An Underwater World of Mystery
When we think of wreck diving we tend to immediately envision a shipwreck. Thoughts of what might have happened while the ship was making its journey across the sea. We wonder who was on the ship and what happened to them. Were they pirates that went down in a massive storm? Was it the result of a great battle in the midst of an ongoing war? We begin to entangle ourselves in the mysteries of that submerged vessel. It’s this mystery that drives us to want to explore even more of our underwater world. It’s why we yearn to develop our scuba training to be able to breach the thresholds and really get a feel for what their life was like. This is why we become a Wreck Diver!
Underwater Wrecks Are More Than Ships
Not all wrecks are ships. When we talk about wreck diving we must include an assortment of objects that were abandoned in the water. Wrecks to us divers include ships sunk for artificial reefs, airplanes, lost cargo such as tanks and even sunken bridges. Yes, even the buses and helicopters put into the lake we train in are considered wreck dives. Diving in and around these abandoned relics requires a different skill set than what we learned to safely dive over reefs. This is where your PADI Wreck Diver course comes in.
How Your Wreck Diver Course Works
You will begin your Wreck Diver course by learning the guidelines for searching and respecting wrecks. Then, you will go over the safety considerations for navigating and exploring wrecks. Next, you will perform four dives under the guidance of an Instructor. During your dives, you will be surveying and mapping a wreck. Also, you will learn how to use penetration lines and reels to guide your exploration. Finally, you will practice techniques to avoid kicking up silt or disturbing the wreck. By the end of your course you'll be ready to explore the most sought after wreck sites in the world in Truk Lagoon!
Looking for a great wreck to dive? The guys at Red Bull compiled a list of some amazing wrecks from around the world. Many of these wrecks are available to divers of every level.
