For now...let's break them all down....
*Links to SDI Training Standard as example where possible
| Class | Opinion | Taken | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrox | Yes Please Good for AOW | Yes | 10s of thousands of divers never dive with Nitrox. But more and more places will provide Nitrox for free when you rent a tank from them...so you should. One of the cheaper and easier classes to take and you do learn a little bit about gas science. |
| Science of Diving (SSI Specific) | Yes Please Good for AOW | Yes | Super interesting and a deep dive into the science parts of diving. It's also a prerequisite for some of the higher levels. The best theoretical class I have taken so far. Loved it. |
| React Right (SSI Specific) | Yes Please Good for AOW | Yes | How to identify, react and manage an incident. Usually coupled with CPR, AED and O2 delivery class. |
| Rescue Diver | Yes Please | Yes | Put everything together and do some actual emergency scenario practice |
| Drysuit | Yes Please | Yes | Assuming you have or are getting a drysuit you really should get training. You screw this up and you can either die (suit squeeze) or have a really really bad day (feet first ascent) |
| Wreck Diving | Interesting | Yes | Good intro to the proper use of reels and a couple other tricks. Great way to get your first Lake Michigan wreck dive. It is required if you want to take the Advanced Wreck Diving class in the technical track |
| Deep Diving | Interesting Good for AOW | Yes | Not technically needed, but if you feel apprehensive about going deeper than 60ft...you can have an instructor with you for your first couple times down near the gas narcosis zone. There is an argument to be made regarding "not diving beyond your training" that could change your mind into making this MUST DO |
| Navigation | Interesting Good for AOW | Yes | Learn how to use a compass and some other underwater tricks. A good pick if you need a class to get your Advanced Open Water certification or you know you will be doing a lot of shore diving. |
| Night & Limited Vis | Maybe Good for AOW | Yes | Only really interesting if you are nervous in the dark or murky waters. Here in the Chicagoland...we dive in murky waters from day 1 so not real useful as a skill heavy class. |
| Search & Recovery | Interesting | Maybe | I want to go find golf balls, lost drones and help my neighbor find his lost glasses in the pond. Absolutely! |
| Advanced Buoyancy | Meh | Yes | After you have 50 dives under your belt, if you still feel like you need help...then take this class and make damn sure it's from an instructor who has perfect trim themselves. Or better yet, save up a bit more cash and take the GUE Fundies class instead which is 100x better for buoyancy and trim than any other class option. |
| Equipment Specialist | Meh | Yes | Same stuff you learned in OW class, they just use more words. |
| Altitude Diving | Meh | No | There are certain additional risks given the change in pressure that comes with altitude, but extremely rare thing for most of us. |
| Boat Diving | Meh | No | Don't take up too much space and do the "giant stride" they taught you in OW class. I've put together a couple tips I've learned about boat diving. |
| Computer Diving | Meh | No | If you needed a Windows or Mac class last time you bought a computer...take this class. Otherwise...read the manual. |
| Photo & Video | Meh | No | Watch some YouTube videos for free. If you want training to be better than point and shoot...then hire an actual photography person and pay for their time...not the certification course. |
| Drift Diving | Meh | No | Stop kicking. Stay with your buddy. Yup...you just learned to Drift Dive |
| Ecology Programs | Meh | No | Read a book or watch youtube vidoes for free |
But what about....
There are some other classes that you may hear about that I would consider to be in the "Advanced" category and nobody should be taking these classes unless you have over a hundred dives and/or you have exceptional trim and buoyancy control. Most of these will task load the average diver beyond a reasonable limit of safety. You can certainly take the class, many instructors or shops will take your money, but I do not believe it to be wise. But you do you.| Class | Opinion | Taken | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diver Propulsion Vehicle | Interesting | Maybe | I mean come on...who doesn't want to zoom around underwater without actually owning a DPV?! But you don't need the class to rent/buy one if you have that kind of cash. But you probably won't be using it properly or in a safe manner. |
| Closed Circuit Rebreather | Interesting | Maybe | As of mid-2024 there is at least one agency that is marketing a "recreational" Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR). Though they require the same training and pre-requisites of any other rebreather, I don't recommend this until you are well beyond the "Advanced" level of diving and most certainly not to the vast majority of Recreational divers because of the increased complexity of diving a CCR will generally exceed the situational awareness capability of most recreational divers. |
| Solo/Self-Reliant Diver | Interesting | No | Learn about pony bottles and redundancy and being "self-reliant"...I won't ever be solo diving, but it is an interesting course to be sure. |
| Ice Diver | Interesting | Hell. No. | I'd probably freeze to death during the class...but if this is your jam...for love of all things holy...get some training. Frozen water is no joke. |