AOW questions

[Aloha Joe]

Edit: after re-reading a few earlier posts I might be getting it. Is the suggestion to do 3 adventure dives, then 2 specialty courses (one being Deep Diver), which would qualify me for AOW cert?

Is the only difference between that and AOW the selection of Adventure Dives - assuming that's limited by the shop offering the AOW course? Or are you saying, for example, the Deep Dive in AOW would be 'wasted' if I were to then go on and do the Deep Diver Specialty course?

 

[Landau]

The top book is the new version, the bottom the older.

I'd just call or email your favorite diveshop and ask what they offer for the AOW course. Around here the 5 dives are mostly decided by the shop with little choice unless you want a private session. That said my LDS usually does Peak buoyancy, Navigation, Night, Deep, wreck over a weekend.

AOW is about doing 5 slightly more advanced dives and extending your skills a bit. I did mine only 4 dives after my open water and found it useful.

The operators around here also ask for advanced for many of the local trips either deeper than 60 feet or more challenging in other ways like currents.

 

[Aloha Joe]

And I guess I can finally tell someone I accidentally went to 72 feet! Whew, I really hate keeping secrets. I still would rather get 'checked out' by a good instructor before intentionally diving to 100 feet or more.

 

[MichaelMc]

Aloha Joe, two useful recent discussions on different AOW paths and the Padi/SSI/SDI rules and options:

PADI Advanced Open Water Question

Padi AOW by default? Which discusses whether Adventure diver + specialties equals AOW, and how well Padi and instructors are set up to handle that path.

I would make an argument for Buoyancy and Trim needing to be high on any divers training list, and good to start any post OW training with owning your position and trim in the water before tackling depth and navigation. They will be enhanced by having the former under control first.

 

[Aloha Joe]

Cool, thank you. And I definitely agree - buoyancy control is at the top of my list. I'm a new diver but it certainly seems like it would be fundamental to everything else.

 

[Aloha Joe]

6 dives in 3 days for $400 with a dive master...considering I only have about 10 dives it doesn't sound like a bad deal. In my situation (single guy moving to a new state and only recently certified) it seems like there isn't much to lose by signing up for AOW and going through the motions. I'll get experience, learn a few things, and meet some people.

I wanted to get the book so I could start studying now - or at least on my flight - and so I could be ready for the class when I get there. How much hard would there be in getting an older copy?

 

[MichaelMc]

I have not read the Padi AOW manual, but these are useful.
US Navy Dive manual (free): for physics and physiology
Buoyancy and Trim:
Alert Diver | Mastering Neutral Buoyancy and Trim DAN plus references
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass a good series of articles.

 

[mmerriman]

Edit: after re-reading a few earlier posts I might be getting it. Is the suggestion to do 3 adventure dives, then 2 specialty courses (one being Deep Diver), which would qualify me for AOW cert?

Is the only difference between that and AOW the selection of Adventure Dives - assuming that's limited by the shop offering the AOW course? Or are you saying, for example, the Deep Dive in AOW would be 'wasted' if I were to then go on and do the Deep Diver Specialty course?

No - 5 adventure dives, 1 being deep, 1 being UW nav qualify you for the AOW cert. doing the entire Deep cert or anything else is on top of AOW.

 

[jlcnuke]

There is no AOW Manual; there is an Adventures in Diving Manual, and there is an AOW eLearning pack.
As previously mentioned, you cannot do the Deep specialty directly from OW. You need to go through additional training first. That additional training at a minimum is three adventure dives and the related Knowledege Reviews, thus giving the Adventure Diver certification, or is five adventure dives, two of which are Deep and Navigation, thus the AOW certification.

There is an AOW manual now. I used it for my AOW course earlier this year, and you can buy it here among other places (I got mine from the dive shop I did my AOW course through).

 

[jlcnuke]

Edit: after re-reading a few earlier posts I might be getting it. Is the suggestion to do 3 adventure dives, then 2 specialty courses (one being Deep Diver), which would qualify me for AOW cert?

Is the only difference between that and AOW the selection of Adventure Dives - assuming that's limited by the shop offering the AOW course? Or are you saying, for example, the Deep Dive in AOW would be 'wasted' if I were to then go on and do the Deep Diver Specialty course?

What's "recommended" varies based on who you ask.. lol.

No dive from your AOW (or adventure dives) is "wasted". They are logged in your dive log and count as one of the required dives if you do that specialty later (so the deep dive from AOW is one less dive you're required to do as part of your deep diver specialty course for instance).