Do you consider yourself an 'Advanced' diver?

[BsmokeyD]

I would not consider the Advanced title as being "ADVANCED". I just finished my open water course this last weekend and began my Advanced class. To be honest, one of the main reasons I took the advanced class was because I feel like I didn't get as much info about diving as I should have in the open water.
I am in the emergency services field. And the amount of schooling that I have taken, and continue to take can be/and was intense at times. I felt like the PADI OW class was just hitting the surface, And they expect you dive with this info. I guess what I am saying is... I was not to impressed with the class, it just lightly touched on the basics (which I think the first class needs to be the most intense), and the class was very easy.
Like I said, I am taking the Advanced because I feel like I did not get what I feel I needed out of the OW class.
So there is no way in H*LL (even though my card says I am advanced) That I would consider myself advaced.

 

[wulvrine74]

You must always be aware that something unexpected can happen. You are never completely okay by yourself on a dive. The best example is if you lose conciousness for any reason.

Been there, done that. Not cool at all, but yes, you have to be ready at all times. As soon as you let your guard down, something is bound to happen. I almost lost my life when I blacked out. I guess you know when you are advanced when you can pull yourself through something like that.

 

[ghostdiver1957]

You might not want to be considered advanced or technical... these types of divers die far more often than newbies... check the stats!

 

[douglasville diver]

Just completed naui aow.
I don't feel like an advanced diver , I do feel like I need to stay wet and learn.
For me aow only means '' ADVANCING open water"

 

[Rick Inman]

OK, I'll admit it. I am an advanced diver.


...ah, you are talking age, right?... eyebrow

 

[Snowbear]

When I dive with a newly minted OW diver, I tend to think I'm an "advanced" diver. When I dive with a diver who's skills and awareness make mine look pitifull, I'm humbly reminded that I'm still a n00b :11:

 

[Rick Inman]

When I dive with a newly minted OW diver, I like to think I'm an "advanced" diver. When I dive with a diver who's skills and awareness make mine look pitifull, I'm humbly reminded that I'm still a n00b :11:

Well, looks like Einstein was right. It's all relative.

I guess, in reality, I like to think of myself as an advanc-ing diver.

 

[Snowbear]

...I like to think of myself as an advanc-ing diver.

Me too..... you're still talking the age thing, right?

 

[jeckyll]

BsmokeyD: Thanks for your feedback, but as I stated in my initial post, I wasn't looking for "AOW isn't Advanced". I think that's been pointed out plenty previously

Diver0001: You mentiond that you thought I was looking for a definition, but that's not quite correct. I never expected to reach any consensus or hope to be able to say "If you've got X you are advanced". I was, however, wondering how people qualified themselves. I always find the results of "self grouping" fascinating. I think what I've seen so far, is that alot of people on this board who's opinion I've learned to respect by reading their responses (useful, educated, based on many many dives & typically geared toward helping others) are quite careful in qualifying their response to a thread like this. And no, I don't think anyone is chicken in not coming forward and saying "I'm advanced". As I stated quite a few posts ago, it seems that most people who actually have _much_ experience categorize their level based upon whom they are diving with.

Perhaps its just that those who have the experience know what they don't know.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded. I've found the responses to be quite interesting and hope others did as well.

Bjorn

 

[Bruciebabe]

Diving takes you into a whole new world.
So there is always something to learn.
I guess that's why nobody wants to own up to being Advanced.

Perhaps if we replaced the word Advanced with Above Average it would be fairer.
Then, perhaps, we would be looking at someone with some experience (say 1,000 ish non teaching dives) in a wide range of different conditions who has taken responsibility for other people and who continued their diving education.