What's up with PADI and AOW certs?

[DiverDurf]

I'm only OW certified and have got a few dives under my belt now. I'll admit that I haven't been religiously sticking to the 60' maximum as set by PADI standards, but I don't see it as a problem either- I'm very comfortable in the water whether it's at 35' or 75'. So my question is this: what exactly am I to learn by taking PADI's AOW class just to be certified to 130'? What are they going to teach me that's any different than what I've already been taught about my equipment checks and emergency training (buddy breathing, etc)? Please don't get me wrong as I'm not being arrogant or over confident here. I'm seriously asking because it's not easy to shell out $100 or more every time PADI wants you to take another freakin' class for another freakin' cert card (and yes, they issue a separate C-card for every class you take- rather than just issue another card with identifiers on it for every cert you have).

 

[J.R.]

The honest answer to your question is that only YOU can answer it... AOW is a resource. Some find if valuable as a structured introduction to aspects of diving that may, in one way or another, result in an increased 'workload' on them compared to what the OW environment presents. Some prefer to learn via alternate methods.

As far as the 'separate C-card' rant... yea... we know... but, like everything else, some people get off on that... and that's their choice... and, of course PADI's...

... and nothing sez' you HAVE to go PADI... I was cert NASDS in 70... did PADI AOW with my wife about 3 years ago... did Nitrox via NAUI and EFR through DAN... and got PADI Divemaster...

... the thing is that education is valuable... the methodology you employ to gain that education is up to you...

... my two PSI ...

 

[oly5050user]

You get out of the AOW course as much as you put in..It is not designed to "let" you go to 130- actually the recommended depth limit for AOW is 100'..for recommended limit of 130 is AOW and deep training/speciality.
All limitations are recommendations only.
In AOW you will learn skills that you would use much more often than just diving deeper.
Navigation is a required skill set,simple ability to measure off distances and navigate with a compass is far more valuable than being able to breath off a regulator at 100'.The navigation you learn in AOW is a small step in truly being able to navigate effectively, more ability is learned in a navigation speciality course,but you should get more than just the basics in the AOW course.
Other dives required for advance can be three of any of the following or others such as peak perf buoyancy;wreck;night;search/recovery;uw photo..etc..
As to your claim about having to take classes and paying $ for courses, you do not have to.Its that you WANT to take the class for your benefit to become a more capable person in the water.Don't want to pay for class;easy solution-Do not take any courses and stay with the certification level you have.

 

[czervos]

I went through the same discussion this past summer. My main reason for finally doing the Advanced course was that I found that some dive shops would not allow you to go on some (deeper) dives without the Advanced certification. I was planning a trip to Destin, Florida and wanted to dive on the USS Oriskany (60' at the shallowest) so I ended up getting the certification. I can't say that getting the certification it was REALLY worth it, just a little worth it.

 

[John_B]

The PADI OW card doesn't restrict you to 60' for the rest of your diving career, likewise their AOW doesn't certify you for any specific depth. The deep dive is an "experience" dive that is supposed to give you a feel for being narc'ed and how fast you burn through a tank at depth. The initial recommended depth for their AOW is 100' assuming you are diving in similar conditions you trained for. PADI and the agencies do have a Deep specialty for rec dives to 130 feet that thankfully have different requirements than an AL80 filled to 3000 psi.

As I said in a different thread yesterday, I finally did my AOW because it makes it easier to get on Key Largo charters to the dive sites I want to go to. I had a good instructor who took the time to figure where I was divingwise, and he worked to provide some valuable content. In the end I went into it with a positive attitude and learned some useful stuff.

The other approach would be to fill out the five KRs and knock out the five dives with as little effort as possible. Its your time and money, its up to you to decide what you want to get out of it.

 

[TSandM]

AOW classes vary wildly. Mine was all but worthless. I learned nothing that was helpful in planning or executing deeper dives. (And almost nothing by continuing with the deep specialty, either!) However, my friend NW Grateful Diver teaches an AOW class with significant meat in it, including a good section on gas management, a section on diving in limited light environments (which are common at depth), and a section of navigating in limited visibility. If you are considering an AOW class, by all means talk to the instructor who is going to give it, and ask what HE intends for you to get out of it. Also ask if there are any standards you have to meet to pass . . . a class that lets you go with a card when you haven't been able to perform the tasks satisfactorily is a pretty useless class.

 

[Garrobo]

Yeah well, I've ranted about the uselessness of the PADI AOW "course" and of it's being a cash cow for PADI, forced on divers who want to go on to more serious certifications. Now that the Oriskany is down another 15 feet and out of reach of the "reccommended" dive depths for OW divers I'm sure that PADI will make loads of money off of those divers who want to dive her but the operators in the area are afraid of the legal repercusions of taking divers down without the AOW cert. What a bunch of c***.

 

[don Francisco]

Like you I don't believe that collecting C-cards makes any sense, but that doesn't mean that AOW may not be worthwhile. Take AOW or any other course not for the card but for the knowledge.

How much you benefit depends on what you bring to the course. If you're a fairly new diver you'll probably save time improving your bouyancy and trim vs learning trial and error. You'll also be introduced to various skills such as navigation, and get some added education in the specifics of various dive situations, such as deeper diving, night diving or others that you decide on with your instructor.

All in all, if you bring a learning attitude to AOW can be a worthwhile course unless you've already gained enough experience so as to make it redundant, which at LT 24 dives I doubt you have.

If you wish, I suggest you follow AOW with Rescue, which most folks rate very highly after having taken it. Lastly, you might need to take a Nitrox course so that you can use Nitrox fills when desirble. Like OW a Nitrox card is one of a few that actually opens doors.

As far as the other specialties, or the Master Diver concept, count me out. Yes, you can learn something from these courses, and they might have value for some who are doing something totally new such as drift diving for the first time, but mostly they're not about much more than getting another card.

So it's strictly your call, but if you decide to go ahead with it, have a frank discussion with your instructor to establish actual learning goals vs just getting an AOW card.

 

[String]

Agree AOW can vary wildly and what benefit you get can also depend on when you do it.

If its done say 10 dives after open water chances are you'll learn a lot. If its done 100 dives after open water then most likely you've already covered everything that can be taught so wont get as much out of it.

Choice of modules and instructor can have a massive effect too. Lots of people, especially in resorts try to force the easily and pointless options like boat, aware and photo which really wont improve diving skills for example.

In short, shop around to make sure you get something out of the course, ask lots of questions and think carefully about what you want before deciding on where/who/what.

 

[BDSC]

First of all how deep you go and when is really up to you. You should have learned what you need to know in OW to be able to go below 60' or whatever the magic number is with OW.

To be honest, all I learned in AOW was some navigation skills beyond what I already knew. If I remember correctly, we did have to do a "deep" dive but I had already been to 125ft by the time I took the course. I think we did a night dive also but I had already done that. So really some navigation skills were learned and that's it. Now I don't even carry a compass! Never need it because pretty much I do caribbean diving and I don't see how someone could possibly get lost or need a compass for that.

Unless you want to dive with a shop/charter and they absolutely require it, save your money and forget the AOW.