Continuing Education... Your thoughts?

[HowardE]

Well... Bob and Drew... I wouldn't want to bad mouth my instructor, because I do like him... Perhaps he could have made it tougher for me, and I wouldn't think what I do about AOW. I don't feel cheated, nor do I feel that I am not a competent diver. I do agree that the instructor has freedom to teach the way he/she will... But from my personal conversations w/ both PADI and NAUI instructors, it seems that NAUI's core requirements are a little more stringent.

I guess my statement that you quoted bob about it being a chance to prove your skills, is more of a generalization than I should have made. I should have said that for MY EXPERIENCE, rather than in general.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well... Bob and Drew... I wouldn't want to bad mouth my instructor, because I do like him... Perhaps he could have made it tougher for me, and I wouldn't think what I do about AOW. I don't feel cheated, nor do I feel that I am not a competent diver. I do agree that the instructor has freedom to teach the way he/she will... But from my personal conversations w/ both PADI and NAUI instructors, it seems that NAUI's core requirements are a little more stringent.

I guess my statement that you quoted bob about it being a chance to prove your skills, is more of a generalization than I should have made. I should have said that for MY EXPERIENCE, rather than in general.

Unfortunately, many instructors and shop owners view AOW as nothing more than a few extra dives with an instructor ... and an opportunity to sell the student some more gear. So I do understand where you're coming from ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[drew52]

Unfortunately, many instructors and shop owners view AOW as nothing more than a few extra dives with an instructor ... and an opportunity to sell the student some more gear. So I do understand where you're coming from ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

My sentiments exactly, I guess thats why I get upset when people say they learnt nothing and then think its the agencies fault. Usually it's the instructor or even the LDS they work for rather than the agency.

Howarde, good luck in your future courses, I'm sure your Instructor is great and will give you a great Rescue Course. I guess the AOW is one of those courses...

 

[SadiesMom]

Bob... I wish I could have taken your AOW... Most of the items you've mentioned are not a problem (for ME)... but I would have liked to have done the lift bag, and the search and recovery.

Which cert agency do you teach for? I am guessing it's not PADI. I know that other agencies have more requirements... which I think is GREAT. I would have prefereed a challenge.

Don't blame that one on PADI, Howard...My AOW was PADI and I had Search and Recovery and we learned to bring objects to the surface with a lift bag. We also had a great session on shore with my instructor on knot tying as well - in fact he had us practice a bowline until we could tie it with our eyes closed. That was 2 years ago and I can still do it.

Your sense of disillusionment with AOW seems to me to be due to the fact that the choice of electives was inappropriate for you given your experience with your previous dives. Had you had less previous experience, you might have been able to learn something very useful from your instructor about those specialty dives. However, because you *had* so much experience diving under those circumstances, I think you were not well served by taking those particular elective courses and would've been much *better* served by choosing others that interested you, but in which you didn't already have so much experience.

I don't discount experience as a teacher...but neither am I willing to throw continuing education out the window, either. I don't believe in card collecting for the sake of it, but for those who wish to broaden their knowledge and see specialty courses as their way to do that...hey - more power to them. I'm certainly not going to shoot them down for doing that, as long as they are actually *diving* as well.

The only "specialty" course I've taken is Nitrox - everything else I consider as a career path towards becoming an instructor - AOW, Rescue (started after 60+ dives), EFR, DAN O2, DM (started after 115 dives). After a couple of years as a DM, I'll go on to my IDC/IE. Ever since I got certified, all I've ever wanted to do is share that with others, so that's been my goal - but I realize that every single dive I do I learn something new - not just in the classes I take. And ever since becoming a DM, diving with students makes me realize how VERY much more I have to learn before becoming an instructor - it's kind of humbling.

 

[Gary D.]

This all goes to why I only teach private lessons. My students pay me about $500 - $600 bucks for OW Class... but when they're done, they've already learned everything they'll ever need to know...Ken

Am I the only one seeing something wrong with this? I like his idea about teaching but the above statement is what I'm having a problem with. There isn't a person on this earth that knows everything they will ever need to know.

Gary D.

 

[HowardE]

OK... So maybe I got my AOW for all of the wrong reason (because Key Largo dive ops require it for certain dives), and maybe I didn't try to challenge myself. I did read the book that PADI also sells with the course, and did find some of that informative, so I guess I did learn a few things.

Perhaps my case is rare (although I don't think it is, since so many other people have called AOW a guided tour). I have always advocated learning as much as possible whenever possible, and to contribute towards this thread, I did say "yes" to continuing education.

I do expect my Rescue course to be a challenge, and my instructor also said, "you will be challenged" which sounds GREAT to me.

As I have said all along... Learn, grow, be a better diver, gain experience, don't just take it for the purpose of collecting cards.

I also want to thank those of you who politely contributed to this discussion, to keep it interesting, and for somewhat helping to change my opinion of the whole thing.

 

[Ron Brandt]

Get to Rescue diver for sure...it will really open you eyes and make you a better diver.

Ron

 

[dnicholasr]

This is a subject of much debate for sure. I have been diving since 1978 and my wife just started diving this summer. I taught her to snorkel and then free dive. By the time she attended Open Water (PADI) it was a review. She proceeded smoothly through the program. After an 6 additional dives she attended Advanced Open Water (PADI) and again passed. She has also completed Peak Proformance Buoyancy and Nitrox Speciality Courses and has 19 dives logged. I was the drivning force in this training program. Let me explain why.
First, over the years I have seen many "experienced" divers that I would not dive with. They struggle putting their gear together and on. They rarely conduct their dives well. Everyone has seen these divers on charters. Do you really want them as your buddy. This is not meant to imply just because you take classes you are a better diver. Continuing education helps.
Second, dive certification is to easy. A couple of simple tests and a few open dives is just a start. The Advanced Open Water diver program is a mere shadow of its former self. Still, it still adds to ones experience level.
Bottom line, every diver is responsible to stay sharp.

I support any and all continuing education. Whether formal or informal.

Dive Safe,
Dennis

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

And really, isn't EVERY dive part of one's continuing education? Maybe not for you folks who have a thousand dives or more, but personally, I learn something new on nearly every dive I make, and I don't foresee the point where I'll ever be able to say, "I've seen it all and done it all. I know everything there is to know." If I ever get to that point, then diving will either be fatal, or it will be the most boring thing in the world, and either way, I'll be hanging up my fins for good.

 

[HowardE]

And really, isn't EVERY dive part of one's continuing education? Maybe not for you folks who have a thousand dives or more, but personally, I learn something new on nearly every dive I make, and I don't foresee the point where I'll ever be able to say, "I've seen it all and done it all. I know everything there is to know." If I ever get to that point, then diving will either be fatal, or it will be the most boring thing in the world, and either way, I'll be hanging up my fins for good.

A lot of people are "seen that" "done that" people as it is. I feel that this is being "closed minded" and IMO a closed mind is a wonderful thing to waste. I think everyone should have an open mind to everything... I mean read through this thread and others where I have changed my opinion on things. I am always open to hearing logical and well presented open debate on many things.

I hope I'm never a "seen it all, done it all" person, with life in general. So to even add to what you're saying... isn't EVERY DAY a NEW DAY, and part of one's continuing education?