Newbie OW diver wants to go AOW
- Thread starter carsnoceans
- Start date
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RonFrank
Contributor
Absolutely. A few summers back, I was meeting my Cuz to dive. She has been diving since the early 70's, a Marine Biologist, with 1000's of dives. However I was not sure if she had an AOW card.
The now defunct Aquanuts told me flat out that if she did not have AOW, we could not do wreck dives (which we were booked on) regardless of her experience and diving history. As it turned out, she had more Certifications than most card collectors, so it was all good.
I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but in the US (FL in paticular) most of the diveOps will not allow one to dive the deeper wrecks without AOW or proof of recent deep diving unless you want to hire a DM/Instructor.
I'd go ahead and take the AOW class. There are a lot of differing opinions on these boards but my personal experience was a good one. I learned some new skills (Search and Rescue and my first dive over 100') and gained more confidence in others I already had (Navigation).
If nothing else it gets you some more extra dives with an instructor present.
If nothing else it gets you some more extra dives with an instructor present.
OP
carsnoceans
Registered
This more than enough motivation/ support that was needed to start my AOW. Thanks everyone. Now the question, what to start the AOW with...?
What would be a good destination (tropical diving) for June/ July? I was thinking Florida Keys but not sure about the weather in summer.
I know there are many variables involved but my primary would be a.) travel time b.) weather
Cheers
What would be a good destination (tropical diving) for June/ July? I was thinking Florida Keys but not sure about the weather in summer.
I know there are many variables involved but my primary would be a.) travel time b.) weatherCheers
ucfdiver
Contributor
Lloyd Bailey's Scuba and Watersports - OPEN WATER 2This more than enough motivation/ support that was needed to start my AOW. Thanks everyone. Now the question, what to start the AOW with...?
What would be a good destination (tropical diving) for June/ July? I was thinking Florida Keys but not sure about the weather in summer.
Cheers
It's basically a west palm trip combined with a class, you could get your Nitrox while you're at it. I have nothing but good things to say about the instructor.
I'm getting my AOW after I get my intro to cave in May. As it is now, I can only go 60ft deep unless it's in a cavern (which I got through nacd), then I can go 100ft
Noboundaries
Guest
Stu S, you have 200-499 dives so I figure you're asking for the general reader. I think if anyone showed up with their OW card and a logbook with that many dives it wouldn't be a problem.
On a trip to Monterey in February we did a 2 tank boat dive with one of my newly certified daughters. The day was designed for beginners who have never dove from a boat before. It was her first OW dive since certification. When we inquired about diving the next day, the captain asked me if she had her advanced card. I said no and he explained their typical dive profiles for the weekend. He finished with "we're one of the more agressive boats so we require an advanced card." That was "no" enough for me and I genuinely appreciated his tact.
Hey, I've got a diving daughter myself. That's one reason for the question. The kid has 95 dives, including wrecks and night dives. She never got AOW, just diving with me and my friends.
In 1977, we had only one certification, "Diver". We were certified by NASDS to 132 feet. Nobody much remembers that. I've never been asked for my logbook or had any questions about certification, except cave.
Just trying to determine the possibility of a "no".
Stu.
Noboundaries
Guest
Stu, as long as she has her logbook I doubt she'd have a problem unless they have some kind of blanket AOW only policy due to liabiilty issues. We have friends who only have OW cards, well over a thousand dives in all kinds of conditions, and unfortunately they've never kept a logbook. They've had to have their friends vouch for them a few times but they always got onboard easily.
littlejohn
Guest
Not realy, I didnt get my AOW till dive #26 and the Rescue at dive #38.Hmmmm! You show less than 50 dives yourself, and not only are you AOW certified but are also Rescue certified. Kind of contradicts what you just told him don't you think?
.
I am not saying he should not get his AOW soon just don't start it at dive #6
To the OP Take the AOW have fun and select dives you think you are going to enjoy (besides the mandated dives). But be careful, if you take classes each time you dive, PADI will not accept specialties from other agencies when applying for Master Scuba Diver (5 specialties). You can confirm this fact by calling PADI directly.
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