Where does "technical" begin? (or Why get AOW certified?)

[DeepScuba]

I agree with Steven (Reefraff). There's no substitute for in-water time. The only way to become a good diver is to dive. AOW and other courses are there to speed up learing curve, vs going it alone and finding something out the hard way. Instruction, proper instruction is the most efficient way to go.

It's always what you don't know that will hurt you. The more I learn, the more I know what I don't know, type of thing.

As for the 100 dives to become proficient at it..well I guess it's a close enough ball-park. But I will tell you I have seen many people become darn good divers with only 50-75 dives! I wasn't (I consider) one of them, but as I've always said, my wife is a great diver. Her buoyancy and in-water control is just amazing for the time she's spent diving (75 dives +-) She's not wigged-out by much at all, she's a natural. She may only do 20-30 dives this year, but somehow she manages to keep her diving in pretty top-notched condition.

Relax and enjoy it, live the moment, it's good for your SAC rate too!

We were in Kingston recently, and when we got home I remarked to my wife how it was really relaxing not to be task-loaded up the butt with Deco-diving, which includes the strictest adherance to time, depth, gas management, gas switches, planning, more planning blah blah blah.

It was fun to just Rec dive!! (Not that I wasn't watching guages, of course!)

I was the first time in a while I could totally relax and basically not worry, but to just enjoy it.

 

[phree337]

Thanks everyone for responding (and especially for the GI/JJ part, that was too funny!!). Just to re-iterate to you all, I am NOT looking to strap a pair of doubles on, dive to 200 ft and penetrate some wreck for my 21st dive; I'm just trying to figure out how best to spend my limited amount of discretionary funding on the new addiction...um, I mean sport!! I know enough technical divers that I feel that I can learn quite a bit from being in the water with them and discussing various aspects of diving with them on land. My biggest concern was if the AOW was REQUIRED before taking some of the more technical courses, or if each diver was rated on his/her individual proficiency before being admitted into the class (which, by the way, no one has quite seemed to answer yet...). It seems that everyone wants my money in this game, and I am just trying to gain some insight as to who actually gets it.

I will continue to research the different aspects of diving, increase my physical fitness, and--most importanty--ENJOY the diving I get to do now. I feel kinda privileged to be underwater looking at something that not everyone gets to see.

 

[Diver0001]

bwerb once bubbled...


We need "action figures" G.I.JJ!

If they were anatomically correct you'd probably be able to put batteries in at least one of them and sell them at more than just toy stores.....



R..

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

phree, most tech courses expect you to have completed Rescue Diver (or it's equivalent)...Rescue requires AOW....Rescue is probably considered the most important class you'll ever take....

Do AOW and Rescue, then ponder the future..... The money will have been well spent.


Darlene

 

[100days-a-year]

I beleive some agencies allow the instructor quite a bit of leeway in pre-requisites.I never completed a rescue or AOW course prior to beginning tech training.Incrementalism is a marketing ploy that some agencies use as a cash generator.I have a few "master diver" friends who have fewer life time dives in fewer types of diving than my wife does in a year with a simple PADI OW cert.Once again it's time to check motives.If you want a bunch of pretty cards to wave at people, get all the specialties and junk certs you can.I'm all about the diving,not the labels.The best way to spend money on this hobby is diving,next is gear and last is more training.

 

[SeaJay]

Diver0001 once bubbled...


If they were anatomically correct you'd probably be able to put batteries in at least one of them and sell them at more than just toy stores.....



R..

Heck, I don't think that they'd have to be anatomically correct... Since one of them resembles a huge "organ" anyway.

...Of course, you didn't hear me say that, especially since I'm going the DIR route and have to deal with him regardless.

 

[100days-a-year]

Ahh....the relative anonymity of the internet....allowing people to cast aspersions at people they'd never address harshly in real life.SeaJay you will be pleasantly surprised when and if you meet that "organ"He is actually not what he appears in his writing.Go to Pinas website and see how she portrays him.JJs even nicer.I've only met one of the "gooey guys"in person that wasn't kind and helpful and he has been that way before his association with them.

 

[SeaJay]

I've met him.

...Frankly, I didn't think that about him until I met him. I think the world of JJ, by the way.

...Also, I'm SeaJay in real life as well...

Sorry, boss... No anonymity there...

But I'm not Trey's biggest concern right now... Apparently someone else has all of his attention right now.

You know, if he would just be a little nicer to people...

 

[phree337]

Well. . . I haven't met either one, so I'll form my opinions if/when I do. I just thought the idea of the action figures was funny.

Anybody else wanna chime in on prerequisites for technical diving??

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

There's basically 2 ways to get there that have proven track records....

The GUE track that Bwerb laid out... or

The OW, AOW, Rescue (toss in nitrox there somewhere too)

and regardless of which path you take,
Dive a lot and build experience.....If you take shortcuts, you're the one that looses.


Whichever you choose, you'll never get any more out of a course than you put into it, be ready to work your a$$ off.


Hope that cleared it up,


Darlene