Hey all!

[spartanws6]

I am taking my cert dives over this weekend and I have been on this board for the last two weeks. All good stories and advice so from a newbie... keep it up! I am really excited about getting involved in this sport and look forward to a lot of diving in my future.
OK, this would not be a proper post without a question though... what would you all recommend as far as advanced certs? Between the AOW, wreck, deep, etc, I am not sure where to turn, and how many dives should I look at in between these certs. I am not comfortable with jumping from class to class without the experience ( I am in the service and am a big advocated of experience is the real teacher) thoughts?
Thanks again everone!

 

[Far_X]

Welcome to the board. You are going to get different advice to that question and what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. I got my OW qualification last November when I was living in Louisiana and in January started on my AOW without having any other experience between time. I didn't feel that comfortable on my first dive - a drift dive in a river in FL. I did a night dive the same weekend but thatw as it before I moved to NY. I got affiliated with a LDS here and signed up for the AOW again. Because the weather here has been unpredictable, I have been diving lots (beach dives) whilst still trying to get my check out dive for AOW completed. We didn't have much of a choice for the different types of dive we could do for the AOW so check with your LDS. Geography may limit then! So I would advise to do both. Get experience and do your AOW at the same time. My regular dives are with the LDS and the local dive club.

 

[RDP]

Welcome to the SB. This place is full of informaion. As far as advanced training, my pic would be AOW next. It seems to help hone and expand on the initial skills as a whole.

 

[baltimoron]

hey spartan, welcome to Scuba Board!

good luck on your OW cert and have fun! sorry i cant help you with your AOW problem, since i am an SSI-er and dont know much about PADI. but i can say welcome to the board, and i am sure a lot of pepole can answer you question.
Good Luck!

Zack

 

[spartanws6]

hey spartan, welcome to Scuba Board!

good luck on your OW cert and have fun! sorry i cant help you with your AOW problem, since i am an SSI-er and dont know much about PADI. but i can say welcome to the board, and i am sure a lot of pepole can answer you question.
Good Luck!

Zack

thanks for the advice guys...
Zack... I am an SSI'er as well.... did I say something strange that I don't know **newbie alert newbie alert!!!--

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

Welcome to ScubaBoard!!! Good luck on your test! It's completely addictive, but who cares? It's all in good fun. Hope to see you around the board!

<33 Jess

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

thanks for the advice guys...
Zack... I am an SSI'er as well.... did I say something strange that I don't know **newbie alert newbie alert!!!--

I'm not sure but I think other dive organizations don't call them AOW courses, they have other names. I know in the ymca classes rescue diver is a SLAP course, so balitmoron assumed you were with padi when you said AOW.

 

[DiveMistress2]

I am taking my cert dives over this weekend and I have been on this board for the last two weeks. All good stories and advice so from a newbie... keep it up! I am really excited about getting involved in this sport and look forward to a lot of diving in my future.
OK, this would not be a proper post without a question though... what would you all recommend as far as advanced certs? Between the AOW, wreck, deep, etc, I am not sure where to turn, and how many dives should I look at in between these certs. I am not comfortable with jumping from class to class without the experience ( I am in the service and am a big advocated of experience is the real teacher) thoughts?
Thanks again everone!

Hey there Spartanws6,

I would recommend doing your Nitrox cert before your AOW. That way you can have some extended bottom times when doing your checkout dives......

As to how many dives you should have - it depends on how comfortable you are in the water. I did my AOW after about 10 dives and from then on I was addicted.

You should ask your OW instructor what he/she recommends for you.

Welcome to the Board!

 

[DandyDon]

thanks for the advice guys...
Zack... I am an SSI'er as well.... did I say something strange that I don't know **newbie alert newbie alert!!!--

Howdy!

For those of us who enjoy greeting new members, and do so 10 to 2o times a day, we don't always have time to go back to the same threads to see if anyone said anything to us, ergo Zack may not have been aware of the question.

I think that AOW is a Padi program, and SSI has a different name for their extra training. Perhaps this is why he thought you were Padi. But I'm not sure. I only have a few cards, only one is SSI - and it was for a specific deal: SSI Scientific Diver, so I could dive in an EPA Critical Habitat for Endangered Species.

I don't know if SSI requires practices dives on the Nitrox course or not? But if you ever want to do much deep diving, Nitrox is a very good idea. PM me direct if I can help, or to Zack if you would like more from him.

Anyway - Welcome to SB!! :happywave Put us in your computer's favorites and check in often. This is a great place to learn, compare, argue Look around our various forums - everything from New-To-Scuba to Instructors-Only to Dive Medicine.

don

 

[SueMermaid]

Hi there new person!
As for advanced certs, AOW is a good addition to OW, and in fact, there are many who think OW and AOW should be lumped into one course.

The best thing you can do though, is to gain some experience now that you are about to get your C-card. Once you have a feel for what it's like, you will be able to see a little more clearly what you want to do with your newfound love!

Good luck with your cert dives!