Advanced Wreck for Deco Divers for 2025

My Course Details

This is how I dive, and what I teach. We will use the six navigational tools, Strobes, Identification, Magnetic Compass, Penetration Lines, Lines of the Wreck, and Exact Depth to insure our ability to navigate into and out of wrecks. It is more than what you read in the book.  

 As a rule, shipwrecks are deeper dives, and this is especially true of Big Steel wrecks. The ability to plan and execute dives requiring mandatory decompression makes longer, more complex wreck penetration dives possible. Shipwreck penetration and decompression diving are almost inseparable. The class I teach is for decompression divers.

 I train students to look at shipwrecks the way I look at shipwrecks. It is all about visualization, perspective and mindset. We cover fundamental skills like equipment, surveying, navigation, decision making, philosophy, and wreck penetration techniques. At the same time, divers learn how to plan and execute penetration dives with proper accommodation for contingencies and a full understanding of the limitations imposed on them by the wreck, decompression, oxygen exposure, and gas supply.   

 All dives for this course will necessitate mandatory decompression. 

Safety  Statement    

Underwater environments are inherently dangerous, with dives requiring mandatory decompression being even more so. Our first priority has to be diver safety, both on the boat, and in the water. We expect student divers to do their best to contribute to our safety goals by minimizing distractions, staying situationally aware, and making mature decisions.    

When – 4 Days of training, and 6 Ocean Dives, in Pompano Beach, Florida.

May 14 – 17,  Wednesday thru Saturday

August 9 – 12,  Saturday thru Tuesday

Schedule  –     

Day  1  –  AM Two Wreck Dives 100′, PM Classroom for Debrief and academics.

Day  2  – AM Two Wreck Dives 100′, PM Classroom for Debrief and academics.

Day  3  – AM Single Wreck Dive 150′, PM Classroom for Debrief and academics.   

Day  4  – AM Single Wreck Dive 150′, PM Classroom for Debrief and academics.  

Prerequisites    

• Minimum Age: 18  
• Minimum Previous Certifications:  
  • TDI Decompression Procedures Diver or equivalent  
  • Basic Wreck Diver Specialty or equivalent  (or Cavern Diver)  
• Proof of at least  100  open water dives  
• Dive Accident Insurance

Certifications    

Upon successful completion of this course you will receive the TDI Advanced Wreck Diver certification. Your Tuition is for the class, not the certification. The certification must be earned  by you meeting the requirements. If you do not meet the standards set by TDI, I might require you to do another day of diving or more depending on the situation, but I will not give up on you! 

Class Size     

For this Class, 4 students maximum, with 1 Instructor and/or Divemaster for every 2 students in the water.    

Student  Costs    

• Tuition – Tuition for this class is $1,700, and it pretty much includes everything, all the training, dive boat charter fees, all air and Nitrox fills (arrive with your cylinders full and ready to dive, and you leave empty), TDI Advanced Wreck Textbook, and all TDI Certification fees.    
• Tips – Tips for the boat crew run $10 to $20 per dive day, depending on the level of service.    
• Equipment – You bring your own equipment. If you do not have all your equipment yet, or you are traveling without cylinders, you can rent equipment.  Please let me know in advance, and I will help you work it out.

Preparation    

• Welcome Email  – I will send you a Welcome Email with information on logistics, information on lodging, and a bunch of supplemental online study materials, consisting of things like informational videos, and articles articles.    I will also send you a copy of the TDI Advanced Wreck Textbook. 
• ZOOM Call – A few days before class, I will schedule a ZOOM call at a time convenient to all. We will go over our Dive Plan for Day One, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have. It will be about an hour to an hour and a half. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable you will be, and the more you will learn.

Weather    

We love South Florida, and this is the Sunshine State!! However, as technical divers we realize that we are at the mercy of the weather and if the weather is not suitable for diving, we might have to cancel the class, as in the case of a hurricane. Typically, this happens once or twice a year.     

It is also possible that we could lose a day or more to bad weather? In this case we might have to move things around in the schedule. We promise to do the best we can to get your dives in, but we cannot compromise your safety to do that. You might want to consider Travel Insurance, or travel dates that leave you some wiggle room?    

Insurance    

• We require student divers to have Dive Accident Insurance, and we recommend DAN Insurance from  Divers Alert Network. Personal Health Insurance, although good, is not sufficient for our requirements.     
• Travel Insurance, and Dive Equipment Insurance, are not bad ideas, but are not required by us.    

Cameras    

We realize that divers love to take photos and videos, and do things like post them online. However, our job is to make the most of our time together, and your job is to learn as much as you can. Cameras are a distraction underwater, so we request you leave them topside, where you can take whatever pictures you want, when you have time.     

Private Instruction    

Private clients make up about 20% of our business. Interested divers can feel free to contact me.

Course equipment requirements

Student divers are already certified for diving to the depths in this class, so I am not going to talk about basic decompression diving equipment that you need, and you are currently using. The required equipment listed below are specifically for the wreck diving portion of our dives. If you have any questions or need greater clarity, you are welcome to contact me and I will do my best to help you.

• Gloves – Wreck diving is a contact sport. Simple hand protection is what you need and if you already have gloves, that will probably work best? I prefer simple Gardening gloves or cut-resistant gloves, like  Dyneema, over neoprene.
• Fins and Booties – Long blade Freediving fins are not suitable.  Open heel fins work best. I do not wear booties, I wear mid height Marine Assault boots, either Altama or Woobies and XL size fins. They are made for. salt water.
• Hood – A hood protects your head inside the wreck. It will keep rust and marine life away from your scalp, and protect you from injury. Personally, I prefer a hooded vest as it keeps rust and other debris from going down my back, as well as protecting my head. 
• Backup Mask – You need a Backup Mask, and a way to carry it. I use a  Vertical Zip Bellows Pocket  glued to my thigh on my wetsuit, but you may want to use another style, or not feel comfortable gluing anything? Some divers really like the Tech Shorts, like the  Apeks Shorts?  
• Regulators    
  • You will need a Primary and a Primary Backup regulator on your Bottom Gas supply, one with a 6′ or longer long hose.   
  • You will need an O2 clean deco gas regulator.   
  • You need a single SPG connected to the first stage regulator, for each gas supply. It is not necessary to have two SPG’s on your Bottom Gas , but you can. I have an SPG and an AI.
• Dive Computer – For this class, You must have a dive computer, with my preference being a  Shearwater Dive Computer. You also will need a backup computer or depth gauge.  
• Dive Planner – You  need a means to plan your dives using your dive computer, Smart Phone, laptop, or tablet. 
• Lights – One Primary, and one Backup are required. I would suggest 1000 lumens minimum.
• Strobe Light – A strobe is optional. I have several, and I will show you how to use it. I like the  Tektite Strobe 6. It is positively buoyant, but a large Bolt Snap will keep it from floating away, and let it lie with the light up for the best visibility.
• SMB  – You will need a good SMB, and you will use it. Bring what you have for an SMB, but no Safety Sausage. We will be hanging on our SMB’s for Deco. Personally, I love the Carter 25# Spearfishing Float with a CO2 inflator. As an instructor, I am responsible for the students, so I can operate the Spearfishing Float and hand off to a student very quickly, in a couple of seconds.
• Spool or Reel – This is to use with your SMB, 100’ minimum line. Bring everything you already own, or get a cheap aluminum spool off of Amazon. You will know more of what you want, after a couple of dives. I like the Dive Rite Slide Lock2 reel.
• Cutting Device – Bring Two knives, not something “like a knife”. Make it sharp  There are reasons.
• Slate  or Notebook  and Pencil – We want to make notes on our dive plan, and notes on the wreck. We will take information into the water, and out of the water. I use a simple Dive Rite wrist Slate. 
• Jon Line – I will supply you with a Jon Line, you supply the Bolt Snap. It will be yours to keep forever, or until you lose it. Feel free to bring your own Jon Line, if you like.   
• Bolt Snap Clip – Bring two spare “Double Enders”, “Double Dogs”, Bolt Snaps, or whatever you want to call them. I used to say, bring a one, but you really need two.  
•  Weight – We have weight if needed.   

   You are free to bring anything else you would like, other than cameras, as they are distracting.   If you have any equipment questions, which you will, please feel free to ask.   

How much is this course?