AOW for Rescue?

[RonFrank]

There seems to be two camps when it comes to AOW training.

Many feel that AOW should be done right after OW certification because that is the time to continue instruction, and things like Deep dives and Navigation should be taught before one is experiencing them without an instructor present. I'm in this camp, and in fact did my AOW a few months after OW certification. This is PADI's way.

Others believe that one should not do AOW until some number of dives has been achieved. I tend to think this is not ideal, as by the time one has say 50 dives under the belt, there is little to learn from doing instruction during a deep dive if one has been to 90Feet many times before.

My buddy is not AOW certified, and wants to do rescue. He's PO'd with PADI because he feels that Rescue is likely the most valuable rec diviing class one can take, and wants to get Rescue certified, however he can not do so until he does AOW. This will likely cost him $200 on top of the Rescue class costs, so he is unwilling to do Rescue with PADI. I can see his point. He has done deep dives, navigation in mud holes, boat dives, UW photography, and has good buoyancy. So what is he really gaining by doing AOW?

SSI has a different approach than PADI, and they will not allow a diver to do AOW until they have 50 dives (I believe). While I do not believe that most will get a lot out of an AOW class if one has 50 logged dives (of course depending on the diver/instructor) I may end up doing the SSI rescue as my buddy can do that Rescue class without having to dump $200 for an AOW card.

OTOH, I do have AOW, I like the PADI shop I've been training with, and have a second buddy who wants to do PADI Rescue (we did our OW together).

So any thoughts on these different approaches, and what people believe SHOULD be the correct sequence? Is AOW that good of a class, and should it be necessary for Rescue? I learned a lot in my AOW class, but we had a good instructor, I'd not logged many dives, and there were only two students. Others however that I have dove with thought the class was useless, and basically felt it was no more than 5 guided dives with an expensive pricetag. :bfish:

 

[Rick Inman]

Yeah, I wanted the rescue class and had to take AOW, too. I just forgot to get upset about it. I figured, I'm sure to learn something from the AOW class, get some dives in, meet new people, ask the instructor irritating questions .

And I did pick up some good stuff from the class. Got to practice using a lift bag, which I had not done. Correct some bad habits I'd developed in compass use. My instructor really took the time to look for areas that I needed, and glossed over the ones I didn't.

I

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

One of the things I like about the way NAUI offers these programs is that they don't require AOW before Rescue ... they leave it up to instructors to decide the sequence.

IMO - these two classes teach you very different things, and while I don't believe that every diver needs to take AOW, I do believe that Rescue is one of the most ... if not THE most ... important class in the normal recreational curriculum.

If your buddy isn't happy with the way PADI offers these classes ... and doesn't want to take AOW before Rescue ... encourage him to look into the NAUI program.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Divin-D]

SSI has a different approach than PADI, and they will not allow a diver to do AOW until they have 50 dives (I believe). While I do not believe that most will get a lot out of an AOW class if one has 50 logged dives (of course depending on the diver/instructor) I may end up doing the SSI rescue as my buddy can do that Rescue class without having to dump $200 for an AOW card.

The SSI AOW card is not issued until the 50 dives are logged, but that doesn't mean that you have to have 50 dives logged to begin the AOW training. Since they also require 4 specialty courses to be completed to get AOW, and all of those dives count toward AOW, it isn't that hard to reach the 50 dive mark after the classes are complete.

I got my OW training through SSI, and my instructor recommended the Rescue course as the next dive training step.

Others believe that one should not do AOW until some number of dives has been achieved. I tend to think this is not ideal, as by the time one has say 50 dives under the belt, there is little to learn from doing instruction during a deep dive if one has been to 90Feet many times before.

Just because a diver has done something many times does not mean that there is no benefit from instructor led training.

 

[TCB]

Actually, with SSI, AOW isn't a class per se, but is granted after completing four specialty classes (Nitrox, Deep, Nav, etc) and completing at least 24 dives.

As for Rescue, SSI says: "Diver Stress & Rescue is the next course recommended after Open Water Diver, because it helps you gain confidence and makes you a better buddy"

 

[Jarrett]

Hopefully not a hijack, but which organziation has the best Rescue course in your opinion? Or they all the same?

 

[WaterDawg]

IMO - these two classes teach you very different things, and while I don't believe that every diver needs to take AOW, I do believe that Rescue is one of the most ... if not THE most ... important class in the normal recreational curriculum.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I totally agree. I took Rescue w/ about 120is dives, Do you think something could have happened to me or a buddy, or someone at a dive site during thoses 100 or so dives? YES! In fact belive it or not the very night I finished the course I used the training!

During my class There was a guy who had about 60 dives and was just O/W cert. He was doing the skills almost flawlesly. As it turns out his O/W was NAUI's and they practice rescue right in their O/W class! Needless to say, I felt evenmore cheated, as I payed the same amount he did for my PADI instruction.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hopefully not a hijack, but which organziation has the best Rescue course in your opinion? Or they all the same?

From an agency-standards perspective ... probably the YMCA. I think it's more comprehensive.

From a practical perspective ... "the best class" is the one that the instructor puts the most effort into teaching ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Bill51]

Hopefully not a hijack, but which organziation has the best Rescue course in your opinion? Or they all the same?

The one with the most experienced instructor, and even better if the instructor is a PSD.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

During my class There was a guy who had about 60 dives and was just O/W cert. He was doing the skills almost flawlesly. As it turns out his O/W was NAUI's and they practice rescue right in their O/W class! Needless to say, I felt evenmore cheated, as I payed the same amount he did for my PADI instruction.

One of the things I like about the way NAUI's curriculum is set up is that they require some level of rescue skills be taught in each of their courses ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)