Padi Aow

[Ronniemu]

Next week I will be starting my PADI AOW, it will begin with Peak Performance Buoyancy and Naviagation. I have a question about it, hopefully some of you will give me some information from your experience.

During my OW certification I would study the information from their book and we went over this information in class. I then practice in a pool where I received instuctions and preformed various tasks which we had to complete in open water for our c-card. I already read the book on PPB and navigation. Next week when I go for my AOW, it will be at a Quarry. At the Quarry, will this be a combination of hands on training where I am shown something and then I would be expected to implement what I am shown. In another words am I paying for instructions and If I can follow them I would be considered as passing this portion of my AOW.

Can you let me know how your AOW dive went, could you offer any advice?

Thanks, Ronnie

 

[NSDiver]

Ronnie,

Unlike OW, AOW has no pool training - each dive that you do for AOW should teach you a new skill, or a new type of diving. For my AOW, I did the PPB, Navigation, "Deep," Search and Recovery, and "Wreck" Diving. Before each dive we went over a knowledge review. For instance, before the search and recovery dive, we talked about techniques for salvaging objects, safety, etc. For the deep dive, we went over basic things on narcosis, air consumption, etc.

I really don't think there is any way you won't be able to pass AOW - mostly it seems as though it is just there to get you exposed to some new types of diving, and to get a few more dives under your belt. If you're already comfortable in the water, you'll have a blast.

My own AOW went great. I was at about 30 dives when I took it (not many, but not a rank newbie), so I had a lot of fun. Also the shop I took the class with had a lot of technical divers on staff (2 of the 3 instuctors I had were trimix instructors and cave divers), and they were fun to talk to.

-Nick

 

[mfalco]

My AOW class, which I took this spring, was fairly easy.

Got the book ahead of time.
Rad the relavent parts and did the knowledge reviews.
On the dates of the classes met at the dive shop and went over the knowledge reviews. The instructor then went into further detail about what was in the book.
Next we went over what we would be doing. For instance for Navigation, we practiced on land first.
Next the dives. Then we discussed the dives afterward.

It was very easy, and allot of fun

 

[rongoodman]

We had a little quiz on basic OW material too. If you're rusty using the RDP and filling out dive profiles, a review would be useful.

 

[khblair]

Nick pretty much covered it - its not hard, its fun. The skills are pretty easy - can u follow the compass and go straight snorkeling? come back to your starting point at 30 ft? find something using a rope doing a circular search pattern with your buddy (tip - stay about 10-15 ft off the floor of quarry if viz will allow)? can u now put this item (usually a weight belt with about 4 lbs on it) on a lift bag and let it go?
the peak performance buoyancy - we did in the pool and in the quarry - easy also. go lower than u think u need to, keep your gear in tight.
u will do fine - good luck!
next stop for you - rescue diver
i just received mine on Saturday - yea!!!! this coming from someone that couldnt swim without holding her nose 1 year ago!

 

[khblair]

i didnt make that clear - received my Rescue Diver cert on Saturday

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Agree with what everyone has said. We did out AOW classroom work first. First nite was pick the 5 specialties and briefly discuss each of them. Next, go home, read those chapters and fill in the knowledge reviews. Second nite we turned in our knowledge reviews and reviewed each in class. Then we spent two days (Sat/Sun) at the quarry. Our instructor briefed each dive in terms of what we were to do and then we went and did it with her watching. They're not expecting perfection but are watching for an adequate execution and then instruct as necessary during the debrief. It went OK. I found the navigation dive useful, but all of the others were so basic that they were really just 4 additional supervised dives. Not tough at all.

 

[mike_s]

Though you won't have pool time, it's not that uncommon for AOW to do portions of the class "on shore" as practice before you do them in water.

For example for the NAV portion, you might "walk" the course on shore with your compass for X amount of steps. That way you'll understand what you're doing underwater by doing it on shore first where you instructor can communicate with you.

Search and recovery on shore might walk through search patterns.