NAUI vs. PADI cert.

[jupitermermaid]

I have a NAUI OW certification, along with a TID Nitrox and Cavern cert. I was told that with these certifications that I could dive the same limits as a PADI AOW diver. Someone else told me that individual resorts and dive centers have different outlooks. Is it worth spending the extra money to get an AOW to ensure I am able to do the deep dives I like to do without restriction due to some resorts being picky about certification data? I have dived to 150' max and feel I have better buoyancy control in deep water. My air consumption is good, and I enjoy the deeper dives. Should I get the AOW to assuage those dive masters who don't accept NAUI standards?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give me. Oh, and I have been on night dives (not through NAUI or any other course, but with an expert diver).

 

[Teamcasa]

Mod Post - Moved to Basic Scuba

 

[Doc Intrepid]

You're asking an extremely subjective question.

But IMHO, you've stated that you're looking for additional training specifically to perform deep dives.

A dive to 150 fsw is NOT a recreational dive.

Therefore, my recommendation would be that you find a course (yes, its the instructor who communicates best with you - TDI, NAUI, IANTD, whomever) in Advanced Nitrox and Extended Range (two courses, often combined).

You'll cover mixed gasses, entry level decompression theory, gas management, bottle handling, etc.

AOW is a course intended to introduce new divers to a variety of different skill sets; for example, search and navigation (compass reading, swimming along compass azimuths in currents, etc.); night diving (reduced visibility diving); etc. .....None of which properly discusses diving to 150'.

As a gentle aside, your experience indicates "25-49 dives". With the greatest of respect, IMHO you have no business being at 150 fsw on air at that experience level. Your statement that you feel you have better bouyancy control in deeper water is also telling.

The problem is not the dives that go perfectly. The challenges come on the ones that don't go perfectly. Response times at 150' and below in recreational rigs are reduced to mere minutes. You are suddenly confronting a problem and find yourself trying to weigh alternatives and make survival-based decisions you have not anticipated while you are narked, and your buddy is unlikely to be of much help. Unless you are routinely diving with vastly more experienced divers you can encounter a variety of extremely challenging situations with very short response times at depths of 150' and deeper. Frankly, most issues at those depths are statistically just as likely to result from your buddy, not you, so the matter of whom you are diving with begins to become extremely important.

Still, additional training is another step along the path.

Dive safe,

Doc

 

[Charlie59]

Wow, was that a dig at PADI?

I see no reason not to get AOW through whatever agency. Not so much to satisfy divemasters as to improve your diving and work toward things like Rescue Diver (something you can use).

I doubt you'll impress many DM with the 150 ft story.

 

[jupitermermaid]

Yes, one of the most important lessons I've learned was not through any training, but from diving with a "buddy" who thought I was more capable than I was comfortable with. The 150' dive was one done solely for the purpose of giving me the experience of a "narked' dive. Needless to say, I tossed that buddy aside, not for the deep dive, but for an experience I had while going for the Cavern Cert. (long story). My aim is not to do 150' dives on a normal basis,but I don't want to be limited to 60' if I see something interesting at 90'. Remember, I'm also Nitrox certified, so depending on the mix I can safely dive a little deeper, but may not be able to if a dive master is a stickler on the type of certification one has. I have no problem going for advanced training, but having just bought all my own gear, finances are tight. My life and health are more important than money, so it would be worth it to get the needed skills found in higher education, but wasn't sure if the experience I already have overrides the skills learned in an AOW course. Diving deep is not my main motivation........experiencing the best underwater sites are; and I don't want to be limited due to a technicality. Does that make sense?

 

[contender]

Experience really does not override anything in this case. If a DM wants to see an advanced card he is not going to care about how many deep dives you have made with a more experienced diver. If you plan on going beyond 60 feet, get the training. In fact you should have been at least advanced certified before you were allowed to take cavern, since it has a 100' depth limit. Since you have had a bad experience with a buddy, I would quit doing those "trust me" dives before your luck runs out.

 

[mislav]

I have dived to 150' max and feel I have better buoyancy control in deep water.

Everyone's buoyancy is better in deeper water, but when going back from the deep dives, it's the buoyancy in shallow water that really counts. You don't want to miss your deep stops or your safety stops on the way back.

Should I get the AOW to assuage those dive masters who don't accept NAUI standards?

Why not? You will either learn something new or not, but either way - it's going to increase your experience in diving.

 

[spacemanspiff1974]

Um...

You can't safely dive deeper with nitrox. If you have a basic nitrox cert and you went to around 150, you would be pulling close to a 1.6 pO2 even using a common weak mix like EAN28. Your Equivalent nitrogen depth would be around 130-140 (rough estimate).

When tech divers use nitrox for deep dives, its not generally at depth, but during deco to get out quicker.

Go take an advanced nitrox/extended range deco course before you decide to dive to 150 on anything.

 

[PerroneFord]

Doc Intrepid offered a wonderful response to you. At 150, or even 120ft on a single tank, issues can become deadly serious in a hurry. I wouldn't dream of taking a single tank to 150ft. And I'm pretty darn picky about my buddies when dipping below 120.. on doubles.

Why not take some additional training, and slow down a bit. There's a lot to learn in diving deep and doing it safely. If you're having buoyancy issues, deep diving should be the least of your concerns.

 

[Teamcasa]

I have a NAUI OW certification.... Should I get the AOW to assuage those dive masters who don't accept NAUI standards?

Here’s the reason. Many operations have insurance that mandates the divers have a minimum of AOW cert before they take divers to particular dive sites. Unless you get one, most operations will not allow you to go one a particular dive.

I’d suggest you get one if you plan on diving at resorts, most charters or live aboards.

As for you other statements, others have answered it quite well.