Expectations too high?

[kgrover]

I start my Confined OW April 8th and will be doing the check-out April 22nd. A buddy of mine suggested that I get my Advanced OW the same weekend as my check-out. I was all for the idea until I spoke to another experienced diver who said I shouldn't set my expectations so high. He expressed to me that he didn't think it was a good idea for me to do the OW and the Advanced OW all on the same trip. Any thoughts on this? I know that I should go at my own pace and what feels right, but are there pros and/or cons that I should know about to obtaining both certs in the same trip?

In case you are wondering, I am doing the Confined OW in Phoenix, AZ (where I live) and the check-out in San Carlos. I plan to be in Mexico April 22 - 27.

 

[jbd]

I start my Confined OW April 8th and will be doing the check-out April 22nd. A buddy of mine suggested that I get my Advanced OW the same weekend as my check-out. I was all for the idea until I spoke to another experienced diver who said I shouldn't set my expectations so high. He expressed to me that he didn't think it was a good idea for me to do the OW and the Advanced OW all on the same trip. Any thoughts on this? I know that I should go at my own pace and what feels right, but are there pros and/or cons that I should know about to obtaining both certs in the same trip?

In case you are wondering, I am doing the Confined OW in Phoenix, AZ (where I live) and the check-out in San Carlos. I plan to be in Mexico April 22 - 27.

As I've commented in the past about this, I think you should not take the AOW course until you have around 20 to 25 post certification dives. Take the time to get good at diving before progressing with more classes.

Others will say that taking the AOW will get you more dives with an instructor to boost your confidence. IMNSHO an AOW diver should be an independent, competent diver instead of a person who needs an instructor along to feel "safe".

Apply yourself as a strong motivated student to learn the basics and earn your OW cert first. Get some experience and then look into an AOW course. You'll get more out of it that way.

 

[H2Andy]

As I've commented in the past about this, I think you should not take the AOW course until you have around 20 to 25 post certification dives. Take the time to get good at diving before progressing with more classes.

i agree, though the number of dives is not written in stone. certainly, don't wait
much longer or the AOW will diminish in usefulness.

basically, use the skills you learned in OW, get at ease under water, get a feel
for what's going on, and think of the AOW class as an opportunity to work on
the skills you have and refine them, and learn some finer points.

 

[serapis]

I did my OW and AOW, pretty much back to back. I did log about 10 dives in the days in between. I would say that doing so made me a better newbie. Just move at whatever pace you feel happy with. No one answer applies to everyone.

 

[HammerNoMore]

I start my Confined OW April 8th and will be doing the check-out April 22nd. A buddy of mine suggested that I get my Advanced OW the same weekend as my check-out. I was all for the idea until I spoke to another experienced diver who said I shouldn't set my expectations so high. He expressed to me that he didn't think it was a good idea for me to do the OW and the Advanced OW all on the same trip. Any thoughts on this? I know that I should go at my own pace and what feels right, but are there pros and/or cons that I should know about to obtaining both certs in the same trip?

In case you are wondering, I am doing the Confined OW in Phoenix, AZ (where I live) and the check-out in San Carlos. I plan to be in Mexico April 22 - 27.

Fact: Doing both in one weekend is an unrealistic goal, at least with PADI. I'm not up on everybody else's standard but you can only do 3 training dives in a day with PADI. On a 2 day weekend you cannot complete both.

Opinion: Go ahead an schedule them back to back (assume you have more than 2 days). AOW doesn't really give you anything but more time in the water with an instructor. Many OW programs do not give you enough time to dive on your own as is (yea some do) so the extra time with an instructor is a good thing that will get you closer to the mark.

AOW's biggest value is that you usually have to have it to do Rescue. IMO Rescue is the best and should be included in the OW course.

James

 

[Sideband]

I'd suggest waiting but no more than 20 or 25 dives, if you are comfortable. More than that and you will get less out of the course. I waited until I had about 55 dives and I feel kind of like I bought the card. Yes, I passed the written test and I did more than the required number of dives. I can't say exactly what I think I should have learned that I didn't. I can't say what I learned though either.

Joe

 

[Dive-aholic]

I agree with James. Do the AOW. You'll be in San Carlos for 5 days. That gives you 2tank boat dives each day plus a shore dive in Lalo or Frenchies Coves most of those days. Most of the sites they take you to won't be too bad. The shore dives are novice level to depths of no more than 35fsw. They might even take you on a night dive there - a must do if they offer it!

Just remember the AOW at that point does nothing more than state you have completed 5 additional training dives. It doesn't necessarily make you an advanced diver. (But this issue has already been dealt with here on the Board.) In fact, even if you wait 50 dives before you do AOW - It doesn't make you an advanced diver. Only experience will. Hold off an turning any of those adventure dives into specialties until after the experience. This is when that will be useful. You'll be able to apply what you've learned in the first dives of the specialty into the subsequent dives. Above all, be safe and have fun!

BTW, I'm in Tucson, but go to Phoenix area on a regular basis to dive the lakes. After you're certified, let me know if you want an introduction to the lakes.

 

[DET]

I agree with the above posts. Get some dives in after Certification. Get use to using the BC inflator, monitoring your air, depth, etc. Improve your bouyancy. Know your weight requirements. It helps to own your equipment to get the best trim. When you take advanced courses you will be adding to the task load most likely with compass and dive light as a minimum. I had a drysuit portion to my class. That adds another perspective to bouyancy.

The point is, a little more diving experience will make the advanced class more worthwhile. You don't need basic skill issues messing with your dives. I also, agree, that somewhere around 20 dives, get yourself into a class.

DET

 

[Stirling]

Kgrover, I think it sounds a little ambitious, although I admire your enthusiasm. It looks like you're going to be in San Carlos for several days, so it may be possible to get in the required number of dives in the same trip, if the agency and your instructor will permit it (I don't know PADI's rules about such things), but I wouldn't recommend doing that. I'd suggest getting certified and then be careful not to overdo it during the remaining days of your trip.

Especially when you are brand new to diving and don't know how much diving (and boat travel and all the rest of it) you can handle, or how well you can handle it, I wouldn't be inclined to do a lot of diving in a period of several days where I felt I *had* to keep diving to keep up with a schedule. One of the reasons I would be a little bit concerned about it is that (by Arizona standards) you may find the water in San Carlos can still be pretty cold in late April. (Other divers here may laugh at the idea that the water in northern Mexico is "cold" in April, but you may be colder than you expect.)

San Carlos is a great place to spend several days, and San Pedro island is a nice boat ride and a really wonderful place to dive.

 

[ScubaFreak]

I know of OW divers that had over 200 dives under their belt. Theres no particular reason to do AOW so soon, the only thing it will give you is the option to go a little deeper. So take your time. Get used to being in the water on your own, because bear in mind, the AOW won't really teach you any new skills, it's just diving in different environments. So being comfortable and somewhat confident in the water will be a huge benefit when you take the advanced course.

SF