With the resort economy being what it is, sometimes there is little motivation to pursue AOW or higher. For example, my LDS will NOT take you past 60 fsw or on night dives, etc. unless you are AOW in those areas...no AOW, no deeper than 60 fsw...period (you can't even go on the trip without AOW). Seems to me that is a good policy to encourage further education and promote safe divers graduating their programs.
However, some resorts we have stayed at have led groups down past the decompression limits and routinely taken people who couldn't even maintain horizontal water position and stood on reefs on two tank dives all week. Most of them will do night dives as well without anything other than an OW c-card presented on the day of check-in.
Non-universal application of standards seems to be one reason people don't continue - if I can do night dives without taking a night course and I can do deep dives without a deep diving course, why pay to take the courses? (not my feeling, but I can see the point)...
However, some resorts we have stayed at have led groups down past the decompression limits and routinely taken people who couldn't even maintain horizontal water position and stood on reefs on two tank dives all week. Most of them will do night dives as well without anything other than an OW c-card presented on the day of check-in.
Non-universal application of standards seems to be one reason people don't continue - if I can do night dives without taking a night course and I can do deep dives without a deep diving course, why pay to take the courses? (not my feeling, but I can see the point)...