Just finished AOW. Took me a while. It was garbage.

[Mike Boswell]

Just finally filled out the final paperwork for my PADI AOW! The funny thing is, I thought the whole thing was rubbish. I see it as a rip off. A way for the industry to bleed money from me. I realize it varies shop to shop, instructor to instructor. But really, one could read the information in a book or PDF file and do the test and be done. I'd imagine in the end it cost around $500 to complete the course. And really, I gained nothing from it other than a rubber stamp that I spent money to get it, so then I can eventually move on to other non-PADI courses. Anyone else feel this way? Prob should have gone SSI or something.

Sounds like you think you did everything wrong, but you blame others for your mistakes. Unless you learn to take personal responsibility for the things that happen in your life, and to learn from your mistakes, you will continue to be bitter and disappointed.

 

[Hawkwood]

Just finally filled out the final paperwork for my PADI AOW! The funny thing is, I thought the whole thing was rubbish. I see it as a rip off. A way for the industry to bleed money from me. I realize it varies shop to shop, instructor to instructor. But really, one could read the information in a book or PDF file and do the test and be done.

I'd imagine in the end it cost around $500 to complete the course. And really, I gained nothing from it other than a rubber stamp that I spent money to get it, so then I can eventually move on to other non-PADI courses.

Anyone else feel this way?

Prob should have gone SSI or something.

I'm curious, what "test" did you have to do? Besides the Nav and Deep, what were the other three Adventure Dives that you did?

 

[Lee Taylor]

I agree that the industry needs a lot of improvement.

My feeling is that one needs to get involved and make whatever personal investment is required to assist in bringing the training to the level they feel it should be on.

In other words, do something about it. Do more than making a posting. Granted a posting is a start but you need to personally get involved and be part of the fix. Make it a personal goal.

 

[Anubi5]

Hello,. i am new here, and new "diver" in general
just finished my AOW on a 3 days live board trip,. my concern regarding the thread is not the money, but the actual course.,, I feel the OP, I felt the same after i am done with my AOW "course",. when I look back at it,. I actually don't see that I gained much information, it was just very fun dives, at some amazing spots, but when it comes to learning new things,. i don't remember anything new that I learnt besides, navigation, more advanced way to use a compass, and that was almost about it, the rest was just some really good dives, supervisioned by my instructor, what separated me "and the rest of the AOW stendents" than the rest of the divers on the live boars, was just we had more briefing with our instructor b4 the dive,. and a one on one debriefing r after "some dives",. i have never been asked to buy materials "book, DVD" or any other thing for that matter,. and another thing, I have not heard about a test that should be taken!,. just got back from the trip,. got my dive log signed,. filled the cert. form, and that was it,.in general,. i had very good time,. very good dives,. but i didn't "learn" mostly anything new, besides the experience you would normally gain from diving 4 times a day, guided by your instructor, does this sound right?!

 

[DevonDiver]

There is no exam for the AOW, but students do have to complete the knowledge reviews for each subject/dive they do. These knowledge reviews are the same format as the ones completed at the end of each chapter in the OW manual/course.

If you didn't do those, then you must report that instructor to PADI.

The AOW course is meant to be fun. But your 'fun' dives should be under-pinned by a greater theoretical knowledge and should also include a small variety of skills/exercises/demonstrations in the water to illustrate that knowledge.

It is not meant to be a demanding, skill intensive course. However, some instructors do choose to use the course as a vehicle to further develop the diving skills of the students. I do that. Several of the other instructors on here do that also. Many (most?) instructors don't, because they are not obliged to by the actual course requirements.

When I teach AOW, I attempt to give the student the best possible value. I identify the student's areas for development... but also their areas of interest. Then I consult with them about the benefits to be gained from the different dive options available to them.

I've run AOW courses that had different focuses or themes. It is a very flexible course that can be tailored to provide a Fundies 'lite' focus on core buoyancy, trim, propulsion and dive planning theme. I've run AOW that was entirely centred around wreck diving. I've run 'photography' themed AOW courses. etc etc

The 'weak point' of AOW, is that it can also be run as a mindless excuse for 5 fun-dives, with no developmental capacity.

As with all things... decide what YOU want to achieve... then sit and talk with your prospective instructor to confirm whether they can or will help you achieve that. If they can't, or won't... then find a different instructor.

For any readers who are planning to undertake AOW in the future... I do recommend discussing your goals here on the forum. There is a lot of experience here, that can help you shape your 'ideal' course. Then you will have a workable model which you can take to 'interview' various potential instructors as a comparison.

 

[cooperscuba]

PADI = Put Another Dollar In

All my certs are with PADI, so I feel your pain.

Get it right, it's "Put All your Dollars In"

 

[DevonDiver]

Do some people mistake PADI for being a charity?

Pay for courses? Shucks...they should all be right right comrades?!?!

 

[Downing]

Get it right, it's "Put All your Dollars In"

I've never felt that way. Unlike my drivers license or my business license, an OW card is good for life. The vast majority of divers never go beyond that level and so never have to give PADI so much as one thin dime after their cert card fee.

If you choose to take additional training, of course you have to pay for it. It's called capitalism. Instructors have to eat, dive shop owners have to eat, and PADI has to eat--metaphorically speaking, of course.

 

[DevonDiver]

I've done lots of training. Spent so much money on diving courses and equipment that it'd make your average AOW diver sick with comparison.

What can I say? There wasn't one course that I regret taking. It was all cumulative...and I am a capable diver now as a result.

AOW is not a 'training intensive' course. It provides supervised experience within new areas and ranges of diving...and a little knowledge to back that up.

I think that some people's disappointment with the course is due to over-expectation. They see the word 'Advanced' in the title...and convince themselves that they will become highly-tuned sea explorers after those 5 extra dives. They completely miss the fact that it is Advanced Open Water. A mere step-beyond their entry level training. An advancement in basic Open Water experience.

Now, of course, there are many instructors who choose to go well above and beyond the core requirements of the course. That is exemplary and excellent value for the student. However, even the basic course, that doesn't exceed the core standards, will provide the student with the opportunity to develop their diving capability.

As an instructor, I always recommend that my new students consider doing OW and AOW back-to-back. I throw in an extra dive... so that my students have 10 dives in the water with me. This is ample opportunity to really teach good diving skills and get a student to a good level. It is basically an OW+ course. When I get students who have already qualified, and have some experience, then the flexibility of the course enables me to complete 2 objectives. Firstly, to refine their core (OW) skills to a higher level, but also to tailor the course to concentrate on any specific objectives and activities that they are interested in (i.e. wreck or photo).

When I get OW qualified divers enrolling on AOW, who have weak basic skills and no clear goals of what they want to achieve, I find it that it severely limits the progression I can provide them with. It is frustrating for me as an instructor.

Taking that opportunity and making the most out of it is a different matter. That involves the student really being pro-active with the 'design' of their course. Talking to their instructor about their personal goals and which elective dives will best achieve them. It means the student should be inter-active during the course...asking questions, doing their own research..and preparing effectively for the course in advance.

If someone turns up for an AOW course...with their brain in neutral... no research... no practice and development of their core OW skills...no motivation to have pre-prepared....then it is quite likely that the instructor concerned will have to devote much of the AOW course just to bringing them to a common standard with their OW skills.

Keys to a perfect AOW experience

1) Do your research, so that you can formulate appropriate and attainable developmental goals prior to the course.

2) Take the time to identify the right instructor... who has the motivation, knowledge and professionalism to help you reach your desired course goals.

3) Pre-practice your core OW skills, so that the AOW can be progressive, rather than remedial.

4) Be pro-active during the course, communicate effectively and inter-act with the instructor.

5) Be aware that your course location and available dive sites, conditions etc, will have direct relevance to what you wish to achieve.

6) Where possible, opt for one-on-one or small groups. That allows the course to be better tailored to your specific requirements. Don't accept AOW courses where you dive with non-students/fun divers.

 

[TSandM]

As with anything else, if the instructor teaches to the absolute minimum, the course isn't worth a great deal. It is possible to teach an AOW class, even within the PADI system, that has some meat to it and involves real learning. You still won't be an "advanced" diver, but you will know more, and although you may not have mastered all the things you were shown, you'll at least have some stuff to practice and know how to continue to improve.

I agree with the posters who have said that being an informed consumer helps a great deal. My advice, when seeking out any kind of more "advanced" training, is to find an instructor whose own training is well beyond what you are taking -- and I don't mean "professional" training, but someone who has gotten diving SKILLS instruction beyond the minimum. You can't teach what you don't know; if you choose an instructor who doesn't know much, you won't learn a great deal from him.