Whether sunk on purpose as an artificial reef or the result of an accident, act of war or just plain stupidity, wrecks open fascinating windows to the past. Most divers find wrecked ships, aeroplanes and even the odd parcel force van nearly irresistible because they’re exciting and intriguing to explore, often interesting to research, and usually teeming with aquatic life. The PADI Wreck Diver programme teaches you the knowledge, skills and techniques required for safe, rewarding and responsible wreck diving.
The fun part of the PADI Wreck Diver is diving wrecks, obviously! Unlocking their mysteries and starting to gain the knowledge and experience that allows you to see things that others overlook. Sometimes only the trained and experienced eye recognises that a small hole or open door is the likely cause of the vessel’s untimely end.
So, whether wrecks interest you for their historical value or because they are artificial reefs with an abundance of life, the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty will help you get the most from diving on these man-made denizens of the deep.
Minimum age: 15 years
Course prerequisites: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
What will I do?
You will have two and a half days of intense wreck diver training to complete. In our fully equipped multi-media classrooms, you will learn how to deal with many different scenarios, from how to survey a wreck, right up to how to prepare to and penetrate a wreck.
You will put into practice what you learn in a combination of skills in four open water training dives including the use of lines and other wreck related equipment, culminating in actually penetrating and exploring the inside of a wreck with your PADI Instructor.
During your programme you will cover the following:
- Techniques for diving and exploring shipwrecks and how to avoid common hazards
- How to research and learn the background of your favourite wrecks
- Equipment considerations for wreck diving
- Considerations and techniques for safe penetration of a wreck
- Experience in planning, organising and making at least four wreck dives under the supervision of your PADI Instructor
How do I get started?
Just pick your dates if you can and pay your £125 deposit and you will receive your PADI Wreck Diver eLearning login details. Don’t worry if you can’t commit to a date straight away. There are plenty scheduled throughout the year and you can get started on the home study as soon as you have received your eLearning code.
How long will it take?
The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty takes place over one weekend. Starting on the Friday evening at 6.30pm, you will review the theory sections from the PADI Wreck Diver manual and watch the PADI Wreck Diver DVD with your Instructor. The Saturday and Sunday will cover all the practical sessions during four open water training dives.
What will I need?
The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty is open to all divers over the age of 15 years who hold the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.
Once you have booked onto your PADI Deep Diver you will receive your PADI Deep Diver manual to start you on your way. You will also need your own dive torch and reel, both of which can be purchased from the shop when you arrive for your course. It is always a good move to buy your own dive computer for future dives, however we will supply one for the weekend if you prefer.
You will need to fill out a self-certification medical statement. If you have any medical conditions that you think may prevent you from scuba diving, please feel free to contact us and we will try to be of assistance.
All the PADI materials and standard scuba equipment needed to complete the programme are included in the cost. You will need to pay for your entry to the open water dive site and any required air fills while away from the centre. This is approximately £30 a day.
Where can I go from here?
Once you have completed your PADI Wreck Diver Specialty you have started down a road of discovery. Many wrecks are situated in deeper water so your next step may be the PADI Deep Diver Specialty or PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty.
Once you have completed five PADI specialties, the PADI Rescue Diver course and have 50 logged dives you hold all the prerequisites for the PADI Master Scuba Diver certification. This is the highest non-professional rating in the PADI system of diver education.
Here at Aquasport all our Instructors hold this level of recreational certification. We recommend that every diver takes this route regardless of their further ambitions as we see it as a commitment to education and a real achievement.
