Further course, no deep diving?

[knotical]

...The book was woefully uninformative (hoping the instructor led portions are better!) and most every topic discussed I knew, ...

Ah, yes. Your enthusiasm has put you in an unenviable position. The instructor must review the material you already know; and in a typical class there will be some students who are only minimally prepared. New information should be presented about local conditions and logistics, but otherwise you’ll likely be bored.

The only solution to this I know (besides being infinitely patient) is to find an accommodating instructor and pay for private lessons. One of the most enjoyable OW classes I ever conducted was one-on-one with an enthusiastic 12-year-old who asked myriad questions. We quickly did the mandatory reviews and tests but spent lots more time in discussions. I had to do outside research on several of his questions, and we both had a blast. But not all instructors enjoy this type of exchange. I got him as a student because his original instructor couldn’t stand him.

 

[TMHeimer]

Besides Rescue, Nav and PP Buoyancy, there are a whole whack of other courses PADI (and I assume all others) offer. A handful improve your diving/safety and others are for stuff you may be interested in (ei. UW Photographer). Just check their websites and see what is offered at your LDS or wherever. They'r also probably listed in your OW manual. Some that may be of use would be Search & Recovery, Wreck Diver, Night Niver, Altitude, Cavern (eventually Cave?) or Ice if you get into that. As posted, you can also learn a lot of this stuff from a good mentor at little or no cost. Later on there is also the DM course. Many disagree, but I think it does improve your own diving, though it is costly (but you can buy a yacht with all the money you make... ha ha). The NAUI Master Diver course also has the theory part of the PADI DM course, minus the teaching aspect. A lot of that detailed info. may not really improve your actual diving, but it is interesting.

 

[nimoh]

I have a multi level cervical fusion and spinal cord damage at that site. The hyperbaric physician /active diver I spoke with basically just said the scar tissue makes it much more difficult to out gas the nitrogen and this combined with the damage spinal cord makes me more susceptible to a type 2 hit, maybe. They really aren't sure. People successfully dive with both issues, and likely the same combination I have. It was just recommended since there are no conclusive studies I don't dive deep. She was very encouraging about scuba in general though.

Having had to learn to walk again once, I'm more than happy to take the advice, even if it turns out to not be an actual issue.



So it sounds like the best way for me to get more training on being a safe diver is to find some sort of mentor. Since we'll mostly be vacation divers, this might mean sending my husband to classes and learning from him.

As for my max depth, I really don't know. But 60 feet really sounds like plenty. I'm a bit of a weeny.

something doesn't seem to add up here. Is the hyperbaric physician saying that the scar tissue will on-gas at a normal rate but off-gas at a reduced rate?

I am willing to accept that a hyperbaric physician knows a lot more than me about such things, but it still doesn't make sense to me.

 

[uncfnp]

Take your OW course. Relax. Have fun. Learn. Ask questions. Read Scubaboard. Do some diving.

Then if you want more, talk to local instructors and other divers. See what options are available. Then find an instructor or mentor that will work with you.

If you are not doing any dives past 60 feet, it is unlikely that you will be booking a charter that will require AOW.

 

[HIGHwing]

So... In essence, you can do a dive to 19m and still get your AOW. You are then good to go for rescue and so on.

Advanced Open Water is not the prerequisite for Rescue.

 

[WheelsUSN]

But if you can accomplish AOW, it serves as a prerequisite for the Rescue course which is generally considered one of the most useful courses available.

AOW is not the prerequisite for rescue. You only need to be an adventure diver who has completed the navigation adventure dive.

from the Instructor Manual:

Diver Prerequisites
•12 years old Note: 12-14 year old divers may earn Junior Rescue Diver certifications
•PADI(Junior)Adventure Diver certification–must have completed the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive
•PADI Open Water Divers may participate in Knowledge Development and Rescue Exercises in confined water
•EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within 24 months.Training may be completed along with rescue diver course

 

[phoenix31tt]

Advanced Open Water is not the prerequisite for Rescue.

isnt adventure diver a pre-req for Padi Rescue?... adventure also has the deep dive.. so i think the question/concern is still valid

edit:
ok the adventure diver course has it optional.. so your good to go to higher levels without deep diving

 

[HIGHwing]

adventure also has the deep dive.. so i think the question/concern is still valid

Incorrect.

Adventure Diver:
Course Standards

Certification Requirements​

For Adventure Diver, student divers meet performance requirements:
• Complete three Adventure Dives.
• Complete the three Knowledge Reviews for thecompleted Adventure Dives.

For Advanced Open Water Diver, student divers meet performance requirements:
• Complete five Adventure Dives including Deep and Underwater Navigation.
• Complete the five Knowledge Reviews for the completed Adventure Dives.

Rescue Diver:
Diver Prerequisites​

• 12 years old​

Note:​

12-14 year old divers may earn Junior Rescue Diver certifications​

• PADI (Junior) Adventure Diver certification – must have completed the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive​

• PADI Open Water Divers may participate in Knowledge​

Development and Rescue Exercises in confined water​

• EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within 24months.​

Training may be completed along with rescue​

diver course.
​

 

[hroark2112]

If you're ok at 60' then you can get your AOW. 61' will qualify for the deep dive in your AOW course. Just communicate with your instructor when you sign up.

 

[knotical]

HighWing and Wheels, thank you. I'd forgotten about the change.
And it is very significant for the OP. Skittl can move on to Rescue without ever going deep.