Take camera on AOW dives?

[GaTT]

I'll be doing my AOW dives at the end of the month and am wondering if I should bother taking my camera with me on the trip. On one hand, I want to focus solely on the instruction I'm getting, and my diving/bouyancy, of course. On the other hand, I will likely have a camera on most other dives from here on out -- so I wonder if I should train with what I'll be using in the future.
The answer, of course, is to talk with my instructor... but I wondered what pros and cons I might read here. Thanks.

 

[magicwanz]

I think it depends on the instructor/agency. When I went through NAUI I was advised not to bring a camera, when I went through PADI my instructor not only encouraged it, but gave me helpful pointers and advice for shooting. The PADI instructor was a much cooler chick overall though for AOW.

 

[gypsyjim]

I'd leave the camera behind, and focus on completing my skills, for now. Photographing takes a lot of your attention, which right now should be on your training. You'll have a lifetime of diving to get those great pics! Do make sure that someone takes photos of that last day of your AOW, though. My profile pic is from my last check out dive in '70, which I found after my Mom passed away. Never knew about that photo till 35 years later, but it meant the world to me that she saved it!!!

 

[String]

If someone was doing a photography option with AOW i'd be fine with it, likewise if doing one of the more pointless ones like "boat", "fish ID" or whatever - ie the bits that are basically just a normal dive.

However any options that do include new material or actual tasks then i generally say no so things like search & recovery, PPB, deep and so on i dont allow them to take cameras.

Also the caveat that i only allow it at all if i've seen the student in the water first and happy with their ability to handle that camera even on a normal dive.

A camera can be VERY distracting whether the person realises it or not.

 

[spt29970]

Much as I love my camera, not only would I leave it behind when doing a class, I wouldn't dive with it at all until your diving skills are second nature. Your first goal should always be safe diving. The task loading of having a camera in your hand is very real concern. Then there is the issue that until you master your diving skills, your photos are not going to be any good anyway.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well, since I leave my camera on shore for AOW classes, I expect my students to do the same ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[don Francisco]

By now you should be familiar with the phrase "task loading". Think about that, and what you need to do on your certification dives & you'll probably forgo the camera except possibly for the last dives, if all the requirements are met earlier.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I haven't allowed students at any level to bring a camera during checkouts.

 

[limeyx]

Just my opinion but I would say a student has no business bringing a camera on class/evaluation dives for any kind of class other than a camera class

Focus on the class, focus on being safe and introduce the camera once you feel comfortable doing those kind of dives w/out camera.

 

[fisherdvm]

I think if you intended to learn something from the AOW class, and your instructor is intending to teach something - the camera should be left home. But if neither one of you cared enough, except to earn money and get a C-card, then the camera is fine. Unless the camera is needed for a specialty dive - like fish/marine life ID, and you need it to record the images for later looking it up - then bring it along. But I can't see where it would help you in your night, navigation, nor deep diving.