Deep Diver Specialty vs Advanced Open Water

[stretchthepenn]

For the Padi Deep Cert I would say waste of money. If you want to deep dives do the TDI ANDP course.
Dive operators will respect that as better training than the PADI Deep Certificate.

I disagree. The two classes cover very different things, and the Deep course is appropriate for students who aren't ready for ANDP.

For example, when I took the Deep class, I wouldn't have been ready to take ANDP. I'd been deep before, but not often, and I wasn't accustomed to getting narked, etc., and definitely not used to diving deep in challenging conditions.

After the Deep class, I then took the SM and Self-Reliant courses and started working on deep dives in the local quarry, working my way down from 100' to 130' and getting accustomed to cold, dark waters. After racking up 200+ dives in SM configuration and being used to solo diving, I was ready for ANDP.

 

[divingmb]

For me, id rather have a basic understanding of many topics over being a siloed expert in one thing, regardless of whether it's diving or not.

I know sandals negril didn't offer my wife the option to choose between deep diver specialty and advanced.

But you're not really being forced to choose between one or the other. If AOW wasn't a prerequisite for many dive boat operators or to take further training, Would people be taking it?

 

[Blackcrusader]

I disagree. The two classes cover very different things, and the Deep course is appropriate for students who aren't ready for ANDP.

For example, when I took the Deep class, I wouldn't have been ready to take ANDP. I'd been deep before, but not often, and I wasn't accustomed to getting narked, etc., and definitely not used to diving deep in challenging conditions.

After the Deep class, I then took the SM and Self-Reliant courses and started working on deep dives in the local quarry, working my way down from 100' to 130' and getting accustomed to cold, dark waters. After racking up 200+ dives in SM configuration and being used to solo diving, I was ready for ANDP.

Quite right. I am remiss as after I did my PADI OW I did the BSAC sports diving deco trained courses over a couple of years 1986-1988 in Brunei. A very different world of training in a club envirnoment than paying for short courses done in a few days. Challenging currents and variable visibility conditions were the norm in Brunei.

 

[mcohen1021]

But you're not really being forced to choose between one or the other. If AOW wasn't a prerequisite for many dive boat operators or to take further training, Would people be taking it?

I did willingly bc I wanted to be good enough to possibly save myself or sometime else. Plus I was in college and needed PE credits

 

[Blackcrusader]

You are clearly confusing training standards with certification limits. Section 5.2 is for "Open-Water Training Parameters". Here's what 5.2.3 actually states:

"5.2.3 All dives prior to open water certification shall be conducted during daylight hours at depths between 15 and 60 feet (5 to 18 metres)." [emphasis added]

There would be no need to specify a depth restriction for divers prior to OW certification unless it did not apply after OW certification.

Thought it would be a good idea to repost this thread. @Rebreather Rabbit

Thread 'Dive Accident Insurance Limitations'

Mar 1, 2025

In a recent thread, a poster related a story about having to correct someone's misinformation about dive accident insurance. That misinformation has been repeated often in ScubaBoard threads. The correction is well buried in a long thread, so I thought I would create a dedicated thread that makes it clear and which can easily be linked in future threads. This one specifically refers to DAN accident insurance, but I think it would be good if other companies had their policies clarified here as well.

The misinformed person had stated that dive accident insurance only covers you if you are...

• boulderjohn
• Replies: 80
• Forum: Basic Scuba

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[TravisD]

I feel like what's being overlooked here is that for the Ops who are requiring AOW that it's not (just) about the depth of the dives. AOW is likely being used as a proxy for "has a better chance that they know how to set up their own gear, drive from a boat, plan and execute their dive". They know that the diver has gone above and beyond the bare minimum OW course.

Anyone know if the AOW condition is something that their insurance carriers are requiring, or offering a rate break on as a result of imposing the requirement?

 

[Aviyes]

This is similar to the discussions of old about which training agency's OW cert is better recognized around the globe. Regardless of the training received, an AOW cert is better recognized to check the block for the majority of the LOBs around the globe. Other certs such as deep dive will often work, but typically require extra steps of confirming with operators that they accept it in place of AOW.

However, there are definitely better options than a strict view of AOW requirements from a training perspective as already discussed in this thread.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I feel like what's being overlooked here is that for the Ops who are requiring AOW that it's not (just) about the depth of the dives. AOW is likely being used as a proxy for "has a better chance that they know how to set up their own gear, drive from a boat, plan and execute their dive". They know that the diver has gone above and beyond the bare minimum OW course.

Anyone know if the AOW condition is something that their insurance carriers are requiring, or offering a rate break on as a result of imposing the requirement?

There are many dive ops that would post someones needs AOW to dive with them. My son has OW and when he shows hundreds of dive they go ok... no need AOW. Happened to him in Hawaii.

In SEA most ops will just say go on a dive with the guide and then they are OK he's fine he can do on dives they often ask for AOW. I don't think it has anything to do with the dive ops insurance. They are surprised he can show his DAN insurance as most divers dont have that.

In Maldives had a Dutch lass with 15 dives OW cert going on deep dives in Fuvamulah. Guides basically said you dive at your own risk to all the divers.