AOW/Rescue Diver Not Respected

[Aguablanco1]

I have been an AOW and Rescue Diver for several years now and, aside from the fact that I learned a lot, it seems that those ratings do not get the respect that I feel they deserve from many dive ops I have used in the past. Many dive ops will still require check out dives or even withhold going to certain spots until I have proven myself in their eyes. It seems to me that for many dive ops AOW and RD really mean nothing. Could this be because those shops use the classes more to generate revenue than they do to impart knowledge? Is it because these classes are basically "no fail" classes? Is there another reason that I am not aware of? Am I just choosing ops that are wrong for me? I am having a hard time understanding. Maybe I look unsafe and seem to need more attention LOL, though I don't think so. What are your thoughts?
RichH

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's because so many divers are sold those classes too soon, and hold the c-cards long before they develop any real diving skills. Classes are an artificial environment ... and there's an inherent conflict of interest between scuba education and scuba equipment sales that usually results in dive shops selling classes as a loss leader in order to get people into the shop to buy gear. And then, because the class didn't generate any real revenue for the business, they are motivated to make it as minimal as possible ... do the "skill" once, check it off the list, and move on. As a result, there's no real way for dive ops and charters to know whether you have skills sufficient to actually do a dive until they see you in the water.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[BoltSnap]

Having an "AOW" card means that you have received "AOW" training but doesn't mean that you are indeed an "AOW" diver.

 

[fmerkel]

Totally agree with Bob. I host a lot of dives in the NW (Puget Sound) most being in high current areas. I want to know as much as I can about the real dive skills of people on my dive before I throw them into a possibly difficult dive. IMO AOW is a minimum of what divers should have to even get a C-card around here. Then maybe 20-50 dives, within 2 years, then do Rescue. These need to be local dives, we don't much credit tropical experience unless quite extensive. At that point you....could be....a semi-competent newer diver. But, I'd still like to see that myself or have some I trust vet your capability.

I've seen reasonably competent divers at 20+ dives. I've seen instructors with 100+ dives with lousy skills. I've seen people fresh out of OW1 that should never have gotten their card, a complete failure of the certification system. Frankly I don't much trust it.

 

[kelemvor]

ould this be because those shops use the classes more to generate revenue than they do to impart knowledge? Is it because these classes are basically "no fail" classes? Is there another reason that I am not aware of?

To quote butt-head: You called it, dude.

Seriously, you did.

Also, the requirement to have an AOW card to dive over 60' despite what your agency says the limits are actually at is another money grab. Unfortunately, scuba is full of stuff like this and it ain't likely to change (for the better) ever.

 

[DustyC]

PADI has allowed shops to have incredibly lax standards and certify people to levels they have no business being certified to. I've seen people go from rescue to master IN ONE DAY. That fosters a distrust of the entire system.

 

[mmerriman]

also - those certification cards don't expire. A dive operator really has no clue how fresh your dive skills are.

 

[DustyC]

To quote butt-head: You called it, dude.

Seriously, you did.

Also, the requirement to have an AOW card to dive over 60' despite what your agency says the limits are actually at is another money grab. Unfortunately, scuba is full of stuff like this and it ain't likely to change (for the better) ever.

And since some shops do AOW without a dive below 20, it's even worse.

 

[RyanT]

Pretty much what everyone else said.

 

[AJ]

Number of dives and certification don't mean much to me. I have met DM's and instructors with several 100 dives who were at best OW level divers. If someone want's to know my diving skills or if I want to know their diving skills, we will go diving to asses each others skills. Btw, tech certification to me has a lot more creditbility than rec certification.