

Thank you You open my mind. I love you man.

[@davesharkey5904]

I did the Drysuit course and found it was worth it. I dive in the UK so it has value for me. Plus, the drysuit can cause problems if you don't understand how to use it.

[@cameron1229]

Great video; I would lean more on maybe moving the drysuit course from add on to essential. Because if someone wanted to pursue a public safety diving career/classes, dry suit cert is required!

[@graemefraser3553]

Hi James. You may be a horrible photographer, but you do know how to make great KZbin videos. Very entertaining and informative. Keep 'em coming. I'll be sure to point students to your site. Anyway, back to teaching in a cold, muddy puddle in Blighty! Thanks. Graeme

[@DiversReady]

Thanks Greame! Appreciate your support, buddy. James

[@ryanandrews321]

I already have Wreck Nitrox and Deep. Sidemount Ice and Cavern are my next goals and I’m so glad they’re listed on the essential!! I do want my drysuit and Night dive courses as well as Add Ons too but already have experience with a drysuit so

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for sharing! Dive safe.

[@joeyboombots3089]

James, love your site, I’ve been binge watching! I am surprised your chart did not include Rescue Diver among the essential access courses. Do you consider this an essential course? Clearly it is not a complete list in all categories, but you did leave 3 empty essential boxes. I have NAUI advanced diver with PADI Photography Specialty. I did learn to take great photo’s from Reid McNeil in Grand Cayman in 1992.

[@hpeterson10579]

I am new to the sport and was all prepared for one of the bs classes! You’ve saved me time, money, and helped me focus thank you!

[@hpeterson10579]

Oh forgot! If I dive in Cozumel and drift dive I don’t need a specially certification? That’s one of the bs ones

[@DiversReady]

Great to hear!

[@DiversReady]

No, you shouldn't. I can't think of anywhere that requires one. Just be sure to pay full attention to the dive briefing for drift diving procedures and follow the in-water guide (if they provide one.)

[@benoitfaraut6369]

Awsome video thx a lot !

[@davidmoffitt5681]

I agree with your assessment that much of this is just about the certification agency and the teachers getting paid. I do think that more is better from a learning perspective so getting exposure to concepts that perhaps a person (who isn't a self-starter) would otherwise not, is a good thing. I was surprised that night wasn't in the right column however. All in, a very good video.

[@jeffmitchell2276]

Perfectly stated. There are a few classes that are well worth taking. None, in and of themselves, make you an expert. That being said, I believe all of them are useful for simply keeping skills sharper and to co tinue to learn about this awesome sport.

[@garyjohnson8641]

Excellent synopsis of specialty course’s James, and very helpful to see them classified into relevant groups like that. Just a little pointer though, my other half and I did the PADI Public Safety Diver course in the uk a few years ago and required both drysuit and full face mask specialties before undertaking the PSD course. Now I know it could be argued that the PSD certification is totally superfluous in the UK as not recognised by any professional body for purpose of working, that is obviously covered by HSE level certifications. However, strictly speaking, outside of the UK it may be more relevant. That said, we both really enjoyed the PSD course done with Island Divers in the Isle of Wight, it was challenging and very rewarding, and moreover, we have adopted many of the principles learnt in the course in our day to day diving. I mostly wanted to do the course as I simply enjoy the learning experience and having been a diver for nearly 30 years, a tech diver for 20 of those, and an recreational instructor for nearly the last 10 years, I still get a buzz out of expanding my knowledge and skills and therefore hunt out courses that may push my boundaries a little further. All the best, Gary Johnson

[@CoupleVloggerInAustralia]

I am an advanced open water diver and as soon as I landed to seeing this video I knew my peak performance buoyancy certification wud be a BS LOL. I knew it from the time I finished this specialty and till date I don't know my weight-checks & trim. I'd rather go out diving more to arrive at the right weights OR consult someone. Awesome vid James. Gr8 going. Thumbs Up.

[@petermackichan9762]

Hi. I really enjoyed your video. Some other add on courses people might be interested in that require certification are: Advanced Nitrox, Mixed Gas Blending, Trimix, Intro to Cave Diving, Advanced Cave Diving and Decompression Diving. I realize that most of these are Technical Diving but they are all interesting. I really appreciate your honesty about the fluff courses.This is my first time to your site and I subscribed.

[@DiversReady]

Hi Peter! Thanks and welcome to the channel! James

[@5150norcal]

Great video. I agree with your list. Curious, is there a particular subject of diving you think should have its own course, but does not?

[@billhazel4476]

Thank you for your videos and insight! I'm a PADI DM with I think about 12 specialties over the course of three years. Some were no doubt a waste of money/time but one good aspect is it got me in the water much more and sort of forced me to get over initial discomfort. Also a couple were PADI Distinctive specialties which to me were "nice to have " as it was geographically geared. Please continue giving the truly valuable advice as I incorporate it in my advice to my fiancé who recently obtained her PADI MSD credential.

[@billhazel4476]

Oh By the way my list of specialties are as follows: Boat, Drift, Night, Peak Performance, Tokai Comoran (WWI/WWII ships colocated) Guam Shore Diver, Guam Blue Hole Diver, Wreck, EAN, Underwater Navigator, Self Reliant, and Deep.

[@DiversReady]

@@billhazel4476 That's awesome! Thanks so much for watching. Guam?! Awesome!

[@codyrivera6219]

Now I know what to focus on after my Open water training is done ☺️

[@searcher9]

Brother, you are spot on. Took a Divemaster Course, a few years back. The curriculum was good, instructors were amazing, most of the staff were pretty decent. Watching your vid however, gives you a whole new point of view. I remember thinking during the Underwater Photography phase.."man, what a waste of money and time!, this Go Pro sucks, I hate it, and I hate taking UW photos" lmao. Peak performance buoyancy though, I disagree on. As a public safety diver, we always "catfished" straight to the bottom, and heavy because we were searching. However on a recreational dive, I struggled with it for years. The course I took as part of the Divemaster cert. was really insightful. I got some major tips from the instructors and I would strive to emulate them. As I got better during the weeks, I would see once or twice a year divers come on trips and absolutely destroy decades of coral growth by stepping on it and breaking it, because they were weighted way too heavy. Your other essentials are all on point, but I dont fancy penetrating any wrecks, or going into caves. I definitely see the value though.

[@graememckay9972]

Awesome video. I saw a PADI speciality badge board in a Scottish dive centre.If you got every badge there wouldn't be suit big enough to display them on and that's when I realised "Put Another Dollar In" was purely a moneymaker. Went to a PADI centre on holiday. Our guide would take us near wrecks. We asked if there was exclusion zones. He said we weren't qualified wreck divers. We had trimix, rebreather, advanced open water, instructors of various levels in the group who had all dived Scapa, Narvik, Truk. He took us into the wreck. We asked if we could go at night. No, we weren't qualified night divers. We stopped using a guide after that. He said that was how the centre made money. They would do OW near a wreck, student would then be sold AOW but told they would need wreck diver before going into it. They would rave about the night life on the wreck to sell the night diver course. Show photos of all the fish to sell the photography course. Tell them about a better bigger wreck that needed a boat diver course and suggested a DSMB course before boat diving. Since they were so qualified it made sense to become a divemaster where 1st aid course and rescue Diver course would be great. We then found out on the last night in the pub that our guide had only been diving for 1 year after a mid life crisis and divorce, he fled to work as an intern at the dive centre and that where he'd learned everything he knew. Diving, teaching almost every day for a year on a dozen or so sites and racked up 2000 dives ( he included pool sessions).

[@christhomson1874]

I would include drysuit in essential. It is a different way of diving. Buoyancy control and skills are different, streamlining is different, it’s very different. It also leads into cold water / ice diving as you can. Or do these without a drysuit. I would not feel safe giving someone a drysuit n letting them crack on. you can be shown how to use it and not certified but that’s true of all courses. I could show you how to use side-mount and not certify you. Great video thought!

[@cziasai]

Hi James. Really like your content and the great "real" info you provide. If I have a drysuit and deep speciality, is there much left to complete my AOWD? Thanks.

[@chadpharris]

I'm so glad I found this video. I just decided not to do the Video course on my upcoming trip. I like the idea of finding someone that is very good at it and hiring them.

[@diveaddict6885]

Great points. Thoughts on side mount certification? So many people think side mount courses are a waste of time. In my book it’s a stepping stone

[@jonathanchadwickartsandadv712]

I agree!.... I do believe all you really need is an open water diver course... everything else comes with experience and keeping up skills and learning new knowledge... unless you want to do a specific type of diving that you need training to be safe... like cave diving, penetration ship diving, nitrox, tec diving etc.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for watching Jonathan! Glad you liked the video! James

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Excellent video. I once wanted to do the National Geographic diver course. The school actually turned me down saying that it wasn't really needed. That was good for a financial perspective for me, which I appreciated, but that is a card I would like to have. I know it wouldn't lead to anything but I could frame it and hang it next to my acre of land on the moon.

[@jaxent]

I did one of the B.S. certs, but I think it was a good idea. I had not dived for about 15 years, already advanced certified and I didn't really think the quick refresher in the pool was enough to get me back on my game so I did a peak performance buoyancy. It was good to do the drills with the instructor and get a couple actual ocean dives in. But as for drift diver, no need, the southeast coast of Florida is going to teach you that right away 🙂, nothing but drift.

[@anavanesaroman]

Thanks for all your wonderful content

[@DiversReady]

Glad you enjoy it!