Question about AOW

[lovesmexico615]

So I am thinking about starting my Advanced certification at some point soon. I'm wondering if I should take it locally in cold water so I get my buoyancy dialed in really well close to home, or if I should take it in warm tropical water. I don't know if I would get more out of the class doing it up here, does anyone have any opinions on this?

-Amanda

[dallasdivergirl]

I did mine this past July in Lake Travis, near Austin. The water was like a bath.

I would say do your AOW at home so that you will be ready to go before your next trip.

[CompuDude]

It's always easier to go from challenging cold conditions to easy warm conditions. It's really hard to go from easy warm conditions to challenging cold ones.

I always recommend learning in the more challenging environment, else you won't have the skills to do so later, because you won't have learned them in the easy classes.

And last but not least, save your vacation for diving, not classes!

[Dive-aholic]

Find a good instructor who teaches a good AOW course and take it from that person. That will probably involve doing it locally. Unfortunately, most destinations will offer AOW, but it will be a vacation diver AOW with the bare minimums. I'm sure there are decent destinations AOWs, but it will be difficult to find one. Find a local instructor who will actually teach you diving, not just go through the motions.

[dludwig]

I agree...stay local. Find a teacher you like & have your AOW when you go to warmer climates

[DivingsInMyBlood]

Go for the cold then when you go on holiday you can go enjoy your diving

[lovesmexico615]

Thanks for the input guys! I was planning on doing it up in the cold water anyway... just confirmed my thoughts. I'm doing 8 dives in Playa at the end of November- the divemaster/instructor is US born- great guy, and I'm sure would be fine to take the classes with. I'm worried about the buoyancy control in the cold water vs the warm water though.

[MSilvia]

It's much more challenging to control buoyancy in cold water with all the extra thermal protection and weight. After practicing up here, you'll find it effortless in warm water.

[RoadRacer1978]

True, there is a much bigger swing in buoyancy due to thich thermal protection in cold water than thin or no thermal protection in warm water. As you descend a 7mm wetsuit is going to compress and give you less buoyancy causing you to adjust. On the other hand in warm water a 3mm, 1mm or less will not compress as much. This is due to the tiny air pockets in neoprene. Thinner wetsuits have fewer air pockets and cause a smaller swing in buoyancy as they compress.

[TxScubaBear]

Originally Posted by dallasdivergirl

I did mine this past July in Lake Travis, near Austin. The water was like a bath.

Indeed, even at 85 feet it was warm though it was strange the water turned cold at 55 feet but yet at 85 was warm again...