Ops requiring AOW certs?

[Marie13]

Curious about requiring Great Lakes diving experience. Would they accept wreck dives in the Puget Sound / Lake Crescent? My guess is that conditions would be similar.

I am also now wondering if the requirement for Great Lakes diving experience also has something to do with the differences in the way boats are operated vs the tropics, besides differences in diving conditions. Now, I only have my one boat trip to compare from, but going on what others have told me:

Great Lakes boats probably won't put a DM in the water with you, you're dealing with your own gear (of course, they'll help if you need it), and a maybe fin-on ladder. My tropical only diving friends have been really surprised there's no DM in the water with you and that you have to assemble your own gear! The fin-on ladder confused them. LOL.

 

[dberry]

@Marie13 It sounds like Great Lakes dive boats are more similar to SoCal - DM stays on board, and they expect divers to have basic experience with their gear.

 

[AdivingBel]

.

 

[kelemvor]

If the DM doesn't go in the water, what purpose does he serve? Does he take the place of a deckhand?

Don't get me wrong, on most dives I prefer not to have one. I apparently like to take things slower than most DM's I've dived with. They always seem to want to race around and show you the whole reef in one dive.

 

[Marie13]

If the DM doesn't go in the water, what purpose does he serve? Does he take the place of a deckhand

Don't get me wrong, on most dives I prefer not to have one. I apparently like to take things slower than most DM's I've dived with. They always seem to want to race around and show you the whole reef in one dive.

Yes, essentially.

 

[dberry]

DM does not necessarily = guide. On the Juliet liveaboard, the DM goes in first, assesses the current, viz, etc., then gives a dive briefing including conditions and suggested routes. The DM does not guide, unless someone is short a buddy. In my experiences out of Pompano Beach, FL the DM ties off to the wreck, and gives a (very brief) briefing - no guiding. The Rainbow Reef boats out of Key Largo put guides in the water, but I believe there is always a DM on the deck to supervise and organize.

The DM is basically the master of the diving operations, not a guide. At least that's my understanding.

 

[Akimbo]

If the DM doesn't go in the water, what purpose does he serve? Does he take the place of a deckhand?

They are suited up on the West coast so they can assist during rescues, but function as diver tenders and deck hands most of the time.

 

[Akimbo]

SSI does. NAUI does not (they use "Scuba Diver" and "Advanced Scuba Diver"). I don't know about others.

SDI/TDI, BSAC, and CMAS don't.

 

[Doby45]

SDI/TDI uses "Advanced Scuba Diver"

 

[Bob DBF]

SSI does

SSI Advanced Open Water is four complete specialties and 24 dives, so it is not the same as PADI AOW, which is just one dive from five different specialties.

The name is the same but the training and experience is not.


Bob