New Divers, Comment on Padi OW Course

[DBailey]

Does taking driver's education prepare you to dive in LA/Chicago/NYC rush hour traffic? In theory, you learn everything that you'd need to know, but only experience prepares you for it.

Does completing a structural engineer's degree qualify you to design a skyscraper?

The list goes on and on. The OW certification gives you the tools to further your experience. Plain and simple, there are some people that can take off running with the information gained in OW class where other people will require hand holding to get additional experience.

 

[hdtran]

I just got the PADI o/w certification (still have the temporary blue card) a few weeks ago. I consider it a license to go on guided dive trips with a local DM outfit

 

[garyfotodiver]

The OW certification gives you the tools to further your experience. Plain and simple, there are some people that can take off running with the information gained in OW class where other people will require hand holding to get additional experience.

I looked at my original c-card from 1970. It simply states that "This qualified SCUBA diver...".

From my observations on several dive boats over the last few years, it appears that the completion of today's OW and AOW classes does not bring most divers to the level of training attained during the courses given 30+ years ago.

This worries me.

 

[Finnatic]

WaltKimber,

I felt as you do- that the OW class does not prepare for the "real" dives following certification. Sure, all the basic skills are covered, you scored 100% on your written exams, and demonstrated skills perfectly in confined water under the best of circumstances. Assuming all goes well and you receive your C card, does this make you a diver? Technically, yes, but you will still feel that thrill which is a mixture of anticipation, exhilaration, and fear of the unknown when you take that first giant stride into a vast open ocean with only your newly perfected skills to accompany you. Oops, it's not a giant stride...it's a backroll...you did practice backrolls didn't you? (A boat dive was not part of my OW class.) I can tell you they had to practically pry me off that boat with a crowbar

The point is, you will not know everything, but I do think a conscientious newly certified student does know enough to make it through that painful "newbie" stage following certification. If possible, try to schedule some easy shallow dives soon after certification and make sure the crew knows that you are newly certified. Hiring a DM to accompany you on these first few dives is a great idea and well worth the extra money in terms of increasing your comfort level. Good luck to you both!

 

[MikeFerrara]

I just got the PADI o/w certification (still have the temporary blue card) a few weeks ago. I consider it a license to go on guided dive trips with a local DM outfit

If that's what it is then it should be a conditional certification. You can rent equipment and go to any dive site or boat with a buddy of the same level as you are anf dive.

While an OW certification is just the beginning it is meant to prepare you to dive independently in similar conditions as those you were trained in...sans the DM.

If you don't feel prepared to do that then something is wrong.

 

[pipedope]

A little perspective.

The shortest commercial diving school I know of is 10 weeks long, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. At the end of the course the graduate is qualified to go to work as a tender (surface support person with some diving), and start learning how things are done out on the job.

In the school they learned The theory of diving, how to setup and use the equipment, how to stay alive, what to do in emergencies, lots of rigging (crane, lift bag and other) and they practiced on some basic tasks that divers do frequently.

It is still a license to learn.
They get a job and start learning company procedures, what goes right, what goes wrong, how to handle lots of different weather conditions and on top of all of that they have to learn how to do the jobs that are the whole point of the excersize.

No matter what it says on the card, or who issued the card, it is STILL just a license to learn. The trick is knowing what you know and don't know and learning in a progressive fashion.

 

[Mike Newman]

Don't sell yourself short. You are entirely competent, within the limitations identified for your entry-level of certification. Every diver will admit that you never stop learning.

Stay within your own comfort level, don't be pressured into diving beyond your current level of training or experience and work your way into the sport at your own pace.

Try to find a buddy - or an instructor - with whom you share goals for diving and spend dive time with them.

You will never feel entirely competent to handle every situation diving could throw at you, but you can be sure that a qualified and capable instructor will not certify you for anything that you are incapable of achieving or enjoying.

Your sensible and realistic approach to diving does you credit - enjoy every dive more than the last - and relax - you're amongst friends.

 

[hdtran]

If that's what it is then it should be a conditional certification. You can rent equipment and go to any dive site or boat with a buddy of the same level as you are anf dive.

While an OW certification is just the beginning it is meant to prepare you to dive independently in similar conditions as those you were trained in...sans the DM.

If you don't feel prepared to do that then something is wrong.

Mike,

I do feel competent to dive with a similar buddy, w/ up to 7mm wetsuit in water down to 62F, daylight, visibility 10ft, on a well described planned route with depth down to 40 ft, low to no current.

But if it's all the same, I'd much rather be in waters 75F (or warmer), in a 5mm or 3mm shorty, vis. 15 ft or better, no current. And I would much prefer having a DM along to guide the trip, to point out interesting fishies, and help (a) handing the weight belt to the boat, and (b) removing the BCD (both activities requiring a degree of flexibility which is stretching my limits when I'm wearing a rented 2pc 7mm...)

For the foreseeable future, my intention is to only dive on guided trips.

Now, if you want to subdivide the o/w certification into "must have guide" vs. "can follow map" vs. "does not need to ask for directions ", your point is very well taken.

Hy

 

[AbsolutWeezer6]

I just finished my OW cert. and I feel fairly confident in my abilities. I deffinitly wouldn't feel comfortable trying to dive in bad weather or when there was stong current, but I deffinitly feel I can handle diving saftley in resonable conditions. It seems to me that most of the skills I will need to work on to become a beter diver (for purely recreational purposes) are things you just need to experiance. Things like bouancy and maintaining composure were skills that seemed to progress durring the four dives just from getting a feel for being in the water and the equipment, not from me being told how to by my instructor (who was great by the way). Thats just my opinion.

Cheers
Vinny

 

[wedivebc]

I just finished my OW cert. and I feel fairly confident in my abilities. I deffinitly wouldn't feel comfortable trying to dive in bad weather or when there was stong current, but I deffinitly feel I can handle diving saftley in resonable conditions. It seems to me that most of the skills I will need to work on to become a beter diver (for purely recreational purposes) are things you just need to experiance. Things like bouancy and maintaining composure were skills that seemed to progress durring the four dives just from getting a feel for being in the water and the equipment, not from me being told how to by my instructor (who was great by the way). Thats just my opinion.

Cheers
Vinny

This is the level every newly certified open water diver should be at. I believe that it is often better for a newly certified diver to dive with another newbie for 2 reasons. 1 gain confidence in your ablilities 2. not be pressured to dive beyond your comfort zone.
Keep it up Vinny

cheers,