Maui AOW Certification Question (May 2015)

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Ok - but I am telling you I got my AOW with my son in April and I was told I could borrow the book or spend $60. So I said thanks no thanks... We both passed the AOW and got our Padi Certs without the book...

I was also told I could not get a Solo Certification with just an OW cert - and yet I got my Solo last year with just an OW cert. So not sure if rules are meant to be broken or not or if I am just that lucky...

 

[exposure]

Standard are meant to be followed. My point is that violating a standard is not a standard. So If a center tells you that you need to buy the manual it is probably because he pays more attention on the level of quality than other. I would not say that you were lucky because you cannot be sure that the course you took was the real one by the way, there is no solo in PADI, the closest is self reliant.


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[Basking Ridge Diver]

Standard are meant to be followed. My point is that violating a standard is not a standard. So If a center tells you that you need to buy the manual it is probably because he pays more attention on the level of quality than other. I would not say that you were lucky because you cannot be sure that the course you took was the real one by the way, there is no solo in PADI, the closest is self reliant.


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Sorry should have said PADI AOW and PADI Nitrox - SDI Solo Certification.

And I did say - If you want to "buy" the AOW rating you certainly can (as some folks call it) - but I am happy as a clam right now.

 

[freewillie]

To the OP if you are still interested. The drive from Ka'anapali to Kihei is not that bad but can take 30-40 minutes in the morning depending upon traffic. For me I have used Lahaina divers as my dive shop in Maui. If had several dives with them and have always had a good experience. It is a much shorter drive generally 15-20 minutes also depends on traffic but allows me to sleep just a little later on vacation.

 

[scubadada]

I was also told I could not get a Solo Certification with just an OW cert - and yet I got my Solo last year with just an OW cert. So not sure if rules are meant to be broken or not or if I am just that lucky...

Sorry should have said PADI AOW and PADI Nitrox - SDI Solo Certification.

Hi BRD,

Clearly, SDI Advanced Diver or equivalent is one of the prerequisites for SDI Solo Diver. Was the requirement waived for you for some reason?

Though you apparently did not use the PADI AOW manual, you did not say whether you bought or borrowed a copy of the Solo Diver manual. Among the minimum requirements for certification is to complete the SDI knowledge tests with a minimum score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the instructor. I'm not sure how you would accomplish this without a copy of the manual, or, at least, the tests.

I'm not sure if you are "just that lucky" or what. I'm also not sure what SDI would think of your certifying dive center if one or both of these items were ignored.

Good diving, Craig

I apologize to the OP for this off topic post, I found it too hard to let go

 

[RJP]

Not sure about SDI Solo, but I believe that for some agencies and some certs "documentation of significant diving experience" can fulfill the "or equivalent" AOW prerequisite

 

[scubadada]

Not sure about SDI Solo, but I believe that for some agencies and some certs "documentation of significant diving experience" can fulfill the "or equivalent" AOW prerequisite

That's why I asked. Maybe it was left out and would be a good explanation.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Scubadada - There was a previous thread where this was hashed and rehashed - I am one of those been diving since the late 70's but not a hundred dives a year - I certified with YMCA was a lifeguard and very familiar with the water... I am also one of those that did not log dives. But now I have a son that has been certified - so I am walking a tighter rope so he dives with a different mindset.

I did buy the Solo book and I read it more than once. My wife insisted that I tow that line (get certified) so she felt comfortable with my diving solo and knowing that my son may follow my footsteps.

That said - when my son was Jr OW certified - I sat in all his classes and dove with his class for all of his OW certification dives. In fact - (yeah I know I can hear this now) - his instructor allowed me to take my son and another student on their 4th and final Jr OW dive down to 50 feet and using a compass follow the headings in a quarry dive to see additional attractions. Yep - no instructor with us - just the three of us. The instructor and his assistant each had a group of Jr OW divers they were trying to work with and they were concerned they did not have enough eyes on the students - so he asked me to lead my son and the student. The dive went smoothly but I will admit my RMV went up quite a bit than a normal dive. My son and the other student did not think anything of it as we did a surface swim to the helicopter, descended and did a heading back to our entry point. I am assuming before or after that dive the instructor thought my skills were good enough to do a Solo class so he signed me up for the class. I took and passed the class shortly after that in the same quarry - all I had was my OW certification.

So depending on your skill set, your comfort in the water and your risk factor - I have seen quite a bit of shaving corners and for me that is completely acceptable in some cases. For others they may not want to take that risk.

 

[scubadada]

Scubadada - There was a previous thread where this was hashed and rehashed - I am one of those been diving since the late 70's but not a hundred dives a year - I certified with YMCA was a lifeguard and very familiar with the water... I am also one of those that did not log dives. But now I have a son that has been certified - so I am walking a tighter rope so he dives with a different mindset.

I did buy the Solo book and I read it more than once. My wife insisted that I tow that line (get certified) so she felt comfortable with my diving solo and knowing that my son may follow my footsteps.

That said - when my son was Jr OW certified - I sat in all his classes and dove with his class for all of his OW certification dives. In fact - (yeah I know I can hear this now) - his instructor allowed me to take my son and another student on their 4th and final Jr OW dive down to 50 feet and using a compass follow the headings in a quarry dive to see additional attractions. Yep - no instructor with us - just the three of us. The instructor and his assistant each had a group of Jr OW divers they were trying to work with and they were concerned they did not have enough eyes on the students - so he asked me to lead my son and the student. The dive went smoothly but I will admit my RMV went up quite a bit than a normal dive. My son and the other student did not think anything of it as we did a surface swim to the helicopter, descended and did a heading back to our entry point. I am assuming before or after that dive the instructor thought my skills were good enough to do a Solo class so he signed me up for the class. I took and passed the class shortly after that in the same quarry - all I had was my OW certification.

So depending on your skill set, your comfort in the water and your risk factor - I have seen quite a bit of shaving corners and for me that is completely acceptable in some cases. For others they may not want to take that risk.

OK, so the AOW was waived because of experience and skill, that's quite different than ignoring the requirement.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I suggest Lahaina Divers, just South of Kaanapali. The drive to Kihei can be long as certain times of day- they don't move too fast. Contact Lahaina divers on line or by phone and they will get all arranged before you come.
DivemasterDennis