Question Is my AOW class “normal”?
- Thread starter humanuma
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The SDI Advanced is NOT equivalent to the Padi sampler platter AOW. The SDI sampler platter of Advanced Adventure is equivalent to PADI AOW.
Advanced Open Water is not part of the SDI terminology. SDI Advanced is Advanced. Not Advanced Open Water.
Advanced Open Water is not part of the SDI terminology. SDI Advanced is Advanced. Not Advanced Open Water.
Robert H. Diver
Contributor
I was talking about SDI. Why did you keep blathering on about SSI?
Robert H. Diver
Contributor
We just completed our AOW in Cozumel, we were fortunate to have a very good instructor. Besides Nav and Deep, we did PPB, Drift & Boat Diving, during each of our dives we continued to work on PPB, plus deployment of SMB at the end of each dive. Tried to work on different elements along with each of the primary objectives. We also were able to complete our Nitrox on our last dive day. We completed extra dives to complete the Drift diver specialty. Overall a very good experience in Cozumel.
jonhall
Contributor
I'll take the other side of this. There surely are many who don't aspire to be anything more than recreational divers and who simply like to dive when visiting places that provide an opportunity to do so. I'm not going to keep taking scuba courses just to take them. I took AOW for no reason other than having it in case some op said it was needed for them to take me on a deep dive, a wreck, or on any of a number of dives considered advanced. I can't say that it has done anything for me to date - think I've had it for 5-6 years - paying for the "sampler" is like an insurance policy to me...just in case I need it.
Just an interesting side note: When I researched dive ops in Cabo and the Gordo Banks dive trip (considered an advanced dive), I found one op who indicated AOW was needed, another op stated that a prior day of diving was needed with them before they would take you, AOW not necessary, and the op that I actually dove with just said I could go if I wanted to do the dive (but I had already dove a few days with them), AOW not necessary. Just depends on the op.
Belzelbub
Contributor
Depends on the agency. From the description, I'm guessing PADI, but could also be Naui, I believe. That sounds typical for PADI. PADI AOW is really an intro to each of those specialties.
I did my AOW through SSI. SDI approach is similar. Their approach is that AOW is not a certification, but a recognition. There is really no AOW class, or test. Instead, the AOW is recognition of completing 4 specialties. In my case, when I decided to finally get AOW, I decided to take Deep, Night/Limited Viz, and Navigation upon recommendation of my instructor. I already had EAN, so only needed the 3. Each specialty was handled as separate, though largely at the same time. Separate learning modules, tests, and dive requirements.
Belzelbub
Contributor
1 key difference between the PADI approach and the SSI/SDI approach.
A typical PADI progression would likely be OW --> AOW. Then, if they decide to continue to Master, they need to complete the 4 specialties + rescue. AOW doesn't = 4 specialties, though if EAN is one, I believe they'll only need to do 3 + rescue.
A typical SSI/SDI progression would also likely be OW --> AOW/Advanced. Then, if they decide to continue to Master, they just need to complete 1 more specialty, likely rescue unless that was done already.
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