What are the differences between OW and AOW.

[matriga]

Hi there!

I've got my OW certification since a year and since I'm going to Egypt, I might as well take the next PADI certification which is AOW.

Does anyone know which skills are required for this one? Which new things will I have to learn?

Thanks in advance.

 

[reebok]

Hello,
Have you checked out PADI's explanation of their AOW cert? Good luck.

Advanced Open Water Diver Course from PADI Professional Scuba Divers' Training Organization

 

[boulderjohn]

A quick summary is that you are required to learn more navigation skills and learn about issues related to diving deeper than 60 feet. You have a lot of choices as to what else you do.

 

[Fatterboy]

Navigation and deep diver are required, then you can choose 3 minor specialties from many options (boat diving, wreck diving, drift diving, underwater videography/photography, rescue diver, and many others).

My wife and I chose to do all our speciaties and dives in one class (multiple days) instead of a class here and there.

There are a few dive ops that will not let you dive beyond your PADI trainning while you are with them, I had been deeper several times, but am looking to dive the USS Oriskany someday and wanted to have my AOW. We bought our materials over the internet and took the classes in Cozumel this year. I am glad we did, however I can see the mindset that it is not necessary as I was content several years not to advance my certification and many divers do not.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Great question. I work with AOW classes at my dive center and here is my view. In OW class, you learn the basic skills and safety rules in order to start diving safely, and to enjoy diving at an entry level. In the AOW class, we work on a variety of skills, including those you learned in open water by the way, in order to improve the competence of divers and by doing so, increase their independence and enjoyment when diving. In my classes, we start with efficient gear set up and proper weighting, basic skills not everyone keeps up to peak performance. Every dive we do focuses on buoyancy control and body position (what many call "trim"). For every dive we also focus on dive planning, using a computer or tables, and discuss the importance of proper dive planning if you want to just "go diving" rather than be led by a local DM on a group dive. (not that there is anything wrong with that). We focus on navigation skills: knowing where you were, where you are, and how to get back to where you were, as this is an important skill for divers who dive independently in particular, but for all divers. We include compass work, distance measurement methods, and natural navigation (sunlight, depth, contour, sand ripples, etc.) In your OW class you did very limited work with navigation. Finally, in my AOW classes we focus on task loading- that is, doing things other than just diving. This includes searching for an object and using a lift bag to bring it to the surface, deploying a surface marker from depth, stringing a line on a wreck dive and retrieving it without entangling yourself or you buddy, and things like that. The idea of task loading to grow as a diver is a part of just about every dive. AOW classes have certain core dives and then optional dives, so not every class has the same dives, and if you read much on scubaboard, you know that the quality of instruction, intensity of training, and value to the student varies greatly. I think,. though that everyone can benefit from the AOW water class, and commend it to you. I would also recommend you take it after you have at least 20 or more non-triaing dives logged. You'll get more out of it then.
DiemasterDennis

 

[spectrum]

The dirty little secret is that more often than not your instructor will have a common AOW specialty set and unless you negotiate otherwise that's what you get.

Most skills are extensions of what you should already have a good handle.

Deep diving is just deeper and should include information and demonstration of the effects and planning of such a dive.

Navigation will be some very basic skills that are pretty obvious and a little information on how it relates to diving.

Other topics will be introduced in a similar depth.

You won't master anything but will get to do some new suff under professional guidance.

It is the next step, make the most of it then move on to Rescue Diver.

Pete

 

[Tigerman]

Hi there!

I've got my OW certification since a year and since I'm going to Egypt, I might as well take the next PADI certification which is AOW.

Does anyone know which skills are required for this one? Which new things will I have to learn?

Thanks in advance.

Where in Egypt are you going?
If youre doing a liveaboard - you MUST have the AOW cert (and for some iteniaries more dives as well) for them to even take you.
For diving in Ras Mohammed, Strait of Tiran and quite a few other places youll REALLY want to have the AOW cert to be able to fully enjoy the dive sites.

As of what the difference is - a few more supervised dives, a bit of theory on a few topics.
Without having seen you dive, Im gonna say what specialties I would have done if I was going to Egypt, had few dives wanted to do my AOW there;

Deep - required
Navigation - required
Peak Performance Bouyancy - If you have few dives and some time between dives, this could help a LOT on your bouyancy and in turn air consumption.
Night dive - Well, I just love night dives and theres very different things to see in the red sea at night than there is at day.
For the last Id do wreck, fish ID or something like that - theres LOTS of stuff youll scratch your head and not know what is down there.
Drift and boat I would consider to be a complete waste of time as youll have plenty of that when youre there and any half-decent dive shop will include whats needed to know about it in their dive briefs anyways.

Now, if you just want a card on the other hand..
Deep and nav is required
boat diver, drift diver and wreck dive can be done all in one dive (or atleast one day)