I Am Curious

[Diver1313]

I have dived with a group called Scuba Dives International and to qualify for an OW course i had to do all the training, theory and 5 dives in open water. I know this varies from PADI because they have to do fewer dives to qualify. My friends has done 18 dives asnd she is already an Advanced OW diver but i need 24 to qualify this far. Does PADI do anything different to allow the divers to qualify with fewer dives?


Thanks

 

[Spoon]

I have dived with a group called Scuba Dives International and to qualify for an OW course i had to do all the training, theory and 5 dives in open water. I know this varies from PADI because they have to do fewer dives to qualify. My friends has done 18 dives asnd she is already an Advanced OW diver but i need 24 to qualify this far. Does PADI do anything different to allow the divers to qualify with fewer dives?


Thanks

most of these certifying agencies will allow you to take additional classes with fewer dives. imho opinion the more exp you have the better but some of these agencies treat it like a business and will sell you course after course like hotcakes.

 

[HowardE]

Is there a need to rush to get certifications? Like spoon said... Experience outweighs certifications. The PADI AOW (which I have) seems more like an introduction to other courses that PADI is trying to sell to "customers" rather than being truly advanced. As I understand it, some other agencys actually require true "advanced skills" before giving out an advanced certification.
Others may disagree (it's been on the board) but...

 

[Scuba-Bill]

I have been through courses in both NAUI and PADI and find the NAUI course to dive in to the more techinical aspects of the subject. In my opinion you will get a better understanding of the mechanics of the subject through NAUI -- I tend to like the nuts and bolts approach.

The real learning comes from the application of what you learned in a classroom or from a book. The more dives you have under your belt the better your education. The more you know AND can apply the better your odds are for a safe and accident free dive.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

The real learning comes from the application of what you learned in a classroom or from a book. The more dives you have under your belt the better your education. The more you know AND can apply the better your odds are for a safe and accident free dive.

Couldn't have said it any better. In the end, it's your application of the training that counts. The differences between agency requirements are relatively minor and have been beaten to death on many, many threads, but what's most important for your safety and enjoyment are your mastery of the basic skills - bouyancy, proper weighting, navigation, efficient swimming, dive planning, attention to the underwater environment. The classroom/dive course setting points you in the right direction, but in the end, it's your efforts through training, outside learning, and, most importantly, practice, that allow you to master these skills.

Good luck and safe ascents,
Grier

 

[spectrum]

I have dived with a group called Scuba Dives International and to qualify for an OW course i had to do all the training, theory and 5 dives in open water. I know this varies from PADI because they have to do fewer dives to qualify. My friends has done 18 dives asnd she is already an Advanced OW diver but i need 24 to qualify this far. Does PADI do anything different to allow the divers to qualify with fewer dives?


Thanks

When you consider the wide range of abilities and comfort levels of newly certified divers I am convinced that many have no business being taken out on a night dive or a deep dive and these along with navigation at common AOW dives.

I felt pretty good when I was certified but those first independent dives were still a blurr, so much to master and to finally go where I/we wanted as we wanted. After 6 or 8 dives a felt a style begin to emerge. Others that I dive with may not have reached that warm fuzzy spot but they are geting there. My point is that it takes a while for skills to start to be hard-coded, for you to get muscle memory of there that dump valve is, how that console sits and so on. Until you get this stuff in the bag what the heck does anyone need to be out in the dark or down in the deep for?

And furthermore how much can they be absorbing of the "advanced" lessons? IMO this is a very good reason to set some minimum dive requirements before you can achieve AOW status. 24 dives is not a lot. I wracked up my first 51 in 95 days. 24 is just a moderate number that can keep the revenue flowing while giving the certification some credibility.

As for AOW and navigation... As a certifed diver you should understand enough navigation to handle appropriate first dives. Better yet, if you can dive with some seasoned divers and take the back seat and follow along with your compass. Then when you do more significant skills in AOW you will have a feel for the tool.

24 dives is not a lot of dues to pay. Take you time and enjoy the journey.

Pete

 

[Diver1313]

thnx a lot...i was never going to change from Scuba Schools International because i feel a lot safer with more dives before moving onto the next level and my teacher wants me to get at least 15 independant dives before i can do specialty courses...he dusnt think u shud qualify as the next level until you hav the experience relevant to that level.which i am pleased with. Thank a lot i was just wodnering what PADI did differrently but i am glad to no it is nuthing major. CHEERS EVERYONE!