AOW certified now. What's next?

[aquaoren]

Dive! Dive! Dive!

^^^^
What he said and than what Rick said.

 

[pt40fathoms]

Get wet, Blow bubbles, Have fun!

Consider taking a Nitrox course, it will be quite helpfull and open up many possibilities.

Deep Diver certification is always one that can be very helpfull as well, with the right instructor, your view of dive safety and gas management will be forever ingrained.

Naturally, Rescue Diver is an obvious choice. It will be the toughest recreational level course you can take, and will give you a whole new perspective when watching other divers both in and out of the water. It's a real confidence builder and the most fun you'll have while getting exhasted and worn out.

 

[kidspot]

For now, just dive. Nice relaxed recreational dives. Pickup your Nitrox cert anywhere along the way...
At around the 50 - 75 dive mark, I'd recommend the rescue course.
At around 100 dives, cavern. Don't rush. Time underwater is important to the value of the continuing ed.
I found those two courses helped me more than any others to be a more competent, controlled recreational diver. Rescue for confidence and safety; Cavern for technique (and more confidence and safety).
More confidence and control = more fun.
Warning: After you complete cavern you may very well get hooked into the Dark Side... Advanced Nitrox... deco... trimix... wreck... cave... $$$$$$$$....
Rick

Hey Rick,

I think I'm following your schedule so far ... Just finished Rescue and 50 dives 2 weeks ago I would not have been ready for it much sooner & DIR-F helped a lot too...

YCW,
If you get the chance to go to a DIR-F jump at the opportunity... even if you don't agree with their philosophy it's a great opportunity to refine basic skills that will benefit any type of diving you might pursue. Kind of shows you where the "bar" is in terms of skill and gives you a chance to stretch yourself, plus it's definitely more beneficial to take it early on in your diving - I had 30-40 dives when I went and I had already picked up some bad habits that I had to correct.

Aloha, Tim

 

[Chad Carney]

I am just a recreational diver with no intention of making a career out of diving. Having just completed my AOW course last week What's next? Any thoughts?

Take a specialty class that sounds like fun to you. Spearfishing, photography, wreck diving, etc.

Build a wide base of experience and have fun doing it!

Chad

 

[MB]

Classes are good, but not the only way to learn (sounds odd coming from an instructor huh?). If you've found an instructor you enjoyed, that person might be willing to mentor you a bit - without the structure of classes. You can learn lots and spread it out over time, and never get a card from your genuine learning!

As you gain lots of experiences, you'll learn the types of formal training that will make you a better diver. You might get interested in some academic areas, and some agencies target that. You might get turned on to a particular style of diving, or particular environments. But rather than deciding that in advance, learn from your next 100 dives, log your experiences, and develop goals that you see will make a difference and satisfy your eagerness to learn.

And, of course, rescue and nitrox...

 

[ABQdiver]

If you get the chance to go to a DIR-F jump at the opportunity... even if you don't agree with their philosophy it's a great opportunity to refine basic skills that will benefit any type of diving you might pursue. Kind of shows you where the "bar" is in terms of skill and gives you a chance to stretch yourself, plus it's definitely more beneficial to take it early on in your diving - I had 30-40 dives when I went and I had already picked up some bad habits that I had to correct.

Aloha, Tim

I agree with the others that just diving and time underwater will help immensely with your comfort level and ability to maneuver underwater.

Tim has an excellent suggestion as well. You don't even have to be heading into Tech diving for the fundies class to be a big help with you under water awareness, trim and manuvering skills as well. Highly recommended!!

 

[YCW]

...At around the 50 - 75 dive mark, I'd recommend the rescue course...

Rescue course seems to be on everyone's list. That will be my next move too.

..And, of course, rescue and nitrox...

Will look up nitrox too, thanks.

Dive! Dive! Dive!

Meanwhile, that's what I will do .

 

[H2Andy]

For now, just dive. Nice relaxed recreational dives. Pickup your Nitrox cert anywhere along the way...
At around the 50 - 75 dive mark, I'd recommend the rescue course.
At around 100 dives, cavern. Don't rush. Time underwater is important to the value of the continuing ed.
I found those two courses helped me more than any others to be a more competent, controlled recreational diver. Rescue for confidence and safety; Cavern for technique (and more confidence and safety).
More confidence and control = more fun.

ayup... that is almost exactly the route i took.

i took AOW and Nitrox together, just shy of 40 dives
then Cavern, at 48 dives
then Rescue, at 78 dives
then Intro. Cave at 88 dives
then DIR-F at 127 dives

goals:

Advanced Nitrox (2005)
Apprentice Cave (2006)

although i am a *very* low numbers diver (i only have 143 dives), i have tried
to continously challenge my skills.

 

[scubagirl15]

Oops...lost my edit.

 

[jbisjim]

I agree with Dive dive

do rescue, best class i ever took. It really makes you think.