Padi AOW

[jviehe]

I was currious for those of you that have your AOW cert what skills you had to demo during the check out dives for the course.

It depends on the Adventure dives that you choose while pursuing the certification. They each have their own requirements for you to master. The navigation adventure dive, for example, has you demonstrate neutral bouyancy, determining distance traveled, navigating in naturally, using a compass, navigating using a compass in a straight line and a square.

The deep dive has less formal requirements, including, descending properly, comparing color changes at depth and guage readings, performing a slow ascent and a safety stop, using guages.

 

[heydn62]

I have less than 25 dives and while I'm getting comfortable in the water, I won't go off a boat without a guide. I'd really like to improve my navigation skills. Should an AOW cert class teach me the skills to be comfortable going out with a buddy only (usually my son)?

 

[oly5050user]

I have less than 25 dives and while I'm getting comfortable in the water, I won't go off a boat without a guide. I'd really like to improve my navigation skills. Should an AOW cert class teach me the skills to be comfortable going out with a buddy only (usually my son)?

Your ow course should have made you comfortable enough to go out unescourted.BUT for someone who is still uncomfortable-everyone has different comfort zones,totally understandable,an advance ow program with an instructor will help immensely if done properly.After all an ow course is truly a "see if you like it" experience,not an end all of training.For the 1 time a year divers going to resorts being "hand held" by a guide it is fine.For someone to really be able to call themselves a diver you either get experience by going diving frequently or shorten the learning curve by taking advance class and or specialties.
During an adv course there are new skills introduced.
For the Navigation dive you should learn how to measure distances and the different methods to do so.Using a compass and natural aids to navigation are to be included.
During the deep dive everyone gets hung up about narcosis,not that big a deal when done for the advance class.What should really be worked on during the deep dive is dive planning and proper weighing and buoyancy control,especially during ascent.
For the electives,each has its own skill set.If it is a wreck dive you should be introduced to proper reel usage/wreck navigation so that you can find your ascent line if on a broken up-limited visibility wreck.Possible hazards and a attitude of constant awareness should be stressed.
You get out of the advance course as much as you put into it.Put little effort in and very little reward comes out of it.Go into the program with proper attitude and willingness to absorb what is presented and you can find it to be a very rewarding experience.

 

[rligon]

Heydn62, that was why my son and I took it when we did. We had gone through OW together, but both felt uncomfortable doing a lot of the salt water dives by ourselves without more experience. AOW had a number of benefits for us. More dive time with instructors/DMs, more time to develop buddy skills, and some experience in each of the activities. We certainly didn't come out 'advanced' divers, but were a lot better off then when we were fresh out of OW. Plus we learned several specialities that we wanted to pursue further, both together and separately.

 

[ericis30]

i just finished my aow and had to do the mask clearing bur i think it was for the instructor and a way to make certian that you were comfortable under the water and the only new skills that i had to demstrate was the nav part and working with a a compass and under the water but i also did the search and recover part and had to use the lift bag and more compass work for that and i would tell anyone to practice with that befor takeing the aow other then that it was all about bing put in a new invroment with a instructor and like someone else said you have to have this to go for you master

 

[Atomic_Diver]

1.) Deep Dive: Timed Math Problem, saftey stop breathing from Surface Support Station
2.) U/W Navagation with compass: square, Triangle, measure distance by Fin kicks
3.) Wreck dive: Map wreck, point out hazards
4.) Drift Dive: entry types, and line handler responsabilty
5.) Night Dive: Turn off lights, and let eyes adjust
6.) show overall good bouancy skills

 

[Scott]

1.) Deep Dive: Timed Math Problem, saftey stop breathing from Surface Support Station
2.) U/W Navagation with compass: square, Triangle, measure distance by Fin kicks
3.) Wreck dive: Map wreck, point out hazards
4.) Drift Dive: entry types, and line handler responsabilty
5.) Night Dive: Turn off lights, and let eyes adjust
6.) show overall good bouancy skills

How long ago was this?
Some of what you had to do is no longer allowed in AOW and some tasks were omitted by current (PADI) standards.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

aprox sept 2008

 

[Atomic_Diver]

the light off was only for 1 min, and the wreck was not penetrated (although i had the option because i am Wreck peretration certified, and Intro to Cave), we just basically just followed the instructor in the drift

 

[oldogre]

I did my AOW this August, the one I got most out of was Peak Buoyancy. I ended going up and down through a reef without touching my BCD, & then over a wreck.