He's just trying to finesse the word "training" by saying the OW dive is for checkout and not part of training. Everyone else, of course, considers it part of the training.
Well, looking at the book, mine does say "skills you will practice" during OW dives, so they aren't just "exam" dives.
In which case I'm good for 7 mil cold green muck kind of diving, not just my bathtub.
