Experience or Qualifications first?

[Wildcard]

No one thing did more to make me a better diver than doing the DM course. I have a whole new perspective on things. I think the level of advancement is a personal choice, within the guidelines of the agency. Those minimum numbers are there for a reason but more, sometimes lots more are a good thing too. Also is it someone who dives every weekend or twice a year for a week straight? If you think your ready then go for it!
PS, just wanted to add no one thing except joining this board made me a better diver"..

 

[okinawascuba]

I don't think it makes any sense to rush into certifications primarily because how can you learn "advanced" techniques when you can't even process the basic ones? If you're still having trouble with staying neutrally buoyant at 15 ft for 5 min, why should you learn the proper techniques for going down to 130 ft?

I'm in the 40s for number of dives, and I'm still only OW certified. I think I'm finally ready to take AOW and will likely try Rescue and possibly DM before I leave this island next year. However, if I do take Rescue and DM, I don't think I'll be necessarily ready for those labels -- I just want to take the courses here because the certs are inexpensive.

Heck, even after AOW, I won't consider myself "advanced".

 

[Firefyter]

When I first got certified, there was no such thing as a "specialty cource". There was no "advanced". There was just one cert that was so complete that you needed less further training. Too bad it's not that way now.....

Same here...we learned things in our OW class that is now part of the DM classes...

If you would really like to increase your knowledge and skill level I would suggest not taking your AOW right off, but hang out with a group of divers who have been diving for many years. If you pay attention you will probably learn a lot more than AOW course will teach you.

These are probably the truest words in this thread. I now have the privilege of diving with folks who have been diving as long or longer than me, but with more logged dives. I rarely fail to learn something just by watching and emulating these people. Experience is a great teacher.

 

[RiverRat]

I think it depends on the individual. I'm in CT, so diving for me as a newbie was hard to find locally as I did not yet know where to go. So for me going right to AOW gave me the chance to not only learn more, but to dive more. As my instructor put it, "AOW should be called OW II, a continuation". I tend to agree. Anyway it gave me more confidence and then I blasted out to G. Cayman. I also did Nitrox certs. on AOW dives and I highly recommend that. Not just because I can dive Nitrox, but it opened my eyes more to gas planning etc. The formulas really helped me to understand what's really going (breathing gas wise) on in more detail. I got some more dives in then also banged out Rescue. That to me is another "must have" course. If anything, the concepts such as self rescue have helped me look at things in a new way. In any event experience is key for me right now. I just keep trying to dive as much as I can. Cold water, warm water, reef dives, wall dives, wrecks, current, surge, good vis, low vis, no vis etc. That stuff just can't be taught in the classroom.

 

[DORSETBOY]

When I first got certified, there was no such thing as a "specialty cource". There was no "advanced". There was just one cert that was so complete that you needed less further training. Too bad it's not that way now.....

yep, agree with you there, I think though that people also pick up good skills through experience too.

 

[Xanthro]

I don't think the choice is between certs and experience, far too much relies on the individual diver.

I haven't made that many dives, but already I've noticed that there is NOTHING I am going to learn by diving with and watching many other divers. While I'm capable of practicing technic solo, I often find it better to dive with someone with much more experience. Small things, such as how they hold their hands, clip lights, use different kicks in different situations adds to the learning experience.

Often a certification allows one to dive with an experience diver and concentrate on learning these skills. If you are lucky enough to have many skilled divers to dive with, then I'd think advanced certifications would be less beneficial.

I just got my Night certification, they were great dives. I feel I learned far more by having one on one instruction and diving with a very experienced night diver, than I would diving with a group, and a DM who had to be swimming around checking on everyone.

Even if group lead dives, the DM often dive differently than they do when diving with and responsible for just one buddy. I sort of view the advanced C cards as paying someone to dive with me, so I can learn from them. With luck, I could learn the same for free, but I value people's time, and I'm far more likely to ask questions and learn when I'm not as concerned with my buddy having a good time. Not that I don't want instructors to have a good time, but if I'm not paying someone, both should have equal fun. As a student, I expect the scales to be tipped in my fun and learning favor.

Xanthro

 

[Rikkie]

I started diving in 2000,On my own in (Crete).But after doing my OW ,the following dive was a year later 2001.started then the AOW but only complete half the course (Tenerife).then before the time expired I managed to complete the course (Gran Canaria).By this time I had not logged many dives,but enough to meet the requirements.But then really got the bug and needed to dive more.I read my course books over and over again then continued my education to become a dive master.I have not reached my 200 dive yet.So could the question be are we new divers capable.The reason for this direction I am taking is because of costs.The rescue diver was difficult but managed it (Holland/Belgian).The school that trained me needed a Divemaster.I completed and qualified last year.But one thing I forgot to mention,I've lost count on how many pool dives I've done watching over Batchelor parties.I've earnt it.In return I get free reduced membership and have my tanks filled free,never believed I would make a fortune out of being a divemaster.I do my homework and revise.And best of all people like diving with me,no complaints yet.Does this help with your research.
Kind regards

 

[thediver]

I know I should train more but I'd like to do a few more dives so I get use to things before "jump in" to anything advanced!

 

[s7595]

I am a padi diver ,after ow did 25 dives ,then decided to do nitrox,aow ,for 2 reasons 1 boat charters want aow to take you to alot of wrecks, allso with aow can take rescue,wreck ,deep. with nitrox the reason more bottom time ,as I now use less air than when I first started.now with 41 dives and counting ,the most important thing is who you dive with .I have been lucky to have being diveing with a dm,instructor ,and rescue diver who all have super bounyancy makes me work harder and understand that before I even think about my cave training got to get to that level of controll underwater.

 

[texdiveguy]

I completed my PADI/OW in June,,,,,, EFR in July,,,,, PADI/AOW in August and now doing my acdm. on my PADI/Rescue here in Sept. with completion schd. for Oct. this year. I dive every week at least 2-3 dives. I think going to Master Diver or DM is personal taste. I am strongly thinking of starting my DM next May/05.