When to take Advanced O/W Training???

[gene1948]

I have been certified since October 2005 with only the required O/W dives and 2 other dives. When do you recommend that I take the next Advanced course? I would like to improve skills, especially buoyancy which I still have trouble with correct weighting and tend to float up at end of dive with a lighter tank. My first goal is to address / correct that. Would appreciate any suggestions or comments about your experiences and whether it would be better to get more experience first, or go ahead and enroll now in the Advanced course. Thanks,
Gene

 

[gfisher4792]

Your typical advice would be to take it now, before you get too much experience. You'll get more out of it, along with more dives to get you comfortable. Think of AOW as OW II, just the second half of a course.

 

[mmbawden]

I agree, AOW is the second half of the course. Take it as soon as you can it will help you out with those basic skills. Keep going on with your training and go to rescue diver. I feel that is where every diver should be. Just my opinion.

 

[bob1dp]

Christmas is a great time because you can get the classes at a good discount. Then you will be ready for summer.

 

[speedhound]

Hi,
I took the AOW course, and then SLAM (ie YMCA Rescue) about two months after getting my C-card. It definitely helped me to get more confidence in the water and diving in general. I'd definitely recommend that anyone do the same.
Dive safe and have fun!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I think students get more from advanced courses when they have more dives under their belts.

 

[Xanthro]

When to take AOW depends on how you dive. You have 2 post certification dives. First, that's more than many. Second it's not enough to show a trend.

If you are going to dive pretty often, then it's better to wait until dive 20 or so for AOW. This is because you'll be able to get more out of the course. Having better control over your trim and other abilities, will mean you can concentrate on learning new things, rather than simply improving.

However if you are not going to dive often, and it will be a six months before your 20th dive, then AOW gets you into the water and lets you practice skills that may otherwise erode. The additional training helps because most become more comfortable in the water.

In short, if you dive often, wait till around dive 20, if you aren't going to dive often, take the course now. By often I mean once a month or more.

 

[spectrum]

I think students get more from advanced courses when they have more dives under their belts.

I agree with Al.

What you mention as a weighting bouyancy problem should have been sorted out in your OW course or between that and time here you should have your weighiting correct. You like many divers are caught in the middle, really not ready to go to the deep or the night but in need of additional basic training.

Options are to find a mentor or DM to polish some basics or take AOW but start with a buoyancy module first. Then get some independent dives in before adding the loading of the other electives. If you rush it with the things you're still working on you'll make the dives, get the card and it will be a blurr.

That's my take.
Pete

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I did OW and AOW back-to-back. I probably would have gotten more out of AOW if I would have waited until I had a few more dives, but I don't regret getting both of them done at the same time.

I hate to keep harping on practicing and polishing basic skills, but if you have access to a swimming pool, it's a golden opportunity to sort out your buoyancy problems, grow accustomed to breathing on a reg so you don't huff through a tank in 20 minutes, refine your basic skills, and grow so familiar with your gear that you know where everything is by feel. It seems dumb and boring to dive in a swimming pool, but I feel like it has been an enormous benefit to me, as a new diver. Good luck!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

One of the things I want to do with advanced students is to refine their self aid skills. Before I will put my name on an advanced card or master diver card I need to seem them doing their self aid skills neutrally bouyant. Most don't have that down with less than 20 or so dives.