Newbie taking planning to take AOW in February

[cpp]

Hello everyone. I am somewhat new to diving. I received my BOW in May and hope to take my AOW in February.
1. I have not been diving very much in the past year and until I get ramped up, am planning only a few dives a year. Should I get my reg, bc, computer, wetsuit, etc prior to the my AOW? The concern is huge upfront investment given not much involvement yet. Is there any recommended LDS in the Metro Detroit/Northern Oakland County Michigan area. I prefer not to ask the LDS given an obvious bias. US Scuba is close and perhaps one of the largest.

2. I will be going to Maui early in February and staying in the Kanaapali beach area. I am hoping to take an AOW class while I am there. Is there a recommended PADI training provider there? I'm not sure if I should go with the cheapest, the largest, the closest, . . . etc.

 

[GotAir]

I dont know any LDS's in your area. but I do recomend going ahead with your AOW. the more training you have will make you a better diver for yourself and others who mite dive with you. i would also say get your own Reg and BCD.

Mike

 

[DandyDon]

Hello everyone. I am somewhat new to diving. I received my BOW in May and hope to take my AOW in February.
1. I have not been diving very much in the past year and until I get ramped up, am planning only a few dives a year. Should I get my reg, bc, computer, wetsuit, etc prior to the my AOW?

I bought my own gear after one trip, as I knew I was hooked, and would be doing a few trips a year. If I was "planning only a few dies a year," though, that'd be foolish. Annual matinance expense, chaning models, etc. Find a LDS you know and trust, then rent their gear for your one trip or few dives a year.

2. I will be going to Maui early in February and staying in the Kanaapali beach area. I am hoping to take an AOW class while I am there. Is there a recommended PADI training provider there? I'm not sure if I should go with the cheapest, the largest, the closest, . . . etc.

Click: http://www.padi.com/english/common/...=US&State=HI++&City=maui&Name=&Submit2=Submit for the Padi centers on Maui.

Since I know nothing of them, I'd say go with the cheapest and most convenient. AOW is a good learning tool, but does not make you experienced - which is more imortant. I would suggest Nitrox training with AOW, but that's me.

good luck, don

 

[6Gill]

I would suggest Nitrox training with AOW, but that's me.

good luck.

Yes, it's a great way to get that speciality and it is usually cheaper to do it that way as well.

 

[DiveTyme]

I would suggest buying your BCD, regulator and a computer asap. You will become familar with your own gear. I know it is a big investment, but it will last you years. To pick a LDS, interveiw them to see if they have diving activites that appeal to you. Some LDS will have weekly dives where you just show up. You say you have not been diving in a while, think about doing a refresher. It will add to your confidence.

 

[Charlie99]

I will be going to Maui early in February and staying in the Kanaapali beach area. I am hoping to take an AOW class while I am there. Is there a recommended PADI training provider there?

I suggest that you purchase the AOW book at your LDS and review it thoroughly ahead of time. You'll get a lot more out of the course if you have already done things like dry land work on compass navigation, and come to the course with specific problems and questions.

Pacific Dive, in downtown Lahaina is a good place for instruction. I did nitrox, and then on a later trip, rescue diver with them. And then I brought my nephew to them for his OW cert. I can't recommend a specific instructor since my favorite instuctor moved back to the mainland a couple years ago, but Pacific Dive has a pretty good reputation. If you do AOW with Pacific Dive, make sure one of your dives is a scooter dive --- a real blast!

Extended Horizons is primarily a dive operator that runs from Lahaina's Mala ramp over to Lanai, but they also do night shore dives at Kaanapali's Black Rock, and also do OW referrals. It's not clear from their website whether Extended Horizons does do AOW instruction. Even if they don't, Erik can probably put you in touch with a high quality independent instructor.

Don't worry if you can't book anything until after you arrive. There are also plenty of instructors at the two large operators, Lahaina Divers and Maui Dive Shop.

Charlie Allen

 

[vcobra]

I would make the investment and purchase your regs, BCD and computer. As was mentioned earlier, you will become familiar with it and thus be more comfortable underwater. Also, as you progress though AOW you will behgin to dive more. Why rent and make the dive shop rich. And take the NITROX course too, its easy and benificial.

 

[rjens]

I can recommend Maui Diving in Lahaina if you want to get your AOW in Maui. If you don't plan on diving locally (in Detroit) and want a fast inexpensive way to get your cert and dive while on vacation, then this is the way to go. This is a small shop, but has excellent instructors and have never heard anything negative about them. Don't let the prices fool you, they offer excellent quality training. If you have any questions, just give Bia a call, people don't get any nicer.

All of the instructors at this shop are all excellent but I can recommend asking for Mike W. My 5 kids and I all received our OW with Mike as our instructor in the summer of 02. He was awesome.

As to gear, I recommend going slow. If you are only planning on doing a couple of dives a year and those primarily on vacation, then I would get a mask (nothing is worse than a leaky mask) and 3mm shortie (I don't like to rent wetsuits... yuk) then rent the rest for a while. Here is my take on the rent vs buy for gear

Regs --rent $5 to 20 a day vs $500-1500 + annual maint -- do the math to determine the number of dives before this makes sense. Most regs dive fine in the 30-90fsw warm water you will experience resort diving. If you are renting then you won't have to worry about them being stolen from your hotel room, getting broken in transit, etc. Before you buy decide on whether you want wrist mount vs console, computer vs guages, etc.

BC -- Rent for $10 to $20 a day vs $250-500 -- do the math to determine the number of dives before this makes sense. Lots of choices -- try out as many as you can before you buy.

Other Stuff --
Light -- get a small bright lite (such as a PCa) and dive with it. you will be amazed what lives in the shadows.
Weights -- if you are travelling don't bother -- you don't want to fly with suitcases full of lead
Tanks -- if you are travelling don't bother -- not really an option to fly with tanks
Attention getting divice -- if will be doing lots of boat dives I would invest in noise makers and surface marker -- being lost at sea doesnt sound fun.
Compass / Bottom Timer -- I would consider getting wrist mounted compass and BT so you don't have to rely on rental gear. This is just nice redundant gear.

I also recommend getting acquainted with the online shops (ie Leisurepro, etc).

Lastly, there is a ton of excellent info on this board. Take some time to read and learn.

Good luck, be sure to let us know how your vacation went.

RJ

 

[JRScuba]

I have to go along with the other posts. Purchase your Reg, BCD and computer.
Bought all my gear prior to BOW under a package deal. But then again I live in Florida. The above three items can be taken anywhere you go and you'll know they are taken care of. On one of my trips I met a couple that rented gear. Reg was not functioning right and the BCD leaked. Weight the pros and cons and then decide. One thing about ADVICE, it's cheap.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Since I know nothing of them, I'd say go with the cheapest and most convenient. AOW is a good learning tool, but does not make you experienced - which is more imortant. I would suggest Nitrox training with AOW, but that's me.

good luck, don

Wow! What a leap of faith. As much as PADI has tried to make training like a McDonalds meal (the same everywhere), there are vast differences between instructors and the training you'll get from them.

No training is a substitute for experience but poor training reduces the experience that follows to practice at doing things poorly. Dive poorly long enough and you get really good at it.