The Mis-Adventures of my AOW class- READ!

[Rockhound]

out of date (training wise), so I have a couple of questions and a comment.

First question:

1) These days, is it common for students with minimal experience to go from Basic OW to AOW? Is there no experience requirement for progression into more difficult styles of diving?

2) Is it common practice for DM's and Instructors to plan reverse profile dive days as a part of training or is it some common practice that I've missed?

3) Is air management enforced on these types of training dives? (Did the instructor ask for profiles and air remaining at the end of the dives?). On many of my more advanced trips (Flower Gardens, for example), max depth, time and air remaining are recorded for every diver after every dive. Any violation of depth maximums or air minimums require the diver miss the next dive. Two violations and the trip is done. While I always resented this a little bit, now I understand some of it from the other perspective.


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I haven't had a training class of any type in over 20 yrs. Right now, I'm thinking about taking AOW (I have the old NASDS OWII rating), just because some dive shops/boats are requiring AOW minimum training for some dives. But if this is the type of training that I would get for my money, perhaps I should save it and buy a new piece of gear.

Please understand that it is not my intention to be critical of you or your experiences. I appreciate wholeheartedly your honesty in putting what happened out here for us to think about.

But, if you didn't have the experience/training to safely manage your air supply or to question a reverse profile, -which I consider fundamental skills, then I wonder if you had the experience to go for what is labelled "Advanced Training"--implying a higher level of performance.

I place a lot of blame on your boneheaded instructor, but you must also except some responsibility for being pressured into an unsafe situation. There will be plenty of times the future when an overly enthusiastic buddy, bad conditions, or just bad karma will force to you make the difficult decision to abandon a dive, hopefully before you ever splash.

Anyway, thanks for heads up on what happened to you. I'm glad things turned out okay. It sounds like you learned a lot from what happened. I bet it will never happen to you again.

Dive safe.....

 

[java]

Hi,
Since i am looking to take an AOW in NJ how can I ensure that the instructor will be capable?

On an other point, someone mentioned the fact that it is not smart to go straight from OW to AOW. In my opinion it is a way to get more dives in under supervision (obviously this thread was started by a lapse of supervision), letting a new diver progress with the help he needs

 

[Jarhead]

I'm no expert, but this is what I've gathered so far...

Originally posted by Rockhound
First question:

1) These days, is it common for students with minimal experience to go from Basic OW to AOW? Is there no experience requirement for progression into more difficult styles of diving?

Some agencies do not have a required number of dives before beginning AOW. Some require 24 dives to begin AOW.

Originally posted by Rockhound

2) Is it common practice for DM's and Instructors to plan reverse profile dive days as a part of training or is it some common practice that I've missed?

Reverse dive profiles are taught as a normal option now. There was an interesting thread in the Dr. Deco forum regarding this (last week, I believe).

Originally posted by Rockhound

3) Is air management enforced on these types of training dives? (Did the instructor ask for profiles and air remaining at the end of the dives?). On many of my more advanced trips (Flower Gardens, for example), max depth, time and air remaining are recorded for every diver after every dive. Any violation of depth maximums or air minimums require the diver miss the next dive. Two violations and the trip is done. While I always resented this a little bit, now I understand some of it from the other perspective.

No, I've never seen any type of air management enforcement. This includes classes in the FL springs or gulf dive boats with classes from different parts of the country. That does necessarily mean it wasn't done, but i didn't see it.

 

[MikeFerrara]

java,

How do you know the instructor is good? That is a goog question. There are lots of questions you could ask but I don't know how reliable that is. I think I could flush em out but... From what I have been seeing, you might watch the DIR video clips from the link in the other thread (I think it was in the tech section in a thread about frog kicks and stuff). Forget the DIR part if someone looks good in the water they look good in the water. You can call it what you want. Anyway, after watching the video make sure you see the instructor dive before taking a class. This doesn't prove he can teach but if they can't dive... The best is if you can watch them teach. Visit a classroom, pool and OW session. I invite people to do that.

I don't have a problem with going right into AOW as a means of gaining additional experience and exposure to different activities and environments under supervision. It's the name I don't like. Having 9 dives instead of 4 doesn't make you advanced only more advanced than you were. The title of the PADI text is "Adventures in Diving" Thiat is a good name for the class.

 

[Kaffphine]

Doing the Algol then a 100+ft wreck?? I'm curious as to what boat you were using. And that that boat would let you in the water on deep dives without a pony.

 

[MichaelG]

I am sure some of you would be interested in a follow up from me.

Well, this morning I still felt some fatigue in my left arm, while the right arm felt fine. I decided to call DAN and consult with them. With the guidance of DAN, I contacted Brick Hospital (I live in Toms River, 5 min. away) and made an appointment with the Hyperbaric Chamber Facility and later met with a pulminary specialist. Under his guidence, I underwent 5 hours of recompression therapy for a diagnosis of DCS!!!

Unfortunately, the left arms is still fatigued and the slight numbness in the left hand still exists. I am going back for another 2 hours of recompression therapy in the morning but as it stands right now, I am facing 1 of 3 options.

1) Recompress again and all symptoms of DCS disappear.
2) I may not really have DCS and perhaps enflamed my muscles and might have pinched a nerve
3) I have DCS that cannot be corrected. According to the hyperbaric specialist, 48 hours is excessive and the damage could now be permanent.

Wich me luck!!!!

--MichaelG

 

[Spectre]

Originally posted by MichaelG
Under his guidence, I underwent 5 hours of recompression therapy for a diagnosis of DCS!!!

Unfortunately, the left arms is still fatigued and the slight numbness in the left hand still exists

Did you feel better while you were recompressing? From what I understand, if you didn't, then you can rule out #1. I've heard many a story where the 'oh s**t, I'm bent' didn't come into their minds until they hit 60 fsw on their next dive and an ache just went away...

 

[ckharlan66]

I wish you all the best. Keep us posted.

Chad

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Good Luck and Best Wishes. We hope for the best.

Dan

 

[shellbird]

Personally I don't think that you had enough dives to do AOW. [/B][/QUOTE]

I feel fortunate to have a good, honest instructor. Being a new diver myself, I have inquired about gaining my AOW cert. My instructor was honest, he said get more dives under my belt, gain more confidence. He said not to get pressured into taking it too soon.

Advice I will definitely take after reading this thread. My instructor was not the shop owner, if he were, he would be pressuring me to take the next course $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Not saying my LDS would do that but heard it has been done. Actually my LDS is quite good as well. BEWARE. Trust your judgement, know your limits.