How long between certification levels

[Wheatondiver]

I have been taking my time between levels from OW to AOW and next year to rescue. I have been diving in between. In my AOW class in 2006, most of the student had been certified less than a year. Maybe as short as a few weeks.

Just want to hear what other have to say.

Should one take as many course as possible in the shortest amount of time?

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Time between OW and AOW (and Nitrox) 2 years with 90'ish dives.

Not sure if that is what you are looking for. I took AOW with guys that had only had OW 2 weeks before. Seems too soon for me they where still trying to figure out there equipment but, they did it in a supervised environment. I had 2 good mentors that I dove with through that stage.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Time between OW and AOW, about four years and 350 dives. Went from AOW through AI in about 1 1/2 years, then took a decade+ for just enjoying dives.

 

[drbill]

Some time back I felt that one should wait at least a year before taking AOW. Heck, I waited 32 years!

I've reassessed that given what I see as the minimal training in both BOW and AOW courses these days (compared to the three week certification I received that took me through the equivalent of BOW-AOW-Rescue). Now I suggest to recent BOW students that they take AOW as soon as possible. Many of my local instructor friends are suggesting the same (and not due to financial motivation, but to better prepare their students).

 

[spectrum]

I was 13 months and 125 dives and that was too late. I had pretty much done it all and it was just a get the badge exercise. In fairness a few gaps were closed but it was no big breakthrough.

The idea IMO is to be comfortable enough doing daytime dives in the 0-60 foot range that the basics are fairly automatic and you have some attention to devote to new experiences. I'm guessing that for many divers 2 dozen dives has them about there, assuming that they dive with some frequency.

Done too early it becomes a series of trust me dives into the night the deep, etc.

If a diver is not comfortable making those early dives with a peer then we're talking about something more like remedial OW.

Pete

 

[SDE Dennis]

I got ow in 94 and AOW in 05 and did over 600 dives. I always had to show my log book to dive boat operators to book a dive. I actually got Nitrox before AOW in 02

 

[RAD Diver]

I had over 70 dives in between OW & AOW, I only moved on due to a local Op not letting me on dives over 80fsw without it, even tho I had been on these sites with the other local Op, the 2nd Op only ran a 6-pack so it fill up quick so I was forced to dive with the 1st. They have a large boat & rarely fills. Both Ops run excellent trips so I am lucky in that. I dove with many AOW divers & was always amazed at how totally uneasy most were in the water.
I blew through AOW as I had many deeper dives on wrecks off boats in low vis situations.
I have also gone on to complete Nitrox & Rescue & am now working on Adv.Nitrox & Deco.
I know of at least 1 diver who went through all the classes all the way to Master Diver in less than 25 dives & all in a Quarry, 1st trip on a boat he was a cluster F.
Classes & certs. mean very little without real diving experience.

 

[RJP]

Should one take as many course as possible in the shortest amount of time?

Asked that way? Of course not.

That said, it really depends on the diver, what they want to accomplish, how much diving they do between classes, etc.

Also depends on the course in question. Can you do AOW right after OW? Absolutely, dependent on the student of course. Should you do Tech/Deep right after AOW? Probably not.

Rule of thumb that I think works is that you need to have been able to assimilate the skills learned in a course into your regular diving before advancing to the next level. Otherwise you're just adding more "new" skills one on top of the other without having mastered them - or at least becoming completely comfortable with them.

 

[chipwd]

I had about 40 dives between OW and AOW. More than really necessary but the timing worked out that way.

I firmly believe that divers should get around 20 dives in before going on to AOW. I agree with Spectrum that the diver needs to have some degree of comfort in doing dives within their recommended boundaries first. That allows them to focus on learning the new things that come with the deeper dives and the night dives.

I often accompany a SI friend of mine when he teaches AOW classes and does the dives. I have seen too many new divers that have gone straight from OW to AOW and struggled to just do basic diving. Several have had to re-do dives to finish their AOW certification because they had difficulty in doing the required dives and demonstrating the necessary skills. I know I couldn't have gotten as much as I did from the course if I did it after only a few dives after completing OW.

I still see new divers with few or even no dives after OW going on to AOW, though. Drives me crazy.

I did Rescue after about 70 dives. A great course!

 

[chipwd]

....let me also add that after only 2 years and pushing 100 dives I still consider myself to be a newbie. Every dive is a learning experience for me. I have not even scratched the surface.....