Learn to Scuba Dive – Northern Virginia – The PADI Master Scuba Diver
Over the past few weeks we have looked at several of the many scuba classes that are available to us in Scuba Continuing Education. We started with the entry level scuba certification or Open Water Course and worked up to the Professional Scuba Diving Certification or Divemaster Program.
Scuba Diving Courses and Scuba Diving Certifications: Recreational vs Professional
From the beginner scuba course or Open Water Course to the more advanced like the PADI Advanced Open Water Course you learn basic scuba diving skills. When you add the PADI Rescue Diver certification you add skills in dive accident management. This in turn makes you a better diver and a safer scuba diver.
We spoke about the PADI Divemaster program as recognizing those that achieve professional level dive skills and entry to the professional scuba diving certification, perhaps leading on to Scuba Instructor.
However, what distinguishes the recreational diver that achieves a higher skill level? That is one of the benefits of the PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification.
The PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification
PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
The PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification is a recreational rating that denotes a scuba diver who has achieved a well rounded background in scuba diving and has also amassed a certain amount of scuba diving experience. Just what is a PADI Master Scuba Diver?
To earn this distinguished scuba diving certification a diver must have completed not only the Open Water Diver Certification but the PADI Advanced Open Water Certification as well. These two scuba diving certifications show that the scuba diver possess not only the basic skills to properly scuba dive but has taken the time to add five more dives and several more essential skills and experiences.
The PADI Rescue Diver
The PADI Rescue Diver course is also required showing that the scuba diver not only has general scuba diving skills but also has knowledge about potential problems that can occur when scuba diving and more importantly how to safely deal with these problems. Divers completing the PADI Rescue Diver Course must also be current in CPR and First Aid and have usually completed the Emergency First Response First Aid & CPR Course.
The PADI Specialty Diver
PADI offers a host of Specialty Dive Courses that offer the scuba diver the opportunity to experience several different types of scuba diving. A few of the more popular PADI Specialty Courses are: PADI Underwater Photography where you learn the skills required to safely take photographs underwater. In this course you learn about underwater photographic techniques, and underwater camera equipment. You also learn the basics about editing your photographs and proper photographic composition. This scuba course includes completing two scuba dives using an underwater camera system.
The PADI Wreck Diver course covers the basics of safely diving and exploring sunken ship wrecks. Proper safety techniques an precautions while wreck diving are covered and the diver will complete four dives on a wreck to enhance their experiences.
Since many ship wrecks lie in deep water the PADI Deep Diver course is another popular choice. During the Deep Diver Specialty the diver will complete four dives at depths greater then 50 feet, learning the physiological differences in diving deep versus dives that are made to shallower depths.
As we said earlier there are literally dozens of different PADI Dive Specialties. The PADI Master Scuba Diver is well rounded and to qualify for the PADI Master Scuba Diver certification the diver must complete any five of these exciting dive specialty courses.
Last but by all means not least the PADI Master Scuba Diver must have personally logged a minimum of 50 logged scuba dives. This shows that the diver has a fair amount of scuba diving experience. While the Master Scuba Diver certification is not a professional rating it does show that the diver has taken the time to become an experienced and well rounded diver. It is an accomplishment of which to be proud.
