Classes

[maphic]

As soon as I am certified what are some recommendations of what I should do next?

Is it a good idea to do a few dives at a lake before I go for the ocean?
Also what are some classes I should take ofter my intial certification class?

I was reading some where else on the forum (i may have misunderstood) that you need to get certified to dive the ocean. Did I just misunderstand this because, I thought your Dive Certification class allows you to dive anywhere diving is permitted.

-Austin

 

[GA Under Water]

you misunderstood. Once you are Open Water Diver you can dive Open Water which includes the Ocean.

You will get 2 different answers here

Get your AOW soon to expand your OWD knowledge (My Opinion)
and
get out and dive, learn from buddies then around 30+ dives get your AOW



Did I miss one?

 

[Thalassamania]

The general warning is that upon certification you are qualified to dive to the depths and in the environs simlar or better than that you trained in. That said, it would appear (if you want to believe the certifying agencies who came up with that phrase to cover their butt) that your only alternative, if you lack a mentor, is too take more training every time that you change environments or want to venture deeper.

 

[pir8]

You wil be certified to dive in conditions the same as or better than what you did your dives in.

 

[jim T.]

Aside from the basic fact that the ocean is salt water and lakes fresh, a basic knowledge of (and preferably) experience with tide tables, current tables, what to do in surf (if present) and what to do if caught in an undertow, etc. Then there is surge, rollers, etc. This knowledge/experience ARE necessary for safe dives. In my opinion you should be sure that you at least read up on these issues and find a mentor to take you salt water/ocean diving or take a class if you have only been around/in lakes.
OW may mean any open water but all open water issues are not even remotely the same.

 

[texdiveguy]

Get out and DIVE,,,have fun and get some experience BEFORE going to the AOW class....seen to many divers 'pushed' by suggestion to get right into the AOW....gee you just went thru OW....enjoy your newly learned skills,,,no big rush!!! Scuba can be a lifetime sport...take your time at a pace comfortable to you.

 

[TSandM]

My advice would be to try to find a local, experienced diver to hook up with and get some diving done. There is a lot still to learn and polish after OW class, and finding a mentor is an excellent way to make progress.

Similarly, when you first go to the ocean, try to go with somebody who has open water experience, or hook up with a DM. The sea is a different place from a lake, with tides, currents and chop, challenging entries, and in some places hazardous life forms. Best to have somebody along who has some knowledge of such things.

 

[spectrum]

As soon as I am certified what are some recommendations of what I should do next?

Is it a good idea to do a few dives at a lake before I go for the ocean?
Also what are some classes I should take ofter my intial certification class?

I was reading some where else on the forum (i may have misunderstood) that you need to get certified to dive the ocean. Did I just misunderstand this because, I thought your Dive Certification class allows you to dive anywhere diving is permitted.

-Austin

Making those first few dives in the environment you certified in will cut down on the risk, task loading and let you concentrate on honing what you already know so I consider it a good idea. The ocean will wait. The most important thing to do next is dive, anywhere and anytime you can but to stay within your abilities.

If all of your training was in freshwater it is a very good idea to have some sort of transition to ocean diving. This is especially true if you have lived you life away from the ocean and have not developed a respect for it's potential furry first hand.

No formal course or certification is required however going with a friend from the area, a DM or with some sort of group is a real good idea. There are some elements of dive planning like tides that are very different. Visibility and currents are also effected in different ways. This is essentially the same logic that applies to any venture into a new dive environment.

As far as a training progression goes. Getting 1-2 dozen dives under your belt before taking AOW is my suggestion.

Follow that with the Rescue Diver class when you have between 50-100 dives but right after AOW is OK if your agency allows this.

Pete

 

[RICHinNC]

One situation you may run into in getting the dives ahead of AOW is......if you sign up for an ocean dive deeper than OW goes....you may get turned down. A number of dive ops here in NC will check for your AOW card if you are trying to schedule a dive with them in the 80 foot range. Just be prepared for that.

Also, dont forget the pool. You can practice skills there just as well as a lake or quarry and not over task load as was mentioned earlier.

Also, dont expect AOW to be "the answer". Some are pretty disappointed with it but need the card anyway.

 

[h90]

As soon as I am certified what are some recommendations of what I should do next?

Is it a good idea to do a few dives at a lake before I go for the ocean?
Also what are some classes I should take ofter my intial certification class?

I was reading some where else on the forum (i may have misunderstood) that you need to get certified to dive the ocean. Did I just misunderstand this because, I thought your Dive Certification class allows you to dive anywhere diving is permitted.

-Austin

I think in most countries you don't need any certification to dive everywhere. The only limitation is the DC does not let you go.
But OW is for ocean and lakes, no limitation on that.