What really is an "Advanced Open Water" diver?

[mcohen1021]

These AOW threads pop up regularly, and eventually it becomes time to bring out an old favorite.

OH MY GOD THATS AWESOME!

And how classic he's putting the BC away and waterskiing (I do comoetitive slalom!)

LMAO - that video had me ROLLING

 

[tursiops]

Open Water Diver | PADI

"Depth: expect shallow dives (12m/40ft), the maximum allowed depth is 18m/60ft"

You are quoting training standards, not allowed depth post-training.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

These AOW threads pop up regularly, and eventually it becomes time to bring out an old favorite.

"Why are these California charters such nazis?"

"Fundies?! Those freakin' DIR divers laughed at my snorkel"

"My girlfriend bought me those split fins."

"I might as well join those weird vintage divers"

"... Warhammer"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

 

[TonRin]

You guys are all right saying PADI cannot stop me from going beyond my certification of 30m as an AOW certified diver. What can stop me is the wording on my DAN insurance (as attached). Even though the DAN specs say up to 50m is covered, in the FAQ's and I'm sure in the fine print as well, it says quite plainly that I must have 'held appropriate certification for the dive' at the time, which as a PADI AOW is a 30m limit. If I have any dramas at 31m and they check my computer logs, you can bet your balls they will say sorry pal, your on your own. Not a risk I am willing to take at this stage in my dive experience.

I am sure there are plenty of maverick hero's out there that like to push the limits and prove how much they like to ignore the rules, but I am not one of them! Rules are in place for a reason.

 

[Belzelbub]

You guys are all right saying PADI cannot stop me from going beyond my certification of 30m as an AOW certified diver. What can stop me is the wording on my DAN insurance (as attached). Even though the DAN specs say up to 50m is covered, in the FAQ's and I'm sure in the fine print as well, it says quite plainly that I must have 'held appropriate certification for the dive' at the time, which as a PADI AOW is a 30m limit. If I have any dramas at 31m and they check my computer logs, you can bet your balls they will say sorry pal, your on your own. Not a risk I am willing to take at this stage in my dive experience.

You may be correct if diving beyond your training. I do not believe you’ll have any problems diving to 31 meters or even 39 meters with AOW cert, or even OW. Both are recreational certs, and it’s fairly universal that the recreational depth limit is 130’ or 40 meters.

Probably not a bad idea to confirm with DAN first, though.

 

[100days-a-year]

Going a few or even more feet than you are certified to is not that big a deal if you are competent or guided and conditions warrant.
Dove nitrox before there was a certification and wasn't certified OW either. Commercially spearfishing past rec limits.
Pretty sure I survived.
Drove before I had a license.
Rarely used sunscreen on my pasty white skin
Drive over the speed limit alla time.
I did wear a helmet riding motorcycles tho.
Drank before I was legal.
Smoked and used snuff.
Eat red meat, butter, pork and raw fish.
My relationship history is probably more dangerous than diving and I ended up married a girl from the Bronx.

 

[tursiops]

You may be correct if diving beyond your training. I do not believe you’ll have any problems diving to 31 meters or even 39 meters with AOW cert, or even OW. Both are recreational certs, and it’s fairly universal that the recreational depth limit is 130’ or 40 meters.

Probably not a bad idea to confirm with DAN first, though.

It depends on your DAN policy.

 

[TonRin]

Straight to hell for you 100days-a-year buddy!

 

[lowwall]

You guys are all right saying PADI cannot stop me from going beyond my certification of 30m as an AOW certified diver. What can stop me is the wording on my DAN insurance (as attached). Even though the DAN specs say up to 50m is covered, in the FAQ's and I'm sure in the fine print as well, it says quite plainly that I must have 'held appropriate certification for the dive' at the time, which as a PADI AOW is a 30m limit.

THAT IS NOT A CERTIFICATION LIMIT. The certification limit for a PADI Open Water diver is 40 meters.

PADI does its damnedest to obfuscate this to a) sell more courses and b) cover their butts from any negative outcomes that would be caused by graduates of their minimum program being unleashed into challenging conditions.

 

[coldwaterglutton]

I just received my PADI AOW card this last week. This is following my original certification in April 1989 and approximately 700 dives all over the world, at least half of which have been cold water dives in the Northeast in ocean/low vis/current/depth.

The only reason I went for the card is my two boys (17 and 14) did the class, so I did it with them for the fun. At least now I don't have to explain to dive charters why I think I should be allowed to go on a deep wreck in a drysuit and breathe Nitrox when I only have a basic card . . .