Wreck Diver

3 Days

Course may be completed in sidemount or backmount

Wreck diving can be one of the most exciting aspects of diving, however the hazards of wrecks and the overhead environment dictate special care and techniques for wreck diving. The Wreck Diver Specialty Course will discuss the equipment and techniques commonly employed while wreck diving. This course will be taught as a limited penetration course, requiring three dives. Limited penetration is defined as a swim through or within the ambient light of the entry point.

Who this course is for:

Individuals who wish to know more about the wreck diving including:

• Researching wrecks

• Mapping wrecks

• Proper use of lines while wreck diving

• Exploring underwater history

Course prerequisites:

• Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent

• Minimum age 18

• Divers must have a Deep and Nitrox Specialty certifications in order to commence this course

What you can expect to learn:

The Wreck Specialty course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• Why wreck dive?

• Surface supports

  • Communications, when and if necessary

  • Back-up procedures

• Buddy system

  • Buddy positioning in overhead environment

  • Maintaining contact in limited visibility

• Navigation/charting

  • Usage of a dive slate for mapping

  • Pre-planning the dive using information on the wreck

  • Directional determination

  • Vertical, horizontal, and feature identification

• Emergency Procedures

  • Lost buddy

  • Light failure

  • Lost line

  • Out of air

• Special equipment

  • Gas redundancy

  • Lights: primary and backup, size, burn time, and usage

  • Knifes and cutting devices

• Limited visibility diving

  • Silt-out

  • Psychological considerations

  • Light usage

  • Importance of light and backup

• Life lines and reels

  • Type of line

  • Tie-offs

  • Markers - directional and non-directional

  • Laying line in a wreck. This will be practiced on land prior to performing this skill underwater

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course graduates may:

• Plan and execute a wreck dive

• Dive wrecks that are similar to the type of wrecks they were exposed to during training

COURSE FEE

The fee for this course is NZD $395 incl. GST. Course fees include instruction. Course manual, and certification fees, boat fees, accommodation and gases are at additional cost. Note: Instructor boat and accommodation costs are shared amongst course participants.

Certification

Students who successfully complete the course will receive the SDI Wreck Diver specialty certification. This certification also counts towards a single specialty rating to complete the SDI Advanced Diver Development program and the SDI Master Scuba Diver Development program.