Rescue or AOW

[DallasNewbie]

Is AOW a prerequisite for Rescue? I've only got about 50 dives, but the rescue class looks like it teaches much more practical skills than Advanced. Is this accurate, and are there any downsides to taking Rescue before Advanced?

[jacewindu]

I do believe you need AOW to take rescue. You also have to be CPR certified.
Unless these are simply prereqs of my LDS, but it sounds reasonable.

[Vercingetorix]

No, you do not need AOW for Rescue. I'm speaking from a NAUI perspective. You require only CPR and First Aid.
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<DIV>From the NAUI web-site:</DIV>
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Originally Posted by NAUI

CPR and First Aid certifications are required to complete this course. Your Scuba Rescue Diver training moves you on your pathway to becoming a NAUI Leader: Skin Diving Instructor, Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, or Instructor.

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<DIV>In fact, if I'm reading the NAUI training progression diagram correctly, you don't even need basic Scuba Diver open water certification</DIV>
<DIV>http://www.naui.com/training_progression.php</DIV></DIV>

[Jeff]

Check with the certifying organization and your LDS on policy as both are relevant.

NAUI Standards &amp; Policies (which are more detailed and only available to NAUI certified professionals) require Scuba Diver (Open Water) and "additional training" before you can take Rescue. Most people typically infer that it is Advanced, but it does not have to be. The actual instructor and/or dive shop has some latitude in determining what "additional training" can consist of.

CPR and First aid are pre-requisites to the card being issued, but they don't have to be done prior to taking the class. You can finish Rescue, then go get CPR/First Aid (or take it in conjunction with Rescue, like we offer at Scuba Toys).

I highly recommend you consider both. You get completely different knowledge out of each one, and all instruction is good (assuming a good instructor).

Advanced gives you an opportunity to continue to hone your skills, while being exposed to a variety of specialty diving conditions.

Rescue isn't so much about diving (being underwater) as it is about learning your limits, and what you should/shouldn't, can/can't do, how to recognize and handle issues before they become problems, and learning your limits.

So most important piece of advice - since you're "Dallas", you should take both from Scuba Toys!!! [img]smileys/smiley4.gif[/img]

[Vercingetorix]

Jeff, are you getting your info from NAUI S&amp;P? If so, NAUI needs to update their web-site.
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<DIV>Regardless, I'll defer to Jeff's answer. He's got the best info.</DIV>

[Jeff]

Yes. While it isn't specified in detail on NAUI's site, Scuba Diver (Open Water) certification is a pre-requisite for all other Scuba courses. We don't teach the basic diver skills in any other class (although we do try to hone and improve them), so prior to taking anything else, you'd need to be Scuba Diver (Open Water) certified.

As an aside, while its not as detailed as the Rescue Diver specialty, we also teach rescue at all levels of certification, beginning with Scuba Diver. As somewhere in the neighborhood of 90-95% of divers never take any higher level courses, we feel it is important that rescue be taught at the beginning.

While other agencies allow this component to be optional, it is required for NAUI.

[Vercingetorix]

Dallas, you mention you have only 50 dives. I've got a grand total of 15 (including 5 for OW, 6 with Jeff for AOW) and I'm going through Rescue now. My OW instructor suggested to the graduating class that they go for Rescue because it would make them better divers.
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[DallasNewbie]

Originally Posted by Jeff

So most important piece of advice - since you're "Dallas", you should take both from Scuba Toys!!! [img]smileys/smiley4.gif[/img]

My wife and I got certified at Scuba Toys and most of our gear is from there. We took a private refresher course about two years ago, but we didn't need much refreshing, so it wound up being about an hour and a hlf in the pool with an instructor practicing skills and boyancy. Would that count as additional training, or does it have to be a structured class?

[Jeff]

That's really up to the shop and the Instructor doing the class.

I think Woody has the next Rescue class, so I'd suggest you talk to Woody and/or Greg. While I may assist if I can, my current work schedule doesn't allow me to be the Instructor of Record, so I don't want to commit for them.

If I was the Instructor, I'd want to dive with you before I made that determination so I could get a personal evaluation of your skills and abilities under water. Rescue can be intense at times and I'd want to make sure you're very comfortable being in the water, to minimize the risk of a scenario becoming a real situation.

[ScubaToys Joe]

Vercingetorix you are correct! You do not need Advanced, the only requirements are that youare a open water diver (and this does not include Jr.) and must complete CPR and First Aid by the end of the Rescue class.
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<DIV>Hope this helps! </DIV>
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<DIV>Joe </DIV>