SSI AOW / Navigation Speciality Vs Stress and Rescue.

[ermaclob]

This Summer im planing on getting my AOW from my local dive shop. They tell me that i need to take 4 $pecialty courses to get the card and they highly recommend the Deep Diving, navigation, night and limited visibility, and Nitrox course to get the the card. i have the liberty to swap any off these with other available specialty courses they offer, which are

• Digital Underwater Photography; (not really that beneficial of a class i think)
• Equipment Techniques; (i have no idea about this one)
• Wreck Diving; (From what i hear not penetration, so not worth it)
• Search & Recovery; (not sure about this one, sounds use full but dont think i can apply it)
• Stress & Rescue; (People Tell me this is a worth while class to take)
• Dry Suit Diving; (i live in miami.....)

+ *a few others* Possible (peak buoyancy) etc.

for the most part, i think i would benefit from the Deep, night, and nitrox course. However, im not to sure about the navigation. Iv been using a compus ever since i got my OW and fell that i can get around pretty good. Im no expert but i highly dough a class will make me an better, its more practice than anything. i also watched the Padi Navigation video, and really dont think i should pay for that. i was contemplating taking the Stress and Rescue since alot of people on the board speak highly of it.

so is the nav. course worth taking, or should i take the rescue one.

My Dive shop is SSI, all thought i dont think it matters. Apart from class room sessions, are there any pool or required # or check out dives for these courses. i think the dive shop guy said there's only 1 check out dive per course. and no pool sessions

 

[lowviz]

Rescue.

 

[koozemani]

To progress past AOW to Master Diver you'll need 50 dives, 4 specialties and Stress and Rescue. So, why not take both?

 

[ermaclob]

To progress past AOW to Master Diver you'll need 50 dives, 4 specialties and Stress and Rescue. So, why not take both?

i haven't considered taking dive mater later on, im mostly interested in what will be most helpful to me now.

besides if i do keep doing training. its going to be in the technical direction, with overhead environments caves, wrecks etc. Thats where my urges are taking me.

 

[tstormdiver]

This Summer im planing on getting my AOW from my local dive shop. They tell me that i need to take 4 $pecialty courses to get the card and they highly recommend the Deep Diving, navigation, night and limited visibility, and Nitrox course to get the the card. i have the liberty to swap any off these with other available specialty courses they offer, which are

• Digital Underwater Photography; (not really that beneficial of a class i think)
• Equipment Techniques; (i have no idea about this one)
• Wreck Diving; (From what i hear not penetration, so not worth it)
• Search & Recovery; (not sure about this one, sounds use full but dont think i can apply it)
• Stress & Rescue; (People Tell me this is a worth while class to take)
• Dry Suit Diving; (i live in miami.....)

+ *a few others* Possible (peak buoyancy) etc.

for the most part, i think i would benefit from the Deep, night, and nitrox course. However, im not to sure about the navigation. Iv been using a compus ever since i got my OW and fell that i can get around pretty good. Im no expert but i highly dough a class will make me an better, its more practice than anything. i also watched the Padi Navigation video, and really dont think i should pay for that. i was contemplating taking the Stress and Rescue since alot of people on the board speak highly of it.

so is the nav. course worth taking, or should i take the rescue one.

My Dive shop is SSI, all thought i dont think it matters. Apart from class room sessions, are there any pool or required # or check out dives for these courses. i think the dive shop guy said there's only 1 check out dive per course. and no pool sessions

What you get out of a specialty course depends greatly on the instructor & what you put into it. If I encourage a student to take no other courses, Stress & Rescue would be the one. It really opens up a new awareness for yourself & your buddy & how to handle emergency situations. Navigation may not be too bad. They may introduce you to things you haven't thought of (navigating around an object, in a stiff current, patterns & so on). Of the classes you listed, Equipment techniques is a non- diving specialty (can be handy stuff, if you want to know how to better care for your equipment), but to my understanding, can not be used for AOW, because no dives are done. Perfect Buoyancy may be the same. Nitrox is a weird one, if OW dives are involved, it can be counted towards AOW, however you can still be Nitrox certified without the dives (classroom only). Look at the type of diving that appeals to you & base the courses off what you want to do. In FL there should be plenty of SSI facilities to choose from nearby that can get you the courses you want, if you want to stick with SSI. For the most part many specialties from other agencies can cross over to count towrds your AOW rating. Whether there is classroom involved depends on the specialty & in some specialties, how the the instructor wants to set it up.

 

[koozemani]

i haven't considered taking dive mater later on, im mostly interested in what will be most helpful to me now.

besides if i do keep doing training. its going to be in the technical direction, with overhead environments caves, wrecks etc. Thats where my urges are taking me.

Master Diver, not Divemaster. Master Diver like AOW with SSI is awarded when you meet the criteria. No extra classes necessary.

 

[ermaclob]

Master Diver, not Divemaster. Master Diver like AOW with SSI is awarded when you meet the criteria. No extra classes necessary.

What benefits does a Master Diver Have?

 

[tstormdiver]

What benefits does a Master Diver Have?

Master diver is basically just the highest award for non- professional level. It basically says you have done 4 specialties, Stress & Rescue & have a minimum of 50 logged dives. Some people don't care for it, some like a little pat on the back. Just depends on your preferences.

 

[koozemani]

Master diver is basically just the highest award for non- professional level. It basically says you have done 4 specialties, Stress & Rescue & have a minimum of 50 logged dives. Some people don't care for it, some like a little pat on the back. Just depends on your preferences.

You're absolutely right, it is simply one more card of many, but one could also say that about AOW. Neither is really an accurate gauge of a divers ability. I'm not knocking SSI by any means, I actually like how they do things and recently achieved my AOW through SSI.

Like the OP, I chose specialties which I felt I would benefit from. I don't feel that I'm a better or more qualified diver because of it, but I'll take it all the same.
To clarify: I am definitely a better diver because of the experience that I've gained, but possessing a cert that says I'm AOW does not in and of itself make me better.

Personally, I think 50 dives is way to low a number.

 

[emoreira]

This Summer im planing on getting my AOW from my local dive shop. They tell me that i need to take 4 $pecialty courses to get the card and they highly recommend the Deep Diving, navigation, night and limited visibility, and Nitrox course to get the the card. i have the liberty to swap any off these with other available specialty courses they offer, which are

• Digital Underwater Photography; (not really that beneficial of a class i think)
• Equipment Techniques; (i have no idea about this one)
• Wreck Diving; (From what i hear not penetration, so not worth it)
• Search & Recovery; (not sure about this one, sounds use full but dont think i can apply it)
• Stress & Rescue; (People Tell me this is a worth while class to take)
• Dry Suit Diving; (i live in miami.....)

+ *a few others* Possible (peak buoyancy) etc.

for the most part, i think i would benefit from the Deep, night, and nitrox course. However, im not to sure about the navigation. Iv been using a compus ever since i got my OW and fell that i can get around pretty good. Im no expert but i highly dough a class will make me an better, its more practice than anything. i also watched the Padi Navigation video, and really dont think i should pay for that. i was contemplating taking the Stress and Rescue since alot of people on the board speak highly of it.

so is the nav. course worth taking, or should i take the rescue one.

My Dive shop is SSI, all thought i dont think it matters. Apart from class room sessions, are there any pool or required # or check out dives for these courses. i think the dive shop guy said there's only 1 check out dive per course. and no pool sessions

As per SSI, Nitrox do not sum for AOWD. Rescue also do not sum for AOWD.
To get the AOWD you need 4 specialties with check-out dives.
Nitrox and Rescue do not require Check-out dives.
Stress and Rescue is a very valuable course. I highly recommend it, though I also recommend to take it after you have enough dives under your belt to be comfortable diving.
I cannot tell you for sure, but every course with ckeck-out dives, requires at least 2 check-out dives. In the case of navigation, 3 dives covering different navigation scenarios : reciprocal dive, triangle dive and square dive.