Quick Answer: Yes and Maybe...
Taking a civilian scuba course before military dive school can be beneficial by improving water comfort, providing basic equipment and physics familiarity, and building confidence in the water. All of which can make a difference, but the most significant factor remains that the student needs to learn new tactical skills quickly. Because it's not a substitute for military training, as military diving uses different systems, such as closed-circuit rebreathers, and instructors will retrain all techniques to military standards. Ultimately, mental and physical capability in the water is more critical than a prior scuba certification.
Personally, I had been SCUBA diving for nearly 10 years before going to BUD/S. I thought it was helpful, but the learning curve was still steep, as you will be doing things that you never learned on a PADI SCUBA course.
Benefits of prior scuba training
- Increased water comfort: Being physically and mentally comfortable in the water is a priority for military dive training, and scuba courses help build this foundation. I have seen D-1 swimmers and water polo players fail BUD/S SCUBA tests, so it is more than just water comfort.
- Familiarity with gear: A civilian course introduces you to some basic equipment and how it works, which can make the initial stages of military training smoother.
- Basic skills and knowledge: You'll gain an understanding of diving physics and basic procedures like planning and executing a dive, even though military diving will have its own methods. There will be dive physics tests using introductory algebra, and dive medicine and emergency procedures that will be new to you as a military diving student.
- Confidence building: Gaining experience in a less stressful, recreational environment can boost your overall confidence before tackling the intense demands of military training. This is the most significant benefit of receiving a civilian dive qualification.
No SCUBA Course will prepare you for OC-8 (aka pool comp)
Limitations of civilian training
- Different equipment: Military diving primarily uses closed-circuit rebreather systems, unlike open-circuit systems used in recreational scuba, which release bubbles. You will learn both types of diving in the military, depending on the diving course you take.
- Different doctrine: The methods, dive tables, and operational procedures used in military diving are different from those taught in civilian courses. Similar but different, so some relearning is needed as a military dive student.
- Military-specific skills: You will need to learn military-specific skills such as tactical entry, combat diving tactics, and team drills with a full combat load, which are not part of any civilian course.
Army Guys Dive too... Two Special Forces members dive in a closed circuit rig
Overall, I am biased because I have diving experience before BUD/S. But I have seen many students whose first time diving or even seeing the ocean made it through the program. So, in the end, it comes down to how well you handle stress, new skills, and perform emergency procedures that matter the most.
There is More to StewSmithFitness.com Than You May Know - See Spec Ops Programs Below:
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I'm the former Navy SEAL that special ops candidates go to for books, ebooks and online coaching to prepare themselves to get to and through intense tactical assessment and selection programs and qualify for service in their chosen tactical profession. See More at StewSmithFitness.com
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Dive deeper into Tactical Athlete training and mental toughness by exploring Stew Smith Fitness Programming for the Tactical Athlete online store. Discover the strategies and techniques elite forces employ to overcome physical and mental barriers.
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Tactical Fitness Course - Getting TO the training does not guarantee you get THROUGH the training. Learn about the two phases of tactical fitness you need to develop thoroughly before getting to BUDS. Check out the Online Course - Getting TO and THROUGH Special Ops Selection.
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