people want to be advanced divers.

[slackercruster]

In another thread the discussion was about advanced diver cert. Is the need and push for such a cert from ego? Or is it useful in other respects? I never have been asked about it, but am just an average diver.

snip

"people want to be advanced divers. They want that certificate and they are willing to pay for it.We have people presently in diving who feel they are advanced but have no experience whatsoever. The diving community needs to be totally re-educated".

from;

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=159058



Thanks

 

[SparticleBrane]

Personally I think AOW is useless, but that's just me.
Why do I think it's useless? Because I believe the skills taught in AOW should be covered in OW.

 

[Walter]

I agree. OTOH, there are true advanced classes out there for those willing to look.

 

[ApexLongimanus]

I think the word "advanced" is misleading. Otherwise, a good way to gain more confidence under the supervision of an instructor.

 

[akscuba]

Personally I think AOW is useless, but that's just me.
Why do I think it's useless? Because I believe the skills taught in AOW should be covered in OW.

This doesn't seem logical to me--I agree that the skills in AOW should be taught in OW, but they aren't. The very fact that they should be taught in OW though, seems to imply that they aren't useless...

It's too bad we have to pay extra for it, but given how many people do OW and then quit, maybe it's a good way to avoid wasting the time of instructors? Do you think that if more stills were taught in OW that people would be more inclined to keep diving? I don't. So I don't mind splitting them up--let the new divers who are actually serious about sticking with it take AOW.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

people want to be advanced divers.

and most do not want to work for it, as it's usually ego and/or marketted as a higher order of diving that they must achieve to be 'good'.

I really can't see teaching a lot of the truly 'advanced' topics right out of the gate of OW, but even then, the course will neccessarily have to cost more since some actual time will be required as an investment, whether it be in the OW or AOW course.

Since a huge majority cater to the lowest denominator, this continually pissing into the wind of better, longer, more indepth classes are, for the most part, a useless battle as far as the masses are concerned.

I'll still do it on occassion to be sure

I agree with Walter and others when they say that there are good courses to be had if you want them. The unfortuante thing is that by the time you find these rare gems, you're beyond the point where one would be inclined to take them, since I've rarely heard of a person doing a second AOW course after completing one that wasn't what they though it would be.

They just realize they've been had..which is fine, but it doesn't fix the original problem.

I'm pretty sure if I told someone they could spend $250.00 for a basic 5 dive AOW course, or $500.00 and a dozen or so dives and 'really' make them better....I know which one they'd pick

They'd both still get the same spot on that dive boat, and that's all most are worried about.

regards

 

[fire_diver]

I think the word "advanced" is misleading. Otherwise, a good way to gain more confidence under the supervision of an instructor.

Not everyone needs more confidence or supervision. Many of us have been quite happy to go diving w/o supervision right after BOW. Many people like to dive, paractice skills, and try new things on thier own.

FD

 

[ApexLongimanus]

Not everyone needs more confidence or supervision. Many of us have been quite happy to go diving w/o supervision right after BOW. Many people like to dive, paractice skills, and try new things on thier own.

FD

I agree. I just said its a GOOD way ...not the ONLY way.

 

[JamesD]

Two reasons I took AoW,

1. I did want to do some more training, and found the navigation helped some, most of the rest I wasn't that much use, but it was more diving which is good.

2. A few boats have claimed to require AoW to dive with them, I've never had it enforced, but wanted the cert just in case.

 

[erparamedic]

I have been OW certified for 10 years now... and not in any hurry to go AOW (but considering it next summer). It just doesn't mean anything... except that you have another card! I'm content being OW certified... serves the purpose I want. I dive for pleasure. I don't care to go deep... in fact I've never been deeper than 70 feet. The colors are prettier in the shallows... Just my humbled opinion.