Deep AOW

[DeepSeaDan]

Hi Dan,

It's my turn to say sorry. I got quite defensive and shouldn't have. Forgive me?
When I did my AOW I had quite a bit of experience (not that I'm all that..) and was comfortable in the water.

It was more with the particular quarry that had me spooked for no good reason, and I knew it at the time.

I cannot disagree with any of your reasoning that you're posting here. In fact I agree.

Thanks for being a nice guy. I mean that.

Randy

Not a problem Randy, & just to show you how humbling diving can be, check this out:

http://www.scubaboard.com/t7275-.html

 

[StSomewhere]

:06:

Well, add me to the long list of noobs planning to take the AOW sooner rather than later, in order to get more supervised dive experience. Specific skillsets to be worked on (in order):
Buoyancy
Navigation
Multilevel
Search/Recovery
Deep

Not sure how this could be a bad thing. The one thing I'd like to work on more than anything is buoyancy control, so the AOW dives seemed like a good starting point. I'm not looking for a feather in my cap, just more experience with an instructor who can quickly spot and help me correct issues. Before they become bad habits.

FWIW, I have never heard of guided dives, but that doesn't surprise me since there is a lot about diving I've never heard of.

 

[jbd]

I do not agree that a new diver "has no real diving history"; on the contrary, I believe their o/w dive history to be crucially important in the overall assessment of their ability to participate in advanced skills training - specifically the "deep dive."

D.S.D.--I sense that we may need to clarify(define) what we each mean by new diver. In my mind "newly minted diver means someone who has just completed their certification dives and nothing further. The only people, IMHO, who would have a good read on their history would be the instructor(s) that worked with them.

If the person has some post certification dives then indeed there is some history to talk to them about and hopefully some log book entries to review.

A student may meet standards on their o/w; however, the overall competency range ( as you well know ) varies considerably from student to student. As I stated earlier, some divers can proceed to more advanced skills & deeper depths sooner than others - this is where the Instructor's knowledge of the student's o/w performance is critical. Other divers need more time, at shallower depths, to build the confidence / competency to the point where deeper diving is safe to participate in. Very often, these types of students crave more guided diving by diving leaders in these shallower depths. I firmly believe this is why scuba suffers the significant attrition rate that it does - we abandon them too soon to their own devices, or we encourage them into programs they are not adequately prepared for, so they quit.

I stand by my belief that it is the Instructor's duty to properly assess candidates for suitability for training at all levels.

Regards,
D.S.D.

I heartily agree 100%

 

[jbd]

Not a problem Randy, & just to show you how humbling diving can be, check this out:

http://www.scubaboard.com/t7275-.html

:rofl: I didn't even need to read past the first two sentences to recall that story!!! Thanks for a great story. IIRC you have another great story about one of your dives.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

:06:

Well, add me to the long list of noobs planning to take the AOW sooner rather than later, in order to get more supervised dive experience. Specific skillsets to be worked on (in order):
Buoyancy
Navigation
Multilevel
Search/Recovery
Deep

Not sure how this could be a bad thing. The one thing I'd like to work on more than anything is buoyancy control, so the AOW dives seemed like a good starting point. I'm not looking for a feather in my cap, just more experience with an instructor who can quickly spot and help me correct issues. Before they become bad habits.

FWIW, I have never heard of guided dives, but that doesn't surprise me since there is a lot about diving I've never heard of.

Hello St.,

It is only a "bad thing" when some new divers, who really need to "just dive" to become more comfortable / confident in the H2O, enroll in the AOW because they feel it is their only opportunity to gain more experience under the experienced guideance of diving leaders. They then find themselves faced with further task loading as they grapple with the new techniques / skills presented ( or SHOULD be presented ) as per the standard AOW experience.

I think guided diving is the way to go for these people. Shallow, easier dives, with the added anxiety-reducing presence of diving leaders. Before long, they'll have gained the experience / confidence to move on with more advanced training if they choose.

D.S.D.

 

[jbd]

:06:

Well, add me to the long list of noobs planning to take the AOW sooner rather than later, in order to get more supervised dive experience. Specific skillsets to be worked on (in order):
Buoyancy
Navigation
Multilevel
Search/Recovery
Deep

Not sure how this could be a bad thing. The one thing I'd like to work on more than anything is buoyancy control, so the AOW dives seemed like a good starting point. I'm not looking for a feather in my cap, just more experience with an instructor who can quickly spot and help me correct issues. Before they become bad habits.

FWIW, I have never heard of guided dives, but that doesn't surprise me since there is a lot about diving I've never heard of.

If its at all possible try to get someone to mentor you through the buoyancy control before you actually take the AOW. Your AOW class will be more meaningful if you go into with good buyancy control skills.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

D.S.D.--I sense that we may need to clarify(define) what we each mean by new diver. In my mind "newly minted diver means someone who has just completed their certification dives and nothing further. The only people, IMHO, who would have a good read on their history would be the instructor(s) that worked with them.

If the person has some post certification dives then indeed there is some history to talk to them about and hopefully some log book entries to review.



I heartily agree 100%

Hey J,

You'd think after 4 years on this board I'd know how to create a post with a "partial quote" - would you please pm me the how-to? Preciated!

I define the new diver as you do. If the new course Inst. is not the student's original Inst., some effort must be made by the new Inst. to either contact the original Inst., &/or any diving leader with information specific to the individuals o/w diving ability. Failing that, it may be necessary to dive with the prospective student & put them through their paces, so as to assure themselves of their suitability for what they're applying to do. I realize that is going to the wall, but the potential alternatives might make such steps seem minor by comparison.

Regards,
D.S.D.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

:rofl: I didn't even need to read past the first two sentences to recall that story!!! Thanks for a great story. IIRC you have another great story about one of your dives.

Hey again,

A new Dive Magazine here in Canada - "Scuba Press", has shown an interest in my tales & has published the infamous chicken dive in their last issue. Last time I spoke with them they wanted to make me a regular feature!

Before long I'll be hob-knobbing with Clive Cussler & solving mysteries with Dirk Pitt!!

Well, then again, I just might make Reader's Digest!

Best,

D.S.D.

 

[jbd]

Hey J,

You'd think after 4 years on this board I'd know how to create a post with a "partial quote" - would you please pm me the how-to? Preciated!

I define the new diver as you do. If the new course Inst. is not the student's original Inst., some effort must be made by the new Inst. to either contact the original Inst., &/or any diving leader with information specific to the individuals o/w diving ability. Failing that, it may be necessary to dive with the prospective student & put them through their paces, so as to assure themselves of their suitability for what they're applying to do. I realize that is going to the wall, but the potential alternatives might make such steps seem minor by comparison.

Regards,
D.S.D.

Once again, I heartily agree. I have found that doing an evaluation dive is very beneficial when starting with a previously certified student.

Its my opinion though that this doesn't happen very often.

PM will be on its way.

 

[StSomewhere]

If its at all possible try to get someone to mentor you through the buoyancy control before you actually take the AOW. Your AOW class will be more meaningful if you go into with good buyancy control skills.

Thanks jbd and DeepSeaDan. I'll look into some sort of mentor or guided dives or ... Sounds like the best approach is getting wet (which is getting harder as the days here grow colder Grrrr!).