Need Advice on my Novice Training (15 dives) to my next 100 Dives and Certs?

[Ready4Launch]

Background
I'm a novice planning my dive training/experience and would like some advice.

Funny, after my AOW, I realized how incompetent I was when I watched my buddy fail and bail to the surface during FFM don & clear skill. At that point, I realized if something happened to myself or my buddy, we were grossly unprepared to take care of ourselves or each other. I believe for my amount of training and dives I'm above average, but still completely incompetent.

My Experience
I have PADI AOW (for Deep, Navigation, Wreck, Peak Performance Buoyancy, FFM). I live in California, my 15 dives have all been via shore. Most of them are Catalina - Casino Point. A couple shore dives at Laguna Beach - Shaw's Cove and San Diego - La Jolla - Dive Park/Canyon.

My Competency
i) Equipment - I own all my gear except tanks. I would say I'm competent with understanding, using, maintaining my gear. If I have a problem, I can probably figure out what I need to trade to maintain my dive but not open equipment or replace o-rings.
ii) Buoyancy - I'd say I'm barely competent under 30 ft and calm/light current. I'm incompetent above ~15-25 ft, especially if there is a current/surge.
iii) SAC - I'm completely incompetent. I haven't met a person who has a higher SAC than myself.
iv) Propulsion - I'm terrible. I have a terrible flutter kick and that's about it.
v) Physical - I'm probably about 2 standard deviations above average in physical fitness.
vi) Any other skills or category I'm probably incompetent.

Training Plan
To be honest, after my experience, I could care less about a certification card. I feel like they are just introductions and do not take you to where I feel someone would be considered competent. I really care about developing my skills/experience/thinking to become the best diver I can. I'm open to doing anything to develop my skills: different training organizations, practice sessions, reading, etc.

I'm currently planning on how I'm going to the best diver I can be by the end of 2019. I'm trying to optimize for time and money when I can.
- During this time in my life, I'm going to live in Thailand for 3.5 months - Suggestions for other certs, where to dives, type of dives, how to cheaply dive in Thailand, etc?
- @Thailand, Planning on hitting 100 dives (probably will mostly be boat diving)
- @Thailand, Planning on getting PADI Self-Sufficient Diver Cert
- Considering PADI Deep Water Specialist - I do not know yet approximately when I get hit with narcosis and how I react. - Should I do it? Should I go with a different organization or program?
- Considering doing the LA County Advanced Diver Program (LAC) for 2019 - Worth it if I have 100 dives and self-sufficient diver? If I don't do it, where should I learn my Rescue/Search&Rescure?
- Vacation in Australia - Great Barrier Reef in September 2019 - Any Suggestions? I don't know if this allows me to learn any unique skills other than just building up more experience.
- Diving in Southern California Training - Any Suggestions for different type of dives, locations, how to minimize cost?
- During each dive, @ 15 ft safety stop I will be practicing a skill each time to increase competency
- Books, I have books on scuba equipment, starting scuba, and solo diving. - Any Recommendations
- Finally, Anything else you want to say, please advise.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!

Not sure where you are in Socal -- if you are in Socal -- I assume you are -- but these would be good besides the profit agencies...

Advanced Diver Program – Los Angeles County Underwater Unit

3R’s – Rocks, Rips, and Reefs – Los Angeles County Underwater Unit

Seek out, befriend, and dive with someone in the county Sherrif's Underwater SAR team in the county to which you belong; again assuming that there is one, but for coastal Socal vicinity, it's probably likely there is.

 

[TMHeimer]

I am not sure what you mean about buoyancy. Buoyancy is still clear water is one thing. Buoyancy in turbid water with surge and large swells is something else altogether. Diving in southern Cal is pretty challenging... large swells, low visibility, and cold. If you dive in the Caribbean, it is a world of difference.

I don’t see rescue on your list. It is an excellent course. If you plan to continue diving, I highly recommend it.

I haven't seen anyone on SB who disagrees about the value of Rescue. I always say take it as soon as your basic skills are pretty decent. There's important stuff there, particularly about dealing with a panicked diver. I took it after dive #26 and did well enough.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

Saw this in the "similar thread" section on a post. Curious how your adventures have turned out, and where are you now with your diving?

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Best advice I ever got for how to be a better diver was, "Move less."

Just keep diving. The rest will fall in place.