Advice for going Beyond Open Water Training

[big_lou32]

I recently got my Open Water Certification from IANTD and am looking to get more advanced training. I was really pleased with the theory and practical skills I learned from IANTD. What is the natural sequence of progression? Are PADI courses as good as the IANTD ones?

Also, I'd eventually like to learn to dive with doubles. I've already had to bail on a dive because of a freeflow regulator and see that diving doubles provides you with an obvious safety advantage. What courses teach you to dive with doubles?

Any advice/help would be great. Thanks.

 

[RJP]

Any course is as good - and only as good - as the instructor teaching it.

Obviously any sort of AOW course would be a logical next step.

I am a big believer in getting lots of training, but you should also balance that wih "actual" diving as well.

Just this past weekend I completed my PADI "Rescue Diver" certification, and I highly recommend this for every diver, even if only for the self-rescue aspect of the course.

Intro to tech would be a good place to start to learn about diving with doubles - though have you considered a pony bottle for redundancy? Personally I sling a 40cf stage bottle as my redundant air source. Pony or doubles are required to dive on boats here in NJ.

 

[grantctobin]

I agree with the post above, but also get nitrox as soon as possible, you get longer bottom times as well as some other benefits

 

[Gator Diver]

Any course is as good - and only as good - as the instructor teaching it.

Obviously any sort of AOW course would be a logical next step.

I believe that also. Who teaches the course is just as important
and what the course covers. I agree in that AOW is a good
next step.

 

[RICoder]

If you are already going IANTD, you may very well want to stick with them, especially if you are talking doubles and thinking technical. I'll also agree with the statement about instructors above.

AOW is a good place to start, and Rescue or the equivalent if you are really interested in furthering your education.

You might also want to consider what exactly it is that you want to do in the water...like take pictures or penetrate wrecks or caves...that will help guide you too

 

[jpcpat]

All the organizationd have similar training standards. The instructor is what counts.