AOW class shows that Scubaboard standards exceed those in the real world

[The Chairman]

Are you a better diver because of the class? That's what is really important. OK, that and having fun. If you had fun and feel you've learned from the experience, then it's all good. Don't let the experts ruin it for you.

Let's face it, it's incredibly easy to second guess a class from afar. But why? I'm far more interested in what the student got out of it. What did they get out of it.

 

[luscioman]

Just curious how long your class review session was before you went into the water.

 

[tursiops]

Your nav class was not taught to standards (presumably not enough bottom time, each student did not perform the square, distance over which you measured kick cycles, apparently no natural navigation exercise), nor was the night dive: no backup light for your buddy even though it is required equipment. I wouldn't be surprised if the other dives also violated standards.

Glad you learned something and came back safely, but it is this kind of training report that I find really irritating...not because of you, OP, but because of the lack of knowledge and/or carelessness of the instructor. He gives us all a bad name.

 

[Tracy]

Are you a better diver because of the class? That's what is really important. OK, that and having fun. If you had fun and feel you've learned from the experience, then it's all good. Don't let the experts ruin it for you.

Let's face it, it's incredibly easy to second guess a class from afar. But why? I'm far more interested in what the student got out of it. What did they get out of it.

Sounds like he got what I have gotten out of every scuba class I have taken. A piece of plastic. After my last class in key largo a few months ago, I will now shop instructor solely on price, who will sell the card I need next the cheapeast.

 

[The Chairman]

Sounds like he got what I have gotten out of every scuba class I have taken.

It takes two. You get only what you put into a class. I've gotten a few lazy students and they either change or I give them a refund. I'll spend hours with a student who is struggling to get something right, but I don't have a nano-second for someone who's just collecting cards. That doesn't mean a class has to be onerous, overly complicated or anything but FUN, but the student should come away enriched... and not just their gas.

I will now shop instructor solely on price,

Please exclude me from consideration. You probably already have.

Let's be real. There has to be a good chemistry between student and instructor for real learning to take place. A lot of what you're going to learn from me is probably not a listed standard for whatever class you're taking. But if you don't like or respect me from the get go, then why even try?

 

[outofofficebrb]

Wow. Run from this dive shop and instructor ASAP! Which way are the hills? Holy cow.

 

[Neilwood]

Unfortunately a lot of dive operators (trips etc) are set up that AOW is required as some form of "skills check" and a lot of dive schools seem to work on the principle "we only need to do the minimum because this is just to satisfy a dive op". So long as AOW is seen as box ticking by operators (possibly with regards to insurance), it really isn't worth a lot for a lot of schools to make sure that students are actually getting positive experience.

I would guess that the vast majority of AOW divers will not take many (if any) further courses after AOW. The only ones that I see being done on a regular basis are Nitrox and Drysuit with a small minority going to EFR & Rescue.

It would be better imho if the dive operator actually required the relevant course - a deep dive requiring the deep cert, wreck requiring that one and so on.

 

[kensuf]

Jim, you'd be especially amused that they asked me what kind of regulator I had, because they wanted to be sure it was environmentally sealed. I told them I had a HOG D1, and they said they had been in the dive industry for 20+ years and never heard of a HOG D1, and asked me to explain myself.

Contrary to the confirmation bias you find on SB, the majority of the world does not dive HOG regulators or BPW's. HOG is really a small re-seller and I can understand how a mom and pop shop that doesn't spend time on forums never heard of them.

 

[CuzzA]

Unfortunately a lot of dive operators (trips etc) are set up that AOW is required as some form of "skills check" and a lot of dive schools seem to work on the principle "we only need to do the minimum because this is just to satisfy a dive op". So long as AOW is seen as box ticking by operators (possibly with regards to insurance), it really isn't worth a lot for a lot of schools to make sure that students are actually getting positive experience.

I would guess that the vast majority of AOW divers will not take many (if any) further courses after AOW. The only ones that I see being done on a regular basis are Nitrox and Drysuit with a small minority going to EFR & Rescue.

It would be better imho if the dive operator actually required the relevant course - a deep dive requiring the deep cert, wreck requiring that one and so on.

I was told by @boulderjohn the AOW requirement for charters is a myth. Perhaps he can elaborate more as I've never charted a boat.

 

[lv2dive]

It's definitely a requirement for some ops in NC. Not sure about other places bc that was where I started diving so I had it early on. Ok, granted that was 15+ years ago but as recently as within the past five years we had to go through quite a bit of trouble for one person in our group who had plenty of experience but was OW only - luckily I was friends with the owner and he trusted my judgement on this person's experience.

I was told by @boulderjohn the AOW requirement for charters is a myth. Perhaps he can elaborate more as I've never charted a boat.