More Dives or AOW??

[bigvivec]

I like the students that want to do this...as AOW is essentially an extension of the original cert, I have no problem with gung ho students who have gotten the bug and want to be more informed as well as receive guided exposure to more theory and practical experiences...

I say go for it...but don't forget that diving isn't about "merit badges"...get the knowledge then go and enjoy what you've trained for!

 

[pkaquatics]

I think it's simple...Look a t it this way, 5 more dives under the supervision of an instructor and possibly a DM?

 

[fisherdvm]

If you have the opportunity to do AOW under the close supervision of a good instructor either as a one on one or one on two supervision, go for the AOW.

I would definitely do it if you can assure that a night dive, and good focus on navigation skill are stressed. Adding search and recovery can increase your comfort in navigation. If the rest of the dives are meaningful - and not simply watching the fishies.... AOW can be a positive experience, even if you have only 5 dives under your belt, and 4 is from your OW class.

The bottom line is, depends on the instructor and his love of imparting essential skills on the students. If the SSI folks and PDIC folks want to sell you their version of AOW - you can always take it from them later.

At least from my local LDS, the AOW is cheaper than you can get from 5 boat dives at any resort location. How are you going to hire a DM at that price?? PADI AOW is simply an expanded version of OW, and it certainly did not make me an advanced diver by any mean. Now we are simply having a cherry spitting contest. It is nice to have the AOW card just because some dive opts require it for any "advanced" dive. Unfortunately, most folks who first own an AOW card from PADI are not quite ready for "advanced dives". Only experience can allow that to happen.

 

[BarryNL]

I am now travelling to the Maldives in June, and wonder what peoples thoughts were on what I should concentrate on.... getting dives under my belt, or going directly for AOW - if that is even possible?

If you want another course straight after OW then Peak Performance Buoyancy would probably be a better choice. Getting your buoyancy sorted out is the most important scuba skill and the basis for most others.