Advance Open Water Certification
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Depends on the type of diving you prefer really, and how often you intend to dive ... If you are planning on going deep once in a while it's just good to know proper procedure. Really. If 30 metres seems like 18 to you, you probably haven't done deep, low-viz, heavy-gear coldwater diving (but then - maybe you don't care to).
For me, when I took the course, it was a way to learn some more while doing dives that I would've paid to do anyway. I Know it doesn't balance out completely but I looked at it as a kind of "Built-in course discount".
Although I never planned it, it wound up propelling me naturally towards rescue and DM which I can honestly say made me a safer, more capable and responsible diver (gosh I am beginning to sound like the video). The considerable amount free dives and training dives I did during my DM internship "paid" for how much of the courses, and once you're in the professional range free diving options, and substantial gear discounts present themselves on a frequent basis (providing you work a little once in a while).
Bottom line: If you know you're gonna spend a lot of time and money on diving, I'd say it comes back to you in the long run both dive-wise and financially as well. At 25 dollars a dive - my courses are definately paid for by now.
There's a wide range of Padi Pep-talk that I don't buy into, but educating yourself to become a better and safer diver and buddy isn't one of them. Experience is a great teacher but with the books and courses you have a proven body of knowledge that you can always refer to (however annoying the "padi part" of the knowledge reviews may seem).
I'd do it. Wait. I did.
Je ne regrette rien.
Santa
For me, when I took the course, it was a way to learn some more while doing dives that I would've paid to do anyway. I Know it doesn't balance out completely but I looked at it as a kind of "Built-in course discount".
Although I never planned it, it wound up propelling me naturally towards rescue and DM which I can honestly say made me a safer, more capable and responsible diver (gosh I am beginning to sound like the video). The considerable amount free dives and training dives I did during my DM internship "paid" for how much of the courses, and once you're in the professional range free diving options, and substantial gear discounts present themselves on a frequent basis (providing you work a little once in a while).
Bottom line: If you know you're gonna spend a lot of time and money on diving, I'd say it comes back to you in the long run both dive-wise and financially as well. At 25 dollars a dive - my courses are definately paid for by now.
There's a wide range of Padi Pep-talk that I don't buy into, but educating yourself to become a better and safer diver and buddy isn't one of them. Experience is a great teacher but with the books and courses you have a proven body of knowledge that you can always refer to (however annoying the "padi part" of the knowledge reviews may seem).
I'd do it. Wait. I did.
Je ne regrette rien.
Santa
MEL-DC Diver
Contributor
redhatmama:
I am just back to DC after having been living in Australia and doing all of my diving in 'Open Water'. Needless to say, DC does not offer much in the way of diving. Anyway, I wandered into a local LDS and inquired about their classes, specifically the Wreck specialty. Much to my astonishment, the wreck course is taught in the local quarry. I couldn't believe it. Somehow diving on a submerged school bus at 60ft. in a lake is supposed to prepare you for a real wreck, where the conditions will never be like they are where real wrecks occur. This seems like a real disservice to me, since other shops seems to leave the dive portion of the class for a NC weekend. Deep I can understand. Even Rescue I can somewhat understand. But Wreck?
scubatim2004
Registered
WOW great question... IMHO AOW is well worth the money. I just compleated my AOW dives deep, peak,wreck,nav.,and search and recovorey. I found them all to be a worth while experience, well with the exception of the wreck which was done at a local quarry at 43 feet and it was only a smal maybe 35 foot cruser.
I did my AOW because it is required to become divemaster certified. It is also true that some operators will not let you do some dives without being AOW Certified.
I will agree that PADI really does stand for Put
Another
Dollar
In
But thats ok cause the experience, fun, education is worth it to me as I have a great instructor who teaches me alot.
Now I have to take my final on First Responder and I picked up my book for Rescue today and hope to do my Rescue dives the last weekend of Sept. Then it is time to start my Divemaster Journey. Wish me luck I am going to need it.
DSDO
I did my AOW because it is required to become divemaster certified. It is also true that some operators will not let you do some dives without being AOW Certified.
I will agree that PADI really does stand for Put
Another
Dollar
In
But thats ok cause the experience, fun, education is worth it to me as I have a great instructor who teaches me alot.
Now I have to take my final on First Responder and I picked up my book for Rescue today and hope to do my Rescue dives the last weekend of Sept. Then it is time to start my Divemaster Journey. Wish me luck I am going to need it.
DSDO
I will agree that PADI really does stand for Put
Another
Dollar
In
THe resort I qualified from had a huge banner visible from the sea, as you arrived by boat. The legend on it said
Padi - diving is fun
Only a fold removed the first I and pulled it towards the point of the v making it go:
Padi - Dying is fun.
Now - there's a brutally honest operation for ya.
Another
Dollar
In
THe resort I qualified from had a huge banner visible from the sea, as you arrived by boat. The legend on it said
Padi - diving is fun
Only a fold removed the first I and pulled it towards the point of the v making it go:
Padi - Dying is fun.
Now - there's a brutally honest operation for ya.
Dinictus
Registered
Well Santa,
What should we say about that? I don't thinks people should be jugded on the dive system they learnt to dive with. I aggree that just an OW with 10 dives would not make a good buddy. On the other hand, one can make a good diver with the padi system. to say "padi, dying is fun" is just cutting the corner. Im my oppinion, you learn to dive after your qualifiation just like your driver's licence. How you good you become depends on what's in your head. Padi does not fail in making all the study materials available so anybody who has his/her feet on the ground should be able to be a good diver with the padi system.
I aggree on the fact that other systems can be better but don't generalise padi.
Only now I see that you also dive with padi? Et tu Santa??
What should we say about that? I don't thinks people should be jugded on the dive system they learnt to dive with. I aggree that just an OW with 10 dives would not make a good buddy. On the other hand, one can make a good diver with the padi system. to say "padi, dying is fun" is just cutting the corner. Im my oppinion, you learn to dive after your qualifiation just like your driver's licence. How you good you become depends on what's in your head. Padi does not fail in making all the study materials available so anybody who has his/her feet on the ground should be able to be a good diver with the padi system.
I aggree on the fact that other systems can be better but don't generalise padi.
Only now I see that you also dive with padi? Et tu Santa??
Brewone0to
Contributor
TSandM:
Try using "Spring Straps" next time,you would be suprised as to how much easier it is to don your fins.
*Floater*
Contributor
Here's a thought for those not planning to go onto Rescue Diver and beyond: Just skip the AOW and take the Adventure Diver and Deep Diver courses instead. That way you will be allowed to go down to 40m instead of just 30m, and you saved some money in the process assuming you would eventually have wanted the 40m cert.
You need either the Adventure Diver or the AOW cert to do the deep diver specialty, but the former is cheaper because it only requires 3 dives instead of 5. In fact, I think I might suggest this to my girlfriend. Does anyone see any problem with skipping the AOW (or skipping the navigation and 30m deep dive portion of it)?
You need either the Adventure Diver or the AOW cert to do the deep diver specialty, but the former is cheaper because it only requires 3 dives instead of 5. In fact, I think I might suggest this to my girlfriend. Does anyone see any problem with skipping the AOW (or skipping the navigation and 30m deep dive portion of it)?
Dinictus
Registered
Well,
Yes if your looking for a quick qualification with no experience?
Yes if your looking for a quick qualification with no experience?
Damselfish
Contributor
*Floater*:
Maybe skipping deep makes sense if you plan to take the Deep specialty, but I wouldn't skip Nav. It's optional in Adventure but you can still take it. Aside from saving a few bucks I don't really see the point of Adventure, unless maybe you are doing it someplace where you absolutely only have one day and you could fit in the 3 dives but not 5. The point of getting more training is to get more training, right? (It seems like a meaningless cert since you could get it by taking Fish ID, UW Naturalist, and UW Photographer. Not that there's anything wrong with those, but they don't do alot to expand someones diving skills.)
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