When should a Rescue course be taken

[downunderjenn]

"However, I've never signed a waiver that said "I understand that the diver you randomly buddy me with on the boat probably won't be able to rescue me if I have a problem." Diving is generally a buddy sport. As I've said, you do both yourself and your buddy a disservice by not taking rescue.

There's another thread going on right now bashing people who won't dive with new divers. If the reason for that is that the diver is not rescue certified and might not be able to save their buddy, I honestly don't see a problem with that logic."

No, I don't see the problem with that logic, so why are you randomly buddied with an OW buddy? Another thread with DM's talks about DMs being given the newbies. Mike pointed out they could request another buddy.

Didn't want to retort-All I'm saying about the rescue class:
1) I personally find it an imperative class and makes safer divers
2) I do not believe in forcing anyone to do anything, but you can provide them with the facts and related information so they can make up their own mind
3) I like the PADI system of introducing divers to the skills in a step process. As I have said in other threads, PADI strongly recommends further training <PADI bashing has equated this with give me more money, but that only deters divers from their education>. I do believe a diver should be comfortable with their OW skills and dive some before beginning their next classes. I do not recommend that they make deep (>60fsw) dives, or that they end their education there. However, I think they will learn the OW, AOW, and Rescue material more thoroughly if each is independently taught.

I mention that some divers take the OW class and go to the Caribbean and that's all their diving. It is said the resort classes teach this well under supervision. Two things:
Diving is not for everyone. I like that like a bad relationship, a diver can abort training at OW, AOW, or Rescue, at whatever point, without the 20 year bad marriage.
Also, who says a smart OW student shouldn't seek out supervision over their dives?

 

[ShakaZulu]

There are some skills required in Rescue, that requires you to be a proficient diver. Some dive experience is definatley required after OW. I would suggest as soon as you are comfortable with you basic skills. Makes for a safer diver and buddy.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

IMO (and only mine) there is little that the AOW course actually teaches anyone. It is more of an 'experience' course which allows new divers to get a look at more advanced diving than they did in OW. It doesn't teach any new skills.

Then your instructor did you a disservice.

I am currently teaching an AOW class. It involves learning and using skills that were not introduced in OW.

These include:

- Developing a dive plan based on site description, dive objectives, and the experience level of the divers involved. In this case, the student will be developing a minimum of four dive plans ... each for a different type of dive. Success will be determined by his ability to follow the plan he develops.

- Buoyancy control ... sufficient to conduct an entire dive at 20 fsw, mid-water, with no visual cues other than "floaties". Success will be determined by his ability to maintain depth, conduct the dive in a predetermined pattern, and manage an exit reasonably close to where he started.

- Gas management ... understanding how to compute SAC, convert to RMV, calculate expected gas usage based on planned dive profile, calculate turn pressure and rock-bottom, and understanding basic diving habits that affect your gas useage and ability to stay within the dive plan. He will be expected to show me a gas usage plan for at least his deep dive ... and additional dives if I feel it's warranted by the result.

- Buoyancy control ... how to use breathing, weighting, and trim to maintain your position in the water column.

- Team diving ... not just buddy skills, but how to interact effectively with your buddy before and during a dive.

- Buoyancy control ... how to perform an OOA exchange mid-water and ascend as a team, in a controlled manner.

- How to plan a search and recovery dive.

- How to use reels, rigging, and lift bags to ... conduct a search pattern, rig an object for lifting, bring the object to the surface, bring yourself and your dive team safely to the surface with the object.

- How to plan, prepare for, and execute a dive in low-visibility conditions.

- Buoyancy control ... how to do a controlled ascent using a spool and lift bag.

We have completed the classroom portion of this course, which involved two workshop-style sessions working through problems and scenarios. There will be six dives, with an option for a seventh to work on anything that we identify as needing extra work. Those dives start this week-end.

This student started this class with a total of 30 dives. Two of those dives were with me, so I had the chance to evaluate his present skills and develop the curriculum based on what I observed. I think he'll come out of it saying he learned some new things.

My next AOW class will be for two students with a total of more than 500 dives between them. Their course will be much more challenging ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[jbd]

Then your instructor did you a disservice.

I am currently teaching an AOW class. It involves learning and using skills that were not introduced in OW.

These include:

- Developing a dive plan based on site description, dive objectives, and the experience level of the divers involved. In this case, the student will be developing a minimum of four dive plans ... each for a different type of dive. Success will be determined by his ability to follow the plan he develops.

- Buoyancy control ... sufficient to conduct an entire dive at 20 fsw, mid-water, with no visual cues other than "floaties". Success will be determined by his ability to maintain depth, conduct the dive in a predetermined pattern, and manage an exit reasonably close to where he started.

- Gas management ... understanding how to compute SAC, convert to RMV, calculate expected gas usage based on planned dive profile, calculate turn pressure and rock-bottom, and understanding basic diving habits that affect your gas useage and ability to stay within the dive plan. He will be expected to show me a gas usage plan for at least his deep dive ... and additional dives if I feel it's warranted by the result.

- Buoyancy control ... how to use breathing, weighting, and trim to maintain your position in the water column.

- Team diving ... not just buddy skills, but how to interact effectively with your buddy before and during a dive.

- Buoyancy control ... how to perform an OOA exchange mid-water and ascend as a team, in a controlled manner.

- How to plan a search and recovery dive.

- How to use reels, rigging, and lift bags to ... conduct a search pattern, rig an object for lifting, bring the object to the surface, bring yourself and your dive team safely to the surface with the object.

- How to plan, prepare for, and execute a dive in low-visibility conditions.

- Buoyancy control ... how to do a controlled ascent using a spool and lift bag.

We have completed the classroom portion of this course, which involved two workshop-style sessions working through problems and scenarios. There will be six dives, with an option for a seventh to work on anything that we identify as needing extra work. Those dives start this week-end.

This student started this class with a total of 30 dives. Two of those dives were with me, so I had the chance to evaluate his present skills and develop the curriculum based on what I observed. I think he'll come out of it saying he learned some new things.

My next AOW class will be for two students with a total of more than 500 dives between them. Their course will be much more challenging ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Sounds like an excellent class!!

 

[zboss]

There are some skills required in Rescue, that requires you to be a proficient diver. Some dive experience is definatley required after OW. I would suggest as soon as you are comfortable with you basic skills. Makes for a safer diver and buddy.

I agree...

 

[bbiesenkamp]

jbd,

I am that student and it has been an excellent class so far. I am really looking forward to the dives to put the new knowledge into practice.


Brian

 

[downunderjenn]

Thank you for sharing your curriculum. It was insightful.

 

[Kim]

Then your instructor did you a disservice.

I am currently teaching an AOW class. It involves learning and using skills that were not introduced in OW.

These include:

- Developing a dive plan based on site description, dive objectives, and the experience level of the divers involved. In this case, the student will be developing a minimum of four dive plans ... each for a different type of dive. Success will be determined by his ability to follow the plan he develops.

- Buoyancy control ... sufficient to conduct an entire dive at 20 fsw, mid-water, with no visual cues other than "floaties". Success will be determined by his ability to maintain depth, conduct the dive in a predetermined pattern, and manage an exit reasonably close to where he started.

- Gas management ... understanding how to compute SAC, convert to RMV, calculate expected gas usage based on planned dive profile, calculate turn pressure and rock-bottom, and understanding basic diving habits that affect your gas useage and ability to stay within the dive plan. He will be expected to show me a gas usage plan for at least his deep dive ... and additional dives if I feel it's warranted by the result.

- Buoyancy control ... how to use breathing, weighting, and trim to maintain your position in the water column.

- Team diving ... not just buddy skills, but how to interact effectively with your buddy before and during a dive.

- Buoyancy control ... how to perform an OOA exchange mid-water and ascend as a team, in a controlled manner.

- How to plan a search and recovery dive.

- How to use reels, rigging, and lift bags to ... conduct a search pattern, rig an object for lifting, bring the object to the surface, bring yourself and your dive team safely to the surface with the object.

- How to plan, prepare for, and execute a dive in low-visibility conditions.

- Buoyancy control ... how to do a controlled ascent using a spool and lift bag.

We have completed the classroom portion of this course, which involved two workshop-style sessions working through problems and scenarios. There will be six dives, with an option for a seventh to work on anything that we identify as needing extra work. Those dives start this week-end.

This student started this class with a total of 30 dives. Two of those dives were with me, so I had the chance to evaluate his present skills and develop the curriculum based on what I observed. I think he'll come out of it saying he learned some new things.

My next AOW class will be for two students with a total of more than 500 dives between them. Their course will be much more challenging ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I agree - sounds like a great class - but it doesn't sound like any PADI AOW course that I've ever seen. Actually it sounds much more like part of my IANTD Overhead Environment course. It's probably true for you to comment that a lot of my opinion came from my own experience with my instructor/course - it did. As far as I could tell though it followed the PADI AOW manual to the letter.
Another point - if that's your AOW course - I'd love to see your Rescue! And I'd also be very interested if you think that all of the above skills + your Rescue stuff should be rolled into one with OW and taught to a new diver?

 

[durian]

I did my OW followed by my AOW followed by my RESCUE. Both my AOW and RESCUE course went beyond PADI'S prescribed time.I know that having done a very thorough RESCUE Course accelerated my confidence!!!!

 

[Windwalker]

I took my Stress and Rescue within a couple months of my Open Water. My instructor recommended it as one of the more "Important" courses. He then said to take it again once experience is gained, as some things will be easier and make more sense. I would agree with his sentiments. In SSI Stress and Rescue is required before you can "Advance" past AOW. But one must have more then 25 dives and have done 4 specialty courses and the AOW training before an AOW card is granted. I like this way of doing things over the other out of BOW AOW training. Having done the whole Rescue course roughly out of BOW, I think its a good idea. I had 9 dives at the time I did my Stress and Rescue.