- Messages
- 94,351
- Reaction score
- 93,391
- Location
- On the Fun Side of Trump's Wall
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
The AOW requirement by a lot of shops is a fairly recent trend. I think the primary reasons are liability concerns and an increasing number of OW-certified divers with little to no actual diving skill. But I also think that agencies push these policies as a way to increase cert sales.
When I was OW certified by the YMCA in 2001 the depth limit was 130 feet. The 60-foot limit was a recommendation for newly-certified divers. Suddenly, in the eyes of many operators, an AOW certified diver with 9 dives is somehow more qualified for depth than an OW diver with years of experience and hundreds of dives.
Go figure ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
When I was OW certified by the YMCA in 2001 the depth limit was 130 feet. The 60-foot limit was a recommendation for newly-certified divers. Suddenly, in the eyes of many operators, an AOW certified diver with 9 dives is somehow more qualified for depth than an OW diver with years of experience and hundreds of dives.
Go figure ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)