AOW course

[boulderjohn]

OW never ever certified to 40m, it is only to18m.
In the old days, AOW is certified to 40m but has changed to 30m many yrs ago.

Are you talking about training dives? Those limits only apply to dives being done while taking the OW and AOW classes. When you are on your own, the agency has no power to limit your dives in any way. Depth limits are up to you, local regulations, and/or the dive operator taking you on a dive.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Are you talking about training dives? Those limits only apply to dives being done while taking the OW and AOW classes. When you are on your own, the agency has no power to limit your dives in any way. Depth limits are up to you, local regulations, and/or the dive operator taking you on a dive.

He has asked and been told before that training dives and certification are different in other threads.
Also discussed in these threads

https://scubaboard.com/community/th...o-advanced-diving.650458/page-4#post-10364068

Thread 'Dive Accident Insurance Limitations'

Mar 1, 2025

In a recent thread, a poster related a story about having to correct someone's misinformation about dive accident insurance. That misinformation has been repeated often in ScubaBoard threads. The correction is well buried in a long thread, so I thought I would create a dedicated thread that makes it clear and which can easily be linked in future threads. This one specifically refers to DAN accident insurance, but I think it would be good if other companies had their policies clarified here as well.

The misinformed person had stated that dive accident insurance only covers you if you are...

• boulderjohn
• Replies: 80
• Forum: Basic Scuba

• 
• 
• 

Thread 'Diving beyond cert?'

Jul 15, 2024

I got OW certified (PADI) in May and have only been on a few dives since. I'd like to go diving again soon, but where I've been invited is generally 60-100' where all the interesting stuff is. I seem pretty comfortable, and am not terribly worried about the depth. I am signed up for AOW next month already. I'm wondering if there's any critical reason I shouldn't do these dives? Dive buddy is really experienced and reassuring, and I'm not above aborting at the first sign of problems or me being uncomfortable. Thoughts please?

• Wheeler925
• Replies: 137
• Forum: Basic Scuba

 

[Centrals]

Are you talking about training dives? Those limits only apply to dives being done while taking the OW and AOW classes. When you are on your own, the agency has no power to limit your dives in any way. Depth limits are up to you, local regulations, and/or the dive operator taking you on a dive.

The agency has no power but operator has.
I had operator checking my log book couple of times.
I had came across operator which set depth limit to OW and AOW. If in doubt, ask ahead, never ever assumed anything.
Some operators couldn't careless as long as you settle the bill in advance.
Even DAN insurance has variation on its policy depending on geographical region.

 

[Centrals]

Some operators insist on check out dive regardless of your qualification. I have also seen divers behaving badly on the requirement believing it was a insult to their diving qualification.
Divers is no difference from most human beings ie. egocentric or plain stupid.

 

[divingdayz]

Often due to insurance requirements, many dive shops/dive ops require AOW certification for divers to participate in dives that go deeper than the training limits established for OW courses of instruction (18M/60FT).

Because of the above insurance imposed depth restriction, it is often recommended that one obtain their AOW as it often includes instruction/experience for deeper diving down to between 30M/100FT and the recreational limit of 40M/132FT (depending on the agency).

AOW certification coupled with Nitrox certification will usually be enough to participate in most dives offered by shops/commercial diver operations. The exception being dives that penetrate wrecks, canyons, and caves. Shops/commercial dive operations also typically require a diver to posses Drysuit certification before they will rent one a drysuit.

If the shops/operations you dive with are ok with you accompanying them past whatever depth, or you are happy to dive with a commercial operation and be limited to depth based on your OW certification, then no worries....the AOW certification just opens up the possibility to dive with a commerial operation if you dive with a shop/operation not familiar with your experience or that require the additional certification level for the dives they schedule.

Hope that helps.

-Z

This is a good answer, but the reality is that the AOW license doesn't really mean anything unless it's taught correctly. In our scuba diving center in Bohol when we ask 'what license 'do you have' and the reply is 'advanced', the very next question is always 'how many dives have you done'.

Many centers certainly require it for certain dive sites.

 

[poko21]

Why the rush?

You might want to give it a full quarter century between courses.

haha i might do that

 

[poko21]

@poko21

Many operators set their own minimum requirements. Also training is always a good thing. You wrote you have been certified for over 20 years but only show less than 50 dives under your avatar. How many dives do you do a year?

OW is certified to the recreational depth limits of 40m. This is why DAN insurance at the basic level covers all divers to 40m and you can get covereage to deeper depths.

Many dive shops promote the myth that OW certified divers are not allowed to dive deeper than 18m in order to sell courses. When my son had his honeymoon in Hawaii he was told that as he was OW he could not do certain dives as no AOW. One he showed his DC with a couple hundred dives and his DAN insurance the operator said sure no problems. They just assummed OW meant no diving experience.

So dive Ops can require you to have certs you may not have now to dive with them.

I dive a couple times a year if in a nice vacation spot. Recently decided to get my Nitrox cert because I liked the idea of the extra safety cushion. Thanks for the help the dive log is a good point. I've never been asked for an AOW cert before but it could be that I just never came by an operator that cared

 

[Centrals]

I dive a couple times a year if in a nice vacation spot. Recently decided to get my Nitrox cert because I liked the idea of the extra safety cushion. Thanks for the help the dive log is a good point. I've never been asked for an AOW cert before but it could be that I just never came by an operator that cared

AOW + Nitrox should be adequate for most recreational dives.
Some operators will insist deep Specialty if deeper than 30m.

 

[LFMarm]

Some operators insist on check out dive regardless of your qualification.

I hated check up dives for years. Now I would not do any serious diving without a properly planned check out dive with the rest of the team.

There is always something that needs adjusting and it’s much better to capture it while doing an easy dive with that purpose rather than making one of your real dives uncomfortable or unsafe.

Here is what changed my mind:

1. Finding many things to adjust in the first couple of days of a trip over many years regardless of checklists.
2. Realizing that training dives are often as enjoyable as fun dives (a check dive is by all means a training dive).
3. Need to establish good communication with new team members or old team members I have not dived with for a few months.

 

[DiverDan1975]

do any dive shops require advance open water cert to go on certain dives or is open water sufficient? I've had open water for the past 20 years is there a reason to go for advance open water or are other certs more useful?

Great question. Diving by me (Palm Beach Florida) requires some skills and experience that are part and parcel of an AOW diver (deep water, wreck, drift), but do not necessary require AOW. Most of the dive shops by me require nitrox for certain dives. My advice would be to get the AOW certification if you love to dive. You will definitely gain some skills that might open up some doors for new adventures.