Point-for-point on what's missing from OW Classes

[TCDiver1]

Some of you are taking this way to serious IMO.

Everyone who has been around the dive industry for more than several years knows what Padi AOW means.

It means, simply, the diver has had at least five more dives, in various conditions, than an OW diver. Thats all!

It an experience program, get over it. Maybe it shouldn't be called advanced but what do you care? Anyone who has been around awhile knows what it really means?

I don't get the problem.

 

[WreckWriter]

DiverBuoy once bubbled...
Turn away if you don't want to see the DARK SIDE.

Did I make you mad? Gee, I'm sorry.

On the same note as your post, anyone can also search the board and find the places where I have contributed and helped others (just skip the political threads). You know what else? Not one of my posts will be taken directly from a textbook. Can YOU say that?

The party line only goes so far, then you have to fall back on your experience. Tough, huh?

WW

 

[DiverBuoy]

Not in the last 6 months .. I know because I've read. Again what have you done for us lately? We've added like 2,000 members since then - what have they gotten from you?

 

[WreckWriter]

DiverBuoy once bubbled...
Not in the last 6 months .. I know because I've read. Again what have you done for us lately? We've added like 2,000 members since then - what have they gotten from you?

I haven't contributed anything in the last 6 months? I would venture to say that's a little bit of an exaggeration.

I'm sure you spend way too much time looking for ammunition you can use against me. I can only imagine the posts in the moderator forum with your name on them in the last few days.

WW

 

[WreckWriter]

Here's one where I did YOUR job for you:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22463

WW

 

[DiverBuoy]

Giving a head's up to the ugliness in this thread.

LOL now he needs to start searching.

Back to the business at hand: What could be added to AOW to make it really count to make it meaningful?

 

[MikeFerrara]

Wow! You people are brutal. Your even more extreme than I am.

I think what we need is a distinction between divers and underwater tourists. It is possible to safely guid nondivers underwater to see the pretty fishies and stuff. The danger is when we allow them to believe they are divers and can do it alone. We even have underwater tourists teaching other underwater tourists without a diver even being present.

No doubt we need to change the name of the AOW. As is, it's a good way for a diver to get out and try some new things in some new places under supervision and I don't see anything wrong with them paying for the guided experience. Are they then advanced? Compared to what? No, I guess they are still new divers. Hell, I only get to be advanced when I'm with new divers. When I'm with some of our other diving freinds who did their trimix classes with Sheck Exley, have more cave dives and deep wreck dives than I have any kind of dives and have spent more time at deco than I have in the water, I don't dare think of myself as advanced. I certainly don't try to convince them that I'm advanced. There is no class that can make you advanced in this context.

 

[WreckWriter]

DiverBuoy once bubbled...
Giving a head's up to the ugliness in this thread.

There's very little "ugliness" in this thread. There's some humor though.

WW

 

[raybo]

DiverBuoy once bubbled...
Not in the last 6 months .. I know because I've read. Again what have you done for us lately? We've added like 2,000 members since then - what have they gotten from you?

RE:WW

I got some stuff from him the other day that was helpful. Information that isn't provided through any of the PADI corses I've taken. Doubt the info is available at any level of PADI from what I've seen. A real shame, too. For as big as an organization it is, it does leave a lot to be desired, IMHO.

I also think you've had some valid ideas as well.

I, for one, don't necessarily equate longevity of participation in an activity as either a benefit or detriment. In my profession, I see people that have been doing things the same way for 20 years. And they're still doing it wrong. Or at least not the most efficient way.

I think we all agree that there is a lot of room for improvement within the current system. The real issue is whether any of us, or rather all of us, are wiliing to do anything about it.

Unfortunatley, I doubt it. Most divers just aren't that concerned with this, which is sad, really.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Mike Ferrara I agree with this:
We even have underwater tourists teaching other underwater tourists without a diver even being present.

If left alone the current AOW should be changed to Guided Dive Experience - don't have a buddy? Like to dive? Want more time underwater?