DIR- GUE SDI/PADI AOW worth it?

[Flamebut57]

Thank you all for your insights,

Heard from whom?

I misspoke and should have said read. I read in various Reddit threads and websites when researching the various certification agencies before my OW. This was a couple of years ago so I’m not too sure what Google would say now.

It might be of interest to many here on SB if you were to give it a go and write up a course report here.

This is a great idea. Ill keep it in mind.

Before you do anything more, I'd suggest taking a Nitrox / Enriched Air course.

I did my Nitrox with PADI about a year after my OW.

I haven’t quite decided yet but right now I’m leaning towards getting the SDI AOW since it’s basically free. I’m still open to doing the GUE AOW later down the road.

Has anyone here taken another agencies AOW and GUE’s Rec 2/AOW? I would be interested in hearing about the experience and what they think about the quality of training.

 

[Rilelen]

Just wanted to note that the upcharge for PADI AOW (rather than SDI) is probably because PADI charges instructors/shops a rather hefty amount for materials and student registration fees - I think for AOW it's currently around $180 for eLearning, $130 for traditional classroom, with some variation (instructors/shops get discounts based on the number of students they process). My understanding is that SDI charges way less to its instructors, so the increase in cost for the PADI cert is likely to account for the greater expense (on the instrutor/shop's end). In case you were worried that the upcharge seems sketch.

Personally, I'd just take the SDI cert if you're thinking about doing it.

 

[fred32176]

In Florida, there are lots of places and charters that require AOW. In West Palm Beach I got on a boat where everyone had to show their AOW and nitrox card and the same company's larger boat at the next slip only required OW/air. The two boats didn't do the same dives.

I was at Paradise Springs last week and they require AOW. I have done all my training SDI as SDI/TDI is what my LDS mostly does. As far as places and charters are concerned AOW is AOW.

 

[schuylerclark]

I did PADI OW in Belize and Advanced with SDI in FL. (SDI offers both Advanced Adventurer and Advanced - the former is the equivalent of PADI AOW and I believe what you’re referring to.) In both cases, I did online learning at home and then did the skills and dives with the instructor. For me, this approach fits my learning style and schedule well. I never felt it detracted from vacation in the least, if anything it was more enjoyable than just diving with a group.

The instructor’s ability is FAR more important than the agency - I opted not to do AOW on an earlier trip because I didn’t care for the instructor at that op.

I do have a slight preference for how SDI does things over PADI (materials, ordering cards, etc). Cert cards have been recognized everywhere I’ve gone with no issues.

 

[Jakeev]

What was your GUE Certt

 

[scottgrizzard]

The instructor’s ability is FAR more important than the agency

I second (and third and omega and every ordinal number this notion).

It depends what you want. If all you want is the card and permission to do more dives, while doing the bare minimum, then go with just a generic PADI or SDI or SSI instructor at a resort and have fun diving. I would just remember that you probably did not learn all that much and stick to diving with dive professionals on tourist dive boats (and make sure all that personal life insurance and DAN insurance stuff is up to date).

If you actually want something from the course, then you have actually taken the most important step...actually wanting something from the course.

Most instructors (even us lowly PADI plug-ins) actually enjoy teaching diving, and most know how to dive well (yes, I have seen exceptions). If you start asking questions and know what you want to work on, then the instructor will usually give you some personal attention.

If you are going to ask questions about the instructor before taking the class, ask if the instructor does technical diving (not teaches, but just does it). That is usually sufficient to know you will be getting an instructor who knows how to dive well (this is not a necessary condition...most instructors do know how to dive well... but if you are sitting in this particular forum asking these questions, you probably want someone who knows how to do the diving you are intending to do).

 

[Badger7]

For someone just getting started with diving, you're going to want a relationship with your local dive shop if you plan on doing any local diving (reg service, gas fills, etc). If there's a local shop with GUE affiliation, awesome, go introduce yourself, meet an instructor and get started with really great training and advice from the get-go. They have recently revamped their rec curriculum and I think it makes a lot more approachable for new divers.

If not, I wouldn't be to worried about "learning bad habits" doing an OW or AOW course with whatever agency is represented locally PADI,SSI,SDI or otherwise. Frankly, you're not going to be ingraining ANY habits good or bad in that whirlwind of of your first OW/AOW courses. You'll get a card that gets you on the boat worldwide, and just enough training to get you down and back up again in a relatively safe manner. Once you get your feet wet, then you can decide if taking a GUE class and honing your dive skills in and out of the water sounds like fun. I really enjoyed taking Fundamentals, but it was a tough class and I'm glad I did a lot of diving first. I don't think learning the skills and kicks were any tougher starting with AOW form another agency. How many fresh PADI AOW recruits are even attempting back kicks, helicopter turns, practicing OOG drills and DSMB ascents from depth?

The one thing I WOULD recommend to new divers is to avoid buying an expensive set of brand new gear right after getting your AOW card. What you think you need now compared to what gear supports the diving you want to do in the future might not be a great match.