When to take NAUI Advanced cert?

[bookboarder]

Hi everyone... So, my husband and I are open-water certified through NAUI. We've both got a few dives under our belt, but plan on getting a few more. At what point would it be advisable to move forward with training and get Advanced Scuba Diver certification. We'd both like to have more knowledge, but of course plan on diving, diving, diving, but there are some reasons we'd like to get the Advanced course under our belts.

I'd really appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance!

 

[RoyN]

Whenever you are ready. Some people take it right after their OW class, others waited for a while and some don't take it. Adv.OW is fun and you'll learn how to dive deep, see octopus at night, and learn how to swim in a square.

 

[jbd]

First welcome to scubaboard!!

Second, there is no cut and dried number of dive you need to have before taking the NAUI AOW course. I prefer to see 25 dives logged post OW certification before doing the assessment dives with someone I don't know as NAUI recommends. If I don't feel a person is ready then we work out a plan to get them ready for the course. If they are ready then we work out a course that meets requirements as well as their interests.

The benefit, IMO, of having done the 25 dives is that by then most people are fairly comfortable and reasonably competent at diving to allow for a better AOW course.

When I conduct AOW courses I expect the "student" to plan and conduct all the dives. I expect that once various skills are taught they will performed during the dives in a manner consistent with what one would call an advanced diver. These things don't happen when the person taking the course is not able to dive with a fair level of skill and ability.

I really don't buy into the common philosophy that AOW is just another chance to dive with the presence of an instructor to help one get comfortable.

I would suggest that you and your husband do some self assesment of what you think your diving skills are. If you feel you are comfortable and reasonably proficient with the gear and diving then get with an instructor and ask to do a couple of dives with him or her and get their feedback.

 

[bookboarder]

Thank you for your feedback!

I really appreciate it.

We did just do a couple of dives with a Divemaster recently, just to get used to a new diving area, and he said he was really impressed with our abilities. We went with several more advanced divers on the boat, and he said had we not told him that we were relatively inexperienced, he'd not have known it.

We'll definitely continue to get some more dives in, but that assesment from the Divemaster made us feel like we could advance at some point to the AOW level.

ETA: He mentioned that had he not known we were inexperienced, he'd have thought we'd been diving much longer than several people on the boat.

 

[jbd]

Thank you for your feedback!

I really appreciate it.

We did just do a couple of dives with a Divemaster recently, just to get used to a new diving area, and he said he was really impressed with our abilities. We went with several more advanced divers on the boat, and he said had we not told him that we were relatively inexperienced, he'd not have known it.

We'll definitely continue to get some more dives in, but that assesment from the Divemaster made us feel like we could advance at some point to the AOW level.

ETA: He mentioned that had he not known we were inexperienced, he'd have thought we'd been diving much longer than several people on the boat.

This sounds like you may have had some good training and have taken the lessons to heart.

Look into the information I mentioned via PM and start building that data base. How many dives do you have now that have occurred after your certification dives?

 

[somewhereinla]

I don't think you need to have a lot of experience to get your AOW. Think of it as a continuation of your OW education and don't pay to much attention to the word "advance" getting the AOW doesn't make you an Advance diver, I think OW2 would be more appropriate. You will learn a few new skills but most important you will be able to go deeper which will give you more flexibility in planning various dives.

 

[jpcpat]

Take advanced when you want to. I like students to be comfortable with the O/W skills, and want to polish them a bit while learning some new skills. Some are ready right out of O/W, others need more experience

 

[bookboarder]

We have twelve dives each since our OW certification. Four of those were just this past week. They were amazing and our first boat dives--- let me tell you how much more awesome it was to dive off a boat! LOL! Waaaay easier! I just can't wait to get back in the water, to be honest! LOL!

 

[bookboarder]

Would love some more input on this question, if anyone cares to share their thoughts...

The reason I ask is because my husband and I are interested in progressing forward in diving as a career... So, we'd like to move through some of the certifications, while still focusing our attention on getting experience, vs. collecting c-cards.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Go ahead and take the course, you've made ~12 dives and have the interest. The NAUI Advanced course is more challenging than you might envision, so you need to go into it with confidence - it's a course that many instructors like to teach. Be prepared to do some math (gas planning), work on your buoyancy, and hone your buddy skills. Be sure and take (most all do) navigation, night, search & recovery, and deep specialties. Another specialty should be chosen due to diver interest, but, I would at sometime take an equipment course - always nice to know how your equipment works and how to do basic service.