Best way to prepare for PADI AOW?

[SNorman]

Our 17-year-old son did his AOWD last month at Dahab. He's not real bold about new things in general. He'd done dives up to about 60 ft. with no problem, but was really freaked out about the deep dive.

Turned out the big thing for him, besides general apprehension about the unknown, was the fear of how dark he thought it was going to be.

He did it, and found you could see quite well at that depth (at least in the Red Sea!). He did a couple more dives after that to just over 100 ft, with no undue fears.

I went to 95' in Puget Sound for my AOW and without our lights I doubt I would have been able to see my hand in front of my face!

 

[MikeFerrara]

I think a lot of it will be determined by how many other people are in the course. I'm not demeaning it (the course), or saying that I'm an expert deep diver, (far from it) but I'm at a point where deeper dives aren't an unknown frontier, and if I'm going to take the course, maybe I can get a little more than the normal items. Yes, using an SMB is shooting a bag, I know that it's something that may come in handy in a deeper situation (mostly ocean diving) and I'm sure that the "tour" during my deep dive will probably bring me up the hill to the shallower depths... I'd like to try ascending with a bag. (if not during the course at some point)

Shooting a bag is applicable anytime you are ascending in OW and wish to mark your location on the surface. So yes, in the ocean or the great lakes or anytime you need someone on the surface to be able to see and track your location. The reel or spool also serves as a visual reference for your ascent and stops.

I'm aware of the IANTD courses, but I'd like to get through a few more things before jumping into any of the severe tech things. The LDS has a great TECH instructor, and I'm sure that I'll want to go to the next level after my current string of courses.

The IANTD deep Diver and Advanced Nitrox aren't considered "technical courses". they are what IANTD refers to as "sport diver" (recreational) courses.

My LDS has all great instructors and I like diving with them because they offer good suggestions outside of classes, and when you dive with them, you see what it's like to be in that "zone"! And by asking questions, I get closer to being there with them! Like the one guy that I dove with last week, he tries to get into a ZEN state when he's diving, and it all falls into place.

Not meaning to be rude or anything but I don't know anything about "zen". As far as I'm concerned, control in the water is about some pretty basic principles (mechanics) and techniques that need to be learned and practiced. Like many other skills it probably has a significant psycological component so being relaxed and confident is no doubt helpful. I know that relaxation/meditation or visualization techniques are used by lots of athletes. Way back in the 70's when I was on the high school wrestling team before this oriental stuff was even discovered (kidding of course) we were taught to use visualization as a means of practice and preperation . As I recall, the rule of thumb numbers given were that mentally rehersing something ten times had about the same value as practicing it for real once.

You should read the IANTD "Technical Diver Encyclopedia". Tom Mount is a Martial artist.

 

[Carl_Fallon]

G'Day Guys,

I think everyone has answered your question. Just jump in and have fun.

You need to keep in mind that the PADI AOW is an Adventure program. Designed to make you a better diver quicker. This is where i find quite a lot of new divers going wrong. They hold off doing there advanced because they dont think 'They are good enought'. But if they did their advanced course there diving would improve and they would be more confident and enjoy diving more and more.

So all in all. You are going to have a fun. Enjoy and good luck.

Yours Truly,
Carl Fallon:14:

 

[Buoyant1]

Shooting a bag is applicable anytime you are ascending in OW and wish to mark your location on the surface. So yes, in the ocean or the great lakes or anytime you need someone on the surface to be able to see and track your location. The reel or spool also serves as a visual reference for your ascent and stops.

The IANTD deep Diver and Advanced Nitrox aren't considered "technical courses". they are what IANTD refers to as "sport diver" (recreational) courses.

Not meaning to be rude or anything but I don't know anything about "zen". As far as I'm concerned, control in the water is about some pretty basic principles (mechanics) and techniques that need to be learned and practiced. Like many other skills it probably has a significant psycological component so being relaxed and confident is no doubt helpful. I know that relaxation/meditation or visualization techniques are used by lots of athletes. Way back in the 70's when I was on the high school wrestling team before this oriental stuff was even discovered (kidding of course) we were taught to use visualization as a means of practice and preperation . As I recall, the rule of thumb numbers given were that mentally rehersing something ten times had about the same value as practicing it for real once.

You should read the IANTD "Technical Diver Encyclopedia". Tom Mount is a Martial artist.

Well the ZEN thing is just his way of being relaxed and being "one with his fins." Nothing "official" as far as the Zen people go... I agree with his idea though, that point where you have it tuned, and are just gliding through the water is a great feeling...looking back at it, we covered a lot of "ground" in a seemingly short period of time, and used very little gas. I did dive with a guy a few years back that swore by using Yoga.

If the instructor that's doing the AOW course isn't able to do it at that time, (or if he has other ideas, like I said most of it will probably be determined by who all is along for the course) I'm sure the other instructor from the shop that we dive with regularly would be willing to help me with it. I'm surprised that it's just not part of a regular curriculum, no slam on any of the agencies, but some things seem a bit more practical than others...

I've seen that book at the shop, as the read-a-holic I am, I'm bound to pick it up at some point.

 

[hollywood703]

Obviously read the material...it is good info......As for the practical portion......Practice your compass use, you can practice doing the search and recovery patterns. You cant practice the night dive, nor the deep dive however you can work on your basics and navigational and search patterns can be practiced by anyone.

Before I was AOW, we went diving in Mexico......I was following an instructor saw an eel and motioned for me to come down to look, I honestly wasnt looking at my deth gauge when i started my descent, but when i got to where the instructor was I was at 80 ft. I noticed absolutely no difference physically from 60 feet to 80 feet. Now Here in Michigan 60 ft to 80 feet could be a big difference.....its called temperature....Other than that the Night dive was a bit nervous for me, but after 1 to see what it was like, now it is not really any different from a low vis dive.

 

[The Kraken]

BORG,

I'd be happy to dive with you anytime up at Lanier.

I can introduce you to the areas that are dived most.

By the way, I'm a PADI instructor.

the K

 

[Buoyant1]

Obviously read the material...it is good info......As for the practical portion......Practice your compass use, you can practice doing the search and recovery patterns. You cant practice the night dive, nor the deep dive however you can work on your basics and navigational and search patterns can be practiced by anyone.

Before I was AOW, we went diving in Mexico......I was following an instructor saw an eel and motioned for me to come down to look, I honestly wasnt looking at my deth gauge when i started my descent, but when i got to where the instructor was I was at 80 ft. I noticed absolutely no difference physically from 60 feet to 80 feet. Now Here in Michigan 60 ft to 80 feet could be a big difference.....its called temperature....Other than that the Night dive was a bit nervous for me, but after 1 to see what it was like, now it is not really any different from a low vis dive.

That's the "convenient" thing about quarry diving...the water temps are your best depth gauge! (although the depths of the normal spots in my local quarry are pretty much committed to memory) This November will be my first warm water dives since Jan 2006, I'll have to be a little more diligent with monitoring my depths since a. the viz wil be much clearer, and b. no drastic thermocline to speak of!