How many dives between gradings ?

[Fitzy]

Would like to know if there is an avarage amount of dives recomended from when you start diving untill taking the next step of advanced, rescue etc etc.

I have 23 dives and have booked in to the advanced couse next Month. My intention is to then do the rescue etc etc.

I feel a lot has to do with experience however when i did the course it was suggested that i could basicilly do the advanced course almost straight after.

any input from those more experienced than I ?

 

[Warren_L]

I don't think that there is any recommended number of dives - I would think that it would be up to you as to how comfortable you are moving to the next level and what that next level is. For AOW (at least with PADI) it is really a continuation of your OW training as it affords you the opportunity to experience new dive experiences while receiving instruction and still under supervision. If you are comfortable with the skills you've learned so far in the OW, I would say no problem with going to AOW. But it still is always good to get more dives in to sharpen those skills.

 

[Fitzy]

I don't think that there is any recommended number of dives - I would think that it would be up to you as to how comfortable you are moving to the next level and what that next level is. For AOW (at least with PADI) it is really a continuation of your OW training as it affords you the opportunity to experience new dive experiences while receiving instruction and still under supervision. If you are comfortable with the skills you've learned so far in the OW, I would say no problem with going to AOW. But it still is always good to get more dives in to sharpen those skills.

Thanks for that.
regards

 

[Rick Inman]

Would like to know if there is an avarage amount of dives recomended from when you start diving untill taking the next step of advanced, rescue etc etc.

I have 23 dives and have booked in to the advanced couse next Month. My intention is to then do the rescue etc etc.

I feel a lot has to do with experience however when i did the course it was suggested that i could basicilly do the advanced course almost straight after.

any input from those more experienced than I ?

Some people even take the AOW BEFORE they learn to dive.

 

[String]

I had 23 dives before qualifying for our entry level course and about 80 before the next level up.

It can be done an awful lot quicker than that but as im in a club there was no rush and lack of qualification wasnt really an issue given i was diving with instructors every week.

Most people seem to recommend getting padi AOW shortly after basic OW - a general feeling is if you have 30-40 dives you wont get anything out of the course however you want a few. Maybe 10 is a decent number?

As for rescue you want to be fully confident in your own ability, buoyancy and skills before doing it so needs a bit more work.

 

[HammerNoMore]

As for rescue you want to be fully confident in your own ability, buoyancy and skills before doing it so needs a bit more work.

90% of the rescue course is performed at the surface and require no dive skills. The remaining involves a bouyant ascent and an underwater search. If you are going PADI, underwater nav is required for AOW and I reccomend search and recovery as an optional, which will give you some of the basick skills you need for the search. Bouyant ascents are not that difficult, but should be practiced before you do them in rescue, preferably in confined water.

IMNSHO, I think the sooner you get rescue the better, period. A diver without rescue training does a disservice to both himself and his buddy.

James

 

[TCDiver1]

Most people seem to recommend getting padi AOW shortly after basic OW - a general feeling is if you have 30-40 dives you wont get anything out of the course however you want a few. Maybe 10 is a decent number?

I've certified many divers in AOW that had 100+ dives and had never done a night, or deep, or Nav, or S&R, etc dive. I think is just depends on the individual diver & their experience.

Even if you have done some of the dives there is usually something good to learn from a AOW class IMO.

 

[little geek]

I took aow immediatley following ow. These two certs were my only exposure to diving at the time. Now, with about as many dives as yourself, I was glad to do both at the same time for the simple fact that I learned I will never again do a night dive in Manasquan Inlet, NJ, what with all the charters above, rocky entrance, etc...