Cannot find a reason for AOW certification

[AfterDark]

I could not agree more. I had > 40 years diving experience and over 1800 dives when I took AWO and Nitrox (another joke). I slept through most of it, aced the tests, did the dives, (the deep one with a leaky BCD) got the card, big deal. Nothing changed except the money I had in my pocket. Didn't learn one thing I didn't already know and enlightened the instructor to a few things he was unaware of. All in all a big waste of time and money.

 

[Russoft]

Just finished AOW (and Nitrox). Learned almost nothing. Learn far more from ScubaBoard in one day. The course was just to get the card so I could dive deeper dive sites.

 

[flyboy08]

Then simply don't get it....happy diving.

 

[Fibonacci]

"I'd argue the reason is artificial limit placed by dive charters. I have witnessed people be denied certain dive sites based solely off their certification card."
Certainly true on a trip to Komodo last September... we dived a mix of land based and liveaboard over 10 days.

Dive operators abound in Labuan Bajo and there seemed to be an 'unofficial' policy of requiring Advanced OW on certain dives sites known for strong currents like Castle Rock.

My GF is a confident diver, but only had SSI OW and it took some convincing for them to let her join me on the Castle Rock dive but because I was a SSI Master Diver (after many years of resisting for reasons well outlined by others earlier!) they relented so long as we buddied up exclusively.

She has now gained her AOW through TDI... but after the recent tragic death of another diver in the Komodo region I suspect AOW requirements will rapidly become the norm... if only due to legal liability.

Which doesn't make a lot of sense because I don't recall specific AOW course content on how to deal with extreme current surges (which can be a fun f-a-s-t drift dive but can also take you DOWN) vs gaining another 100 dives under your belt in varying conditions!

 

[Bert van den Berg]

There are three dive operators here in Northland (New Zealand) that will definitely not allowed divers to dive beyond their certification level. There are laws here that the dive operators have to obey or they can be shut down.

Also, two of the operators insist that the second dive be no deeper than the first. You can forget the second dive altogether if you come up with less than 50 bar (735 psi).

Pretty strict rules but divers stay alive while under their care.

 

[Marie13]

My GF is a confident diver, but only had SSI OW and it took some convincing for them to let her join me on the Castle Rock dive but because I was a SSI Master Diver (after many years of resisting for reasons well outlined by others earlier!) they relented so long as we buddied up exclusively.

She has now gained her AOW through TDI... but after the recent tragic death of another diver in the Komodo region I suspect AOW requirements will rapidly become the norm... if only due to legal liability.

Which doesn't make a lot of sense because I don't recall specific AOW course content on how to deal with extreme current surges (which can be a fun f-a-s-t drift dive but can also take you DOWN) vs gaining another 100 dives under your belt in varying conditions!

You must mean SDI (the rec diving arm. TDI is the tech diving arm).

Did your GF do the 5 dive sampler platter or the 4 separate specialties. I recently did my SDI Advanced Diver course - 4 separate specialties. I learned a lot. Did my 60th dive today. Can't imagine doing only one dive for each area.

 

[DivealotZA]

I'm going to throw this out there...

It is a stupid certification BUT say you're diving to 30m and something happened...

Do you have medical aid/health care/DAN? Do you think they're just going to be like...here's the $$, get well soon

They will look for every reason to make you pay, and it's a very valid one...

For peace of mind in this regard, I would do it It says nothing about ability really though

EDIT: Maybe think of deep spec to cover it in this regard? should be cheaper and more fun...

 

[rgdiver1]

In your wife's case, AOW seems unnecessary to me. When I started diving many years ago, I don't think there was an AOW certification level. That concept came along later. I don't think I was even aware of the AOW cert until I became a PADI diver in the early 90's.

Given your wife's experience level and, from the sound of it, comfort level, she is far beyond many divers with an AOW card but minimal experience.

 

[ColoDale]

In the past 20 years I have had a few dive ops in the Caribbean say there would be depth resriction if I did not have AOW. I had the AOW card for that reason. I suppose if there was litigation in case of an accident and/or insurers were involved it might come into play. Depends on who asks and where for the AOW card. The card by itself doesn't ensure alot but one dive in each area and some book work.
The card did mean a bit more in French Polynesia where they compare it to CMAS.

 

[Altamira]

I'm going to throw this out there...

It is a stupid certification BUT say you're diving to 30m and something happened...

Do you have medical aid/health care/DAN? Do you think they're just going to be like...here's the $$, get well soon

They will look for every reason to make you pay, and it's a very valid one...

For peace of mind in this regard, I would do it It says nothing about ability really though

EDIT: Maybe think of deep spec to cover it in this regard? should be cheaper and more fun...

With reference to DAN's dive insurance, I am very confident they will cover dive injuries you might sustain at 30m as that is still within the limits for recreational diving. The same applies to their travel insurance. After all of the discussions on this board, I am amazed that some folks can't let go of the myth that OW divers are limited to 60'. Yes, some dive ops may limit an OW diver to those limits, but I usually find that once the DM figures out you have your act together and don't need close monitoring, the 60' "limit" goes out the window. On a recent trip to French Polynesia, after one dive @60' or so to assess capabilities, and then asking what depth I was comfortable diving to, we all dove to 100+ft. If I ever find a dive op that is hard over about having the AOW card, I will know about their policy before I sign up for the dives, and just find someone else to dive with, or dive some other place. Life is too short to put up that kind of BS. Yes, I know it's their boat and their rules, but it is my money and for me, that rules.