Redesigning AOW

[Jim Lapenta]

I just completed doing a physics lecture, one on physiology, one on basic deco theory, and one on dive safety procedures. I had to research and prepare these as part of my crossover to YMCA DM/AI. There are other subjects covered where lectures where done by the other two in my class. We then share these and augment with the manual to be sure standards are met. The purpose of these was to prepare a lesson plan for an OPEN WATER course where all of this would be covered. Basically the ow course as we teach it thru the shop I'm doing this with has a minimum of 7 lecture sessions, 8-10 hours in the pool depending of course on class size and how fast students progress, followed by their checkout dives. I'm taking my "Y" instructor course in may. In the meantime I've been assisting with classes, lectures, pool sessions, and checkouts. I'm also a certified PADI DM. The difference is striking between the 2 agencies in terms of requirements and standards. It's why I'm going with the YMCA program. Materials are less expensive but if properly taught just as good. It forces instructors to hold themselves to a higher standard. There is more flexibility as to when things can be taught which IMO is a real plus. We also incorporate more rescue skills. And though I've yet ot see anyone fail I have seen several that needed to repeat portions and one who was held up because his parents wanted him to go on vacation and the instructor would not issue a card because some skills had not been completed. His mom was pissed but the instructor told her how much needed to be done, how much time it would take, and she scheduled other things when he should have been in class. Her assurances that he would do them when he got back fell on deaf ears. I'm also awaiting my instructor materials to look into the YMCA silver and gold diver programs. They sound more like what and advanced class should be. Maybe Walter can furnish some details?

 

[BabyDuck]

The skills tested would represent the "end goal" of a certain certification level.

i really like the idea of a new diver knowing what a skilled diver 'looks' like. something along the lines of 'we don't expect this level from you now, but this is what you're working towards'. a bit of the instructional dvd, for instance, that shows a new but competent diver working on trim, then a bit with an excellent diver in trim. sort of 'you are here and that's ok, but you're trying to get here'. i think there are too many divers who don't know that 45 degrees isn't optimal.

then a discussion of buoyancy control - 'you're new, and we hope you can keep within 5 (or 10 or whatever) feet of where you're trying to be. as you get better, the criteria tighten up'.

and so on. i just don't think most new divers have an idea that where they are right after ow *could* be improved, or what 'improved' actually entails.

on a separate note, i understand that rescue is good for opening people's eyes to what could happen safety-wise, and of course rescue skills, but is it really an advanced *diving* class? does it really teach an advanced *diving* skill set? i'm asking honestly, because i haven't taken it, so let me know what you think.

 

[Bob]

Yep... My LDS owner is an OLD NAUI Divemaster (1976)... He said that the OW courses that he used to work back then were 14 weeks long, meeting up once a week, and were basically the equivalent of today's OW, AOW, Rescue, and the physiology/physics/deco theory portion of the DM class.

He's right. OW classes today are vastly different from the NAUI OW class I took in 1977. almtree: Bob

 

[amascuba]

i really like the idea of a new diver knowing what a skilled diver 'looks' like. something along the lines of 'we don't expect this level from you now, but this is what you're working towards'. a bit of the instructional dvd, for instance, that shows a new but competent diver working on trim, then a bit with an excellent diver in trim. sort of 'you are here and that's ok, but you're trying to get here'. i think there are too many divers who don't know that 45 degrees isn't optimal.

then a discussion of buoyancy control - 'you're new, and we hope you can keep within 5 (or 10 or whatever) feet of where you're trying to be. as you get better, the criteria tighten up'.

and so on. i just don't think most new divers have an idea that where they are right after ow *could* be improved, or what 'improved' actually entails.

When I'm working a class as a dive master, you will very rarely see me on my knees, laying on the bottom, or even hand finning. I demonstrate all skills except BCD/weight belt doff and don neutrally buoyant, even in the shallow end of the pool. It really does make a difference because students watch EVERYTHING that divemasters and instructors do and will try to emulate them. It shows when they go to open water and they are trying to get into trim and even do a frog kick when they are doing their pleasure tours.

on a separate note, i understand that rescue is good for opening people's eyes to what could happen safety-wise, and of course rescue skills, but is it really an advanced *diving* class? does it really teach an advanced *diving* skill set? i'm asking honestly, because i haven't taken it, so let me know what you think.

Think about your classes and think about how much of the class was based on rescue skills. In OW there is mask flood/clear, mask removal/replace, regulator recovery/clear, BCD removal/replace, etc... Point is that most of the skills in any scuba related classes are rescue based skills, whether it's self rescue or rescuing somebody else.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

on a separate note, i understand that rescue is good for opening people's eyes to what could happen safety-wise, and of course rescue skills, but is it really an advanced *diving* class? does it really teach an advanced *diving* skill set? i'm asking honestly, because i haven't taken it, so let me know what you think.

A rescue diver class is probably the best and most important class you can take for your own safety. You will learn almost nothing to better YOUR diving from the divemaster or Instructor certifications (which might come later). Call the Rescue diver class whatever you want, but it should definitely scare you a little when you realize how hard it is to truely help someone and it should also improve your confidence and ability to deal with a screwed up situation in the water. A GOOD rescue class is very useful, especially because all too many of us would never really learn or practice the stuff if we were not forced to by the class.

Compare this to night diving.. You might not be certified to dive at night but after 50 night dives you are probably pretty good at it regardless of the lack of formal training. Conversely, you can (hopefully) dive for a long, long time before you really need to use your rescue skills and you might find them deficient without taking a formal class.

 

[chipwd]

I would require a minimum number of dives prior to AOW, maybe 30 or more.

I would also beef up OW classes. For example, the SI I am currently DMC for has his students remove and clear masks every class, usually a couple of times each class. Other skills are repeated over and over, too, not just the once or twice currently required by PADI. He is pretty strict about gear setup and handling but makes his classes fun. He'll do things like put his weight belt on backwards or put his mask on upside down until a student catches his "mistake" and corrects him. This seems to help them really watch how gear is used and should be worn and makes the pre-dive checks very thorough.
He'll have the entire class remove masks and put them in a pile on the bottom and have them grab one, put it on and clear it, then find the student with his/her mask and exchange it all done underwater. The students have fun doing it but learn and perfect their skills at the same time. When leaving the pool at the end of the session he has the students do it as if climbing back onto a boat. At the start of the classes they are taught a different way to enter the water each time.

By the time the students have completed the course, they are very comfortable with their gear and being in the water. They have good buoyancy and come out as decent new divers.

He goes above and beyond the basic requirements and his students come out far better trained than I was after my OW.

This same SI did my AOW class and we had to re-demonstrate basic OW skills several times during the course. We were not given the choice of what 5 specialties we would learn; he picked them. No fluff taught here, all good solid specialties and we had to re-do them (and re-do them) until we had it down. Peak buoyancy, deep, navigation, night and wreck.

Now that I think about it, I would increase the number of required dives at each level of PADI certification. I have dove with SI's that have poor buoyancy skills or have breathed a tank down to zero during a dive. Requiring more dives may not make them better but they will have to learn somethings in order to get that many dives in.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The problem with requiring a minimum number of dives is that we all progress at a different rate. I've seen people with 12 dives who have better basic skills than other people I know with more than 100 dives. It's really not a good indicator, as it doesn't take natural aptitude or a diver's desire to improve into account.

I prefer to dive with prospective students ... then I can better determine whether or not they're ready for the class.

Besides ... it's another excuse to go diving ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[jimdiverman]

I did my PADI AOW as part of a 2 for 1 deal 9 years ago. It was $100 for OW and AOW. I think it was good to take both courses consecutively. I agree with many of the posters in this thread. AOW should be called something else OW Part II, or something along those lines.

The fact is though that many divers getting into diving as a sport for the first time don't realize the physical, mental, physiological, psychological and financial commitment involved with becoming a competent and safe diver who is not a threat to him/herself or anyone else. I didn't. I think I am fairly representative of people that get involved in diving post college, or at least post start of career. I also think that training should take place continuously, and refresher courses should be required if divers don't dive regularly to maintain their skills.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I also think that training should take place continuously, and refresher courses should be required if divers don't dive regularly to maintain their skills.

And who do you propose we put in charge of this baby-sitting? Who's permission do you need?

LOL, maintain what skills?

 

[Dan Gibson]

That's one of the biggest problems. One would think a dive shop would have some interest in new divers continuing diving. Sadly, that just isn't the case so often. Sell them gear and send them on a trip if your lucky.

I also jumped right into AOW after my OW and that is where I found my local dive buddies for the next year or two. In fact my AOW instructor is also one of my regular cave buddies.

Heck I just wanted to dive and didn't know anyone yet so I signed up.