The path...

[kurtguy]

That is funny! Next time I am going to check the dates of the postings. I was offering some advice to Perrone about the right path that I felt was similar to mine. I have been doing a lot of research of late including getting some great advice from a local dive shop that seems to be right up there in tems of tech teaching. I am excited about going forward and I believe I know where to go next in terms of my training. I also have found out what I need for my next equipment purchase. There is nothing like getting good advice from the people who know. I really appreciate the tip about getting good training and having a great guide on location. That is something that I would not have considered (kevrumbo). I was planning on having it all in place before I make the trip out there. My next steps are: Dry suit, Advanced nitrox, then Trimix. I am thinking that this may be enough for my goals, I will consider CCR later, no need to rush things...

Thanks to everyone and your advice.

Kurtguy

 

[GrandCanyonDiver]

Allow me to bump this thread one more time. I'm glad I did a search and found it. I am also a brand new OW Diver, and I am fascinated by wrecks. I have but 6 logged dives to my name, so fear not, I am not thinking of doing anything stupid. But I was thinking of posting something like the OP did five years ago. It seems that I am addicted to learning so taking classes won't be a problem for me, and we'll see if that's where I end up in my diving life, but for now I'll have to be content with going slow to build up the proper experience, mostly b/c I live in AZ. I don't own one piece of gear either. Mostly I just wanted to say thanks for the advice, it has helped me five years after it was written, but I, too would like to hear from the OP how his trainin progressed.

I do have one question though: when you say "don't expect much from your AOW unless you're up-front about what you expect," what do you mean? When I go to take it, should I be very clear about what I expect to get (e.g. actual instruction in beginning to dive around wrecks, in deeper water, etc.)? Already I have learned from reading on here that the quality of classes varies greatly with individual instructors, which I guess is to be expected but is also unfortunate. What are some tips you guys have about getting the most from AOW? It'll be a minute before I get there, but since it was brought up I figured I'd ask. I've got some more diving to do first.

Thanks again.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Allow me to bump this thread one more time. I'm glad I did a search and found it. I am also a brand new OW Diver, and I am fascinated by wrecks. I have but 6 logged dives to my name, so fear not, I am not thinking of doing anything stupid. But I was thinking of posting something like the OP did five years ago. It seems that I am addicted to learning so taking classes won't be a problem for me, and we'll see if that's where I end up in my diving life, but for now I'll have to be content with going slow to build up the proper experience, mostly b/c I live in AZ. I don't own one piece of gear either. Mostly I just wanted to say thanks for the advice, it has helped me five years after it was written, but I, too would like to hear from the OP how his trainin progressed.

I do have one question though: when you say "don't expect much from your AOW unless you're up-front about what you expect," what do you mean? When I go to take it, should I be very clear about what I expect to get (e.g. actual instruction in beginning to dive around wrecks, in deeper water, etc.)? Already I have learned from reading on here that the quality of classes varies greatly with individual instructors, which I guess is to be expected but is also unfortunate. What are some tips you guys have about getting the most from AOW? It'll be a minute before I get there, but since it was brought up I figured I'd ask. I've got some more diving to do first.

Thanks again.

Well, don't expect an intensive workshop like this wreck course in your standard PADI AOW/Specialty Diver Course.

Just be patient and have fun for now --complete your AOW. Then after around 25 dives or so, start the beginning overhead/tech training process with either GUE's Fundamentals of Better Diving Class or UTD's Essentials Class (or if you feel up to it right now, matriculate immediately into either of GUE's or UTD's beginning courses).