Beyond PADI's AOW class?

[ndemeis]

I can't really speak from experience but am in a similar situation as you. I think the best thing to do is plan where you want to be in say the next year, two years, and beyond. For me my goal is wrecks (I would love to get into caves but moving back to NE they just aren't readily available). So with that said my upcoming PADI courses for the next two years involve, Enriched Air diver this fall as well as equipment specialist just out of intersted (plus it's cheap), then Rescue diver next Spring and possibly Deep Diver/Wreck diver if the funds are available and in three+ years start to do some of the Tech courses.

But as others have stated the most important thing is diving. The most important thing for me is to at least get two dives in every week if possible more. I love spending time in the water and that is where I would like to spend most of my money

 

[ThomasScherrer]

DIVE DIVE !!
if paying for a course is an easy way to go diving, and you dont care much about the $,
then take all the courses you got time and $ for,
this is what I did, and I had alot of fun, and got to see new things and locations and also learned alot at the same time.

wait a bit with night, until you are perfectly calm and got alot of mental margin to your stress point.
best to go night with an experianced night diver, so you dont just do the first time night on your own,
I did not offcourse .. and my buddy freaked out a bit due to it was really scarry !! all was alive, and all moved
anywhere we lit, we still talk about that first time night on our own

 

[Ste Wart]

AOW & Nitrox is all you really need. That will give you the platform to the dives you want to do.

 

[cartell0]

Padi Rescue course in my opion is no doubt one of the best non professional course that a diver should take. As a instructor and a guide I see many divers who are aow that are still nervous and lack confidence many wouldn't have a clue what to do if a real life situation did accure whilst there diving. ( this I have seen first hand )

The idea of a rescue course is not about just another certification to push you higher up the padi,ladder, this course is intended to push you to your own limits and over cone your fears and to help an assit divers in trouble.
Make sure that when you do a rescue course is to look at teaching style of instructors, if any one says the rescue course was easy you will no that there instructor was not good

Hope this helps

 

[Centrals]

Multi-level !!!
I am not sure if I can remember how to use the wheel now.
It was very useful before I bought my first computer 14yrs ago. BTW, the Aladin pro computer is stil alive and kicking.

 

[DevonDiver]

They don't even sell the Wheel anymore, just the ERdp - so the multi-level course is now pretty much defunct - or a computer course. I don't like the ERdp - there's far better dive planning software available (even freeware). The ERdp isn't waterproof... so it's lost that functionality of the wheel (on a dive boat/on the dive).

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Rescue first. Then decide what you want to do. Andy's advice is spot on about choosing an instructor. For whatever con-ed you do avoid like the plague instructors who teach courses they really are not passionate about or do not use to make a living, dive for fun on a regular basis, or have more than a passing knowledge of the area. Some subjects can be taught after attending a one or two day workshop on how to teach and market the class. Stay away from them. And don't choose a course based on what card you will get. A number of instructors like myself offer workshops that do not include a certification but do offer lots of good info and skills.

 

[Steve50]

Rescue. Nitrox.

 

[Searcaigh]

Agree with Steve above Rescue and Nitrox

and Dive Dive Dive

 

[TSandM]

I think the value of a wreck class is entirely dependent on who the instructor for the class is. If you take it from a technical diver who does wreck penetration, you're likely to learn more and be held to a higher standard. If you take it from a more usual recreational diving instructor, you may be as disappointed as you were with your night dive.

Cavern, on the other hand, is taught by technical instructors, and the class has high standards and introduces a lot of material that is not covered in any (at least PADI) recreational dive class. This is stuff like gas management and non-silting propulsion techniques. You will polish your buoyancy control and work on your trim, and learn light communication and improved situational awareness. For anyone who is not interested in a GUE Fundamentals class, I think a cavern class is a superb opportunity to bring diving skills to a whole different level.