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johng - 7/22/2009 2:50 PM 
Why do you want 5 specialties?
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Bob01 - 7/22/2009 3:04 PM
Have you tried Scuba New York? Give them a call and ask for Emilio. Another thought, go to Bonaire for a couple of weeks and knock them out.
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I have never understood the wreck certification up here, most of our wrecks are WWI & II or older and have collapsed in and look like junk piles. Other than running lines what is there to learn?
Dutch is not deep, just cold and rarely do NE dive boats go out to deep water. I don’t think any of my NJ dives in the last 30 years has been over 140’
I signed up for a rescue class at a shop near Trenton, the instructor never showed and the shop never rescheduled. I got on another shops list for an equipment class, they called me back two years later. I guess these shops don’t need the money.
There is a meet up club in the Meadowlands that you pay a membership fee to that includes any classes you want to take and they have an active class schedule posted. If you take a few classes a year their fee schedule would be cheaper than doing them at the LDS. I have the link on my home computer, I’ll try to put it up tonight.
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i can understand your frustration about getting your qualifications.
however, i am the complete opposite about wrech diving vs. reef diving. to me, a reef is a reef is a reef, all pretty corals and fishes. but a wreck is specific to a certain locale and photos taken on them cannot be replicated anywhere else. plus i get a thrill learning the history of the wreck and while diving them i always think of the men and woman who built, sailed and died on them.
just my 2cents.
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I don’t know anything about NY diving, but the people at this site might be able to help you. http://www.meetup.com/oceanblue-divers/
This site might also be interesting. It’s about wrecks in NJ and Long Island Sound: http://njscuba.net/sites/site_li_sound.html
I understand your frustration about getting specialties completed. I went to a new lds last year in August to take a night diving specialty. 3 dives and you’re done. Well, because there’s only 1 instructor and he’s doing ow and rescue classes (and having a few personal issues), instead of finishing up in September like I expected, I didn’t get my last dive in until the last day of November. When I tried to take an equipment course (one day), it got cancelled because he didn’t have enough people interested. Definitely frustrating. I’ll get my air there, and maybe buy some equipment if I need it, but I’m done trying to take any more classes with him.
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Wow, I really appreciate all the responses. I will certainly check out all of the sites recommended. I am seeking to become an instructor, and as I was told the 5 specialty courses are not really required, I think to become a Master Diver they are. Not 100 percent sure on that though, but figured knowledge could never hurt, and decided to go with that.
I think the major difference in dive shops in the North, rather than down South, in my humble opinion, is that you can dive down South year around, and business are built on that premise. Up North, most shops are only opened as a seconary business venture, and rightfully so.
I certainly could understand those that like to wreck dive. I get the love of the history, and I too think about those unfortuante that have died, and what they must have gone through. A little morbid to me though. I, however, have never had a bigger smile on my face when I dove and a manatee and her cub/baby/pup swam right by me, and, so I think, sniffed me. Smiling now as I think about it. But, to each his own.
Again, thanks for the input, and it’s certainly nice to know that others share my thoughts, and it’s not just me being "spoiled." I am fortunate enough to have family down South, so loding and meals are free, and thank goodness for cheap flights.com, and other sites. Will probably make pre-arrangements with year round dive shops, and become an instructor that way. But I promise those who feel my pain, when I’m an instructor, I will conform to what the people want. :)
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I think an old rule is that you need 5 specialties to reach dive master. Trying to get to instructor level, and also thought that knowledge can never hurt sort of thing.
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Will definitely look into scuba new york. I decided to know them out down in Florida. My family is there, so with jetblue sales, and other cheap flighs, it’s easier, and cheaper, just to do it that way. But, Bonaire is certainly in my top sites. Thanks for answering.
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Thanks for the reply. will look into it.
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appreciate the reply. to each their own, and like I said, I’ll take any type of bottom time. Just prefer reefs.
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Thanks for the reply. Nice to know others feel my pain.
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tough to determine the intent of the shops/instructors you’ve spoken to. I’ve done some training in FL (wreck, deep, EANx, Cavern, Cave) and some up north (I live in NJ) (drysuit, PPB, Underwater Nav, Advanced OW) so I’ve done a lot of what you’ve done. Dutch Springs is a good training ground. It’s a good place to get used to skills without the stresses of diving in the unforgiving ocean. Get the skills figured out then take them out to the real world. I’ve experienced about a dozen trainers. I absolutely have a shop in mind that I recommend - highly - if your goal is to get real good training. If you want cards, you can get them the way I did it - I’ve done a lot of that. Scheduling classes easily does not mean you’re getting any value for your money or that you’re getting good instruction. I don’t know that you’re not or that you don’t.
I didn’t choose carefully and spent a lot of money with some good training and some very bad training. I now appreciate that instructors ask questions. They’re interested in knowing my background as a diver and help me learn to be a better - and safer - diver. It helps them know if you’re a serious diver or if you’re collecting cards. Now I’m much more careful but I’m truly spoiled in that I’ve found outstanding instruction. If you’re interested in who that is, drop me a PM and I’ll tell you about it. good luck any which way you go.
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by the way, say hi to Jerry in Jupiter Dive Center - they run a tight operation.
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I took the tact that Bob01 recommends. I got five PADI specialties while on southern dive trips. I got the course books before I left and did the open water dives either as part of the regular dive schedule or as extra dives. It was a lot easier and more convenient that trying to fit into someone elses schedule. I will be completing Rescue Diver in the Cayman Islands this fall.
PADI still requires 60 dives and five specialties plus Rescue Diver to get a Master Diver certification. Which should not be confused with Dive Master.
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