Enriched air diver certification

[racerx_]

I'm about to do my PADI advanced open water course and had the option of doing enriched air as one of the adventure dives in the course (just have to pay a bit more for the manual). Then for a bit more I can do the second enriched air dive and complete the enriched air diver course completely..

It just got me thinking. What's the difference between doing the one enriched air dive or the whole course? I'm able to dive nitrox after completing the first adventurer dive right? If I'm doing it, I'll do both, but just curious.. And same goes for doing a wreck dive as one of the adventure dives vs. Doing the wreck diver course, etc... Thanks!

 

[DevonDiver]

The PADI nitrox course is theory only - the 2 nitrox dives are optional. They are a good option though. You don't need to do any dives to get the qualification - although the instructor/school is within their rights to dictate whether they supply the course with, or without, actual dives.

One of the main goals of the AOW course is to give you a 'taster' into speciality diving activities that you find interesting. The 'adventure dive' done in any specialist area on the AOW course is identical to the first dive of that corresponding speciality course. The instructor may, or may not, credit that adventure dive towards certification in the speciality course.

 

[racerx_]

Got it, thanks.. But what about the other adventure courses, which advanced covers the first dive. Like wreck diving..

 

[DevonDiver]

All of the AOW Adventure Dives correspond to a Speciality Course.

For AOW you do 5 Adventure Dives. Deep and Navigation are both compulsory. They correspond to the Deep and Navigation speciality courses, dive #1. Then you pick 3 other Adventure Dive options, from those which are available from your instructor. Again, each of those 3 dives corresponds to the first dive of the related speciality course (wreck, fish ID, search and recovery, peak buoyancy etc etc).

 

[DivemasterDennis]

There are oodles and oodles of specialty courses offered by PADI. Do five of them, plus the rescue diver course and you are qualified as a Master Scuba Diver. many dive centers offer a "package deal on a cluster of 5 specialty course, and you should ask about that. I am a big proponent of continuing diver education through classes, but before you stock up on them, get some dives in.
DivemasterDennis

 

[DevonDiver]

Yep, you can either do the training then get the experience.... or get the experience then do the training. Either way, you gotta have both before you can consider yourself prepared.

 

[racerx_]

Thanks for the replies..

Yeah I understand what the advanced open water course is made up of, and the many specialty courses available are.. I'm asking what's the difference, if any, in terms of either certification level (what you are "allowed" to do) or even just information between the one adventure dive u do in AOW for say wreck, night, or something vs. Doing the whole specialty course for that item? Just curious and couldn't find any explanation on the PADI site clarifying

 

[DevonDiver]

AOW doesn't 'qualify' you to do any of the speciality activities. It's just an introductory dive. That said, there aren't many instances where you have to be certified to conduct a certain activity - those are policies determined by individual dive companies...

AOW and Deep training extends the recommended maximum depth that you can dive to.

Very few dive operators will let you use nitrox unless you can show evidence of training/certification.

Some companies have strict policies about other specialities. Night diver for night dives. Wreck diver for wreck dives etc. Many others don't.

The general rule of 'dive within the limits of your training and experience' should always apply.

I would encourage you not to look at the plastic cards as a 'license'. Your safety underwater is determined by the training and experience that you receive, not by the certification card you carry. The value of that training is in what it teaches you, not in the credentials you get at the end of it.

 

[philmayer]

You can dive all you want without any certification. Certifications are required by dive operators, not certification agencies. PADI has established a set of standards for their certifications and operators accept those standards as proof that a diver has a given knowledge level.

You can buy your own gear, tanks, compressor and dive in your own lake without any certifications from anybody. Just like you can buy a car and drive it on your own land without a drivers license. The PADI Police aren't going to arrest you for diving without a license.

Why do you need certifications -
If you want to get tank fills from your LDS, the LDS will require an OW card.
If you get nitrox fills from your LDS, the LDS will require a nitrox card.
If you want to dive off a boat, the dive operator will require at least an OW card.

Operators may require AOW, Deep, or Night certifications for a variety of opportunities. Those opportunities aren't determined or regulated by PADI.


You earn certifications not just to meet operators requirements, but to learn how to dive in special situations. More training will generally make you a better and safer diver - that's why you should be getting certifications.

 

[mathauck0814]

EANx is the only recreational specialty worth doing as without it you can't get enriched fills.