PADI AOW vs. PADI Master Diver

[GSDMan]

After looking at PADI's AOW, I'm not impressed. I don't have a time constraint and, frankly, I'm not real worried about cost, either (as long as I can spread it out some). So, I'm seriously looking at the Master Diver cert (not Dive Master). Instead of an open-book, multiple guess "Knowledge Review" and five dives for AOW, each specialty course (5 required for Master Diver) evidently requires some classroom work and 2-4 dives to complete them.

So, I'd like some opinions on AOW vs. Master Diver. Is Master Diver worth the time and expense?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[almitywife]

Master Diver (or Mistress as i like to be known) was simply the completion of a few more specialities/dives/paperwork/payment to qualify

like anything - it depends on your instructor, what you put into the dives/speciality and what you get out of it

cheers

 

[El Orans]

I'd have a look at NAUI Master Diver.

 

[nitroxnut]

As a PADI MSDT JIm, I'll tellyou to take the AOW course. While in print it appears a bit shallow on content, in actuality of diving it will give you great insight to many new areas. The master diver, being a target rating can be a money and time waste UNLESS you approach from a genuine interest in 5 specialties..then the master diver isn't the target but a by product of a genuine interest in the specialty courses.If wall paper is important to you then go that route but if you are a serious diver (as I think you are) work it where the master diver rating is that by product of your previous training. I urge my students to go AOW consistently as they receive more in water training with the intro dives to specialties.Nothing worse than paying for a course you end up no tliking right away..take the AOW for that intro dive to the specialties you are interested in.

 

[don Francisco]

Jim- Think of the PADI AOW as OW 2.0. It's a review of the fundementals in greater depth (no pun), a few new core skills, plus an introduction to various specialty areas. What you get out of AOW varies greatly depending on your instructor and yourself. There's usually lots of opportunity for personalized training, so be sure to ask the instructor for help where you need it, such as with bouyancy & trim.
BTW-I believe it's required if you want Master Diver.

As to Master Diver, it's kind of a meaningless concept. Take the specialties that interest you over time. There's no race here, and as your gain experience you might change preferences. When and if you accumulate 5 specialty cards you're a Master Diver. You shouldn't focus too much effort and expense on courses at the front end of your diving career. Spread out the training dives and improve your aquired skills with regular diving experience.

 

[Chugger]

After looking at PADI's AOW, I'm not impressed. I don't have a time constraint and, frankly, I'm not real worried about cost, either (as long as I can spread it out some). So, I'm seriously looking at the Master Diver cert (not Dive Master). Instead of an open-book, multiple guess "Knowledge Review" and five dives for AOW, each specialty course (5 required for Master Diver) evidently requires some classroom work and 2-4 dives to complete them.

So, I'd like some opinions on AOW vs. Master Diver. Is Master Diver worth the time and expense?

Thanks,
Jim

GSDMan,
The requirements below are from the PADI website.
Minimum Number of Logged Dives: 50
Minimum qualifications: PADI Rescue Diver or Junior Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization), 12 years old, five PADI Specialty Diver certifications.

If you want to become a PADI Master Diver it is required that you not only complete the AOW but the rescue diver course as well. From rescue diver you can either Go Pro (Divemaster) or obtain your Master Scuba Diver. AOW starts you off on the path for continued education whether you go pro or just want to better your skills. Master Scuba Diver can be a good goal if you put effort into it. Some of the requirements for PADI's specialties can be very cheesy and without a good attitude and good instructor you might not get much out of them. On the other hand there is a lot to be gained from the specialties if you take them seriously and really put the effort into them.

 

[GSDMan]

Aw nuts! PADIs site didn't specifically say AOW was a prerequisite but I see it now. Duh!:mooner:

 

[GSDMan]

Okay, here's a different tack. If I showed up to a dive boat that was going to a 100-110' wreck with an OW card plus deep and wreck specialties, what is likely to happen?

 

[Sas]

Ok. Disclaimer: I don't think SSI is better than PADI or vice versa so *please* don't turn this into a SSI v PADI thread. Anyway...

When I was looking at OW + AOW diving courses back in Feb, I didn't have a time constraint as well and I preferred to do more involved specialties than just a dive or so for each so I picked SSI certification. For OW it was 8 dives requirement, and for AOW it is four specialties and 24 dives where you usually do 2-5 dives for each specialty plus three-four hours theory (though I think it is a full day for deep to 39m). So it seemed like a bit more comprehensive than the PADI AOW and I will get AOW in June with Night, Drift, Deep to 39m and Nav. To be honest I found that Night and Drift aren't really anything beyond common sense (though you learn a lot about hypothermia and how to deal with it in drift so that was helpful) so if you have a more experienced buddy to show you the ropes you might want to look at something like Nitrox instead. I didn't really have anybody to dive with at the time so went with instruction in those specialties and found them useful.

Anyway, SSI AOW does cost more and takes a fair bit longer than the PADI AOW though so I don't know if you can really compare them as they are for different kinds of people. I personally am not really in a rush to collect AOW so that was the main reason when I was first picking a place to do OW and I could also spread the cost out a bit. The only recreational certificates I currently plan to do beyond SSI AOW are Nitrox and Rescue, oh and Wreck . For Master diver, it is 50 dives, four specialties and rescue (so basically you just need another 26 dives and Rescue specialty beyond SSI AOW).

I haven't actually finished AOW so not 100% qualified on the subject but I have enjoyed taking my time with different specialties.

 

[matts1w]

Okay, here's a different tack. If I showed up to a dive boat that was going to a 100-110' wreck with an OW card plus deep and wreck specialties, what is likely to happen?

1. They would know that you probably have AOW too.

2. To take PADI's Wreck and Deep you must be a PADI "Adventure Diver"- someone with three "adventure dives" completed with an instructor. Dive one of the wreck speciality is also the PADI wreck adventure dive, as is dive one of the PADI deep speciality. You would now have 5 adventure dives. Assuming one is a navigation adventure dive, you would have completed AOW.

3. Did that make sense? It is early.

4. Seek out a good instructor and you can get a great experience in AOW. I truly believe that.