Going From Padi Ow To Aow

[2steaks]

I just did the OW with my 10 year old daughter. She's limited to 12m until she's 12 and can't do the AOW until then as well. However, I've seen several PADI courses that she can do in the meantime (eg photography, video, nature etc etc). Are these worth doing? Do they count towards the AOW later ie mean we can qualify quicker when she reaches 12 yeas old? Are we better off just enjoying divng down to 12m until she's 12?

 

[BDSC]

I think you are better off just diving and getting more experience. By the time she turns 12 and you/she complete your AOW, you may find you won't need or want any additional training. Use that money for some nice dive trips together or gear.

 

[tursiops]

The answer to your question is Yes, they count toward AOW. AOW is just the first dive of five specialties (which must include Deep and Navigation), so if you've done the specialty you've done the first dive. Depending on the student and the instructor, the classes can be very good and worthwhile, and be money well spent. However, right now, the thing you both need is just some diving experience, and get your buoyancy and trim and fin kicks and relaxation down pat. If you want to take a course right away, take Peak Performance Buoyancy from a good instructor.

 

[Bob DBF]

I'm another vote for getting more experience through diving and possibly a Buoyancy class.

On a slightly different note, I would advise looking into a Rescue class for you as soon as practical. It's great that you are learning SCUBA with your daughter, but you should be ahead of the curve on safety.


Bob

 

[TMHeimer]

Agree with all above. If completing AOW two years from now involves a different shop you may have to pay the fee for the whole course--in which case you may as well do the whole 5 dives. Shouldn't be the case, but I had that experience doing Nitrox course. Won't get into my view on age to start scuba.

 

[84CJ7]

Kinda annoys me that they don't allow everyone to get the advanced classes even if they were to keep the depth limit outside a training environment.
Not an attack against padi or anything but I felt that my aow classes were just the second half of the ow cert and are somewhat critical to being a good diver.
Most of aow can be self taught and practiced with a buddy however.
Rescue diver is great but you really have to be fit and a competent diver before starting that.

 

[TMHeimer]

Kinda annoys me that they don't allow everyone to get the advanced classes even if they were to keep the depth limit outside a training environment.
Not an attack against padi or anything but I felt that my aow classes were just the second half of the ow cert and are somewhat critical to being a good diver.
Most of aow can be self taught and practiced with a buddy however.
Rescue diver is great but you really have to be fit and a competent diver before starting that.

"Kind of" agree with all, but--
--Have a 12 year old do the required Deep dive for AOW to say 100', but then limit depth for non--training dives? Purpose in that?
--Agree totally that AOW is really part II of OW--many agree.
--Learning AOW from buddy. Buddy must be good and not pass on bad habits. Much less chance of that with
an instructor.
--Rescue--yes, as soon as you are ready enough. You have to be reasonably fit and reasonably competent. Many
very small people take Rescue and couldn't really get a large person out of water by themselves. You don't have to be
in top shape--it's not THAT demanding. I found it more demanding mentally.
I'm a nit-picker. You make good points.

 

[Steve_C]

There's no hurry.

I did AOW in a quarry. Learned some stuff and did more dives and got the card, but did not feel ready for the ocean for several more dives later. in contrast last weekend I went diving off the coast of NC. There was a small group of AOW students also on board. We departed for a 90 minute ride in 4/5 ft seas. On site they still had to deal with 3 ft seas. Depth was 60 ft to the wreck, 85 to the bottom. Viz was 15-20 ft. Temp was 64 degrees. Some current and surge but not too bad. Had to do a safety stop at a bouncing hang bar. i think they got a lot more out of their AOW deep dives then I did back when I took it. They also got the thrill of two huge southern sting rays passing nearby and being swarmed by a large school of big amberjacks and seeing their first shark and returning being very stoked about diving.

Not all AOW are equal.

 

[Skulmoski]

I'm another vote for getting more experience through diving and possibly a Buoyancy class.

On a slightly different note, I would advise looking into a Rescue class for you as soon as practical. It's great that you are learning SCUBA with your daughter, but you should be ahead of the curve on safety.


Bob

Good advice to the OP; buoyancy and more diving.

To your advice about Rescue, my daughter just turned 12 and completed her AOW. I would like to get her through the rescue course but I do not think she has the strength to complete some of the skills (e.g. pull up a diver onto the pool deck and carry a diver up onto the shore). Instead, she will pick up the Underwater Navigator and Search & Recovery specialities this autumn. Next year, she will take the Enriched Air course. Soon, she will want to start baby sitting, so the EFR course followed by Rescue and Emergency Oxygen Provider specialty will be on the horizon.

Take care

GJS

 

[Bob DBF]

our advice about Rescue, my daughter just turned 12 and completed her AOW. I would like to get her through the rescue course but I do not think she has the strength to complete some of the skills (e.g. pull up a diver onto the pool deck and carry a diver up onto the shore

I was advising the OP to take the class without his daughter. I don't believe that anyone take their children into a dangerous invironment without the experience and/or training to get them out safely in the event of an emergency.


Bob