Is it ever too soon to get AOW?

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Originally Posted by Mtrewyn

I could not rember exatly what it was but I new uou could not do it right after.

The SSI shop here does not offer an AOW class. Just bring in your log and document the specialties and 24 dives and they give you the card.

[mcc2318]

i felt a little ripped off with my AOW

[navyhmc]

Taking the AOW soon after your OW is not a bad thing. It is more tools to help you have a more enjoyable diving experience by opening up more venues to dive, safely.

The thing to remember is to incrementally increase your range of experience. If you just got your AOW, the usual understanding is that your lower depth limit is 130'. but I would not make my first dive after my AOW to 130'. I would gradually increase my depths over a number of dives. Broaden your horizons without broadening your risks to an irresponsbile level.

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

Taking the AOW soon after your OW is not a bad thing. It is more tools to help you have a more enjoyable diving experience by opening up more venues to dive, safely.

The thing to remember is to incrementally increase your range of experience. If you just got your AOW, the usual understanding is that your lower depth limit is 130'. but I would not make my first dive after my AOW to 130'. I would gradually increase my depths over a number of dives. Broaden your horizons without broadening your risks to an irresponsbile level.

Most agencies suggest a depth limit on AOW certed divers of 100ft.. With the addition of a Deep Diver class it is generally suggested no more than the recreational 130ft. max..

Regardless....your suggestion of gradual depth changes should come only in small amounts over time and experience--great point.

[Zenagirl]

We did our AOW after we had about 25 dives on our own, and for us that was the way to go. Looking back I think our OW instruction was so outstanding that we felt confident to go out and dive independently for awhile and practice the skills we learned.

When we did our AOW, our instructor had us do PPB for our first specialty and integrated it into the rest of our dives so we really learned how to trim our weights out and what neutral really feels like. We did navigation next, and again he integrated it into the rest of our dives, so we got a lot of navigation practice.

We felt we got a lot out of AOW and that waiting until we had a few dives under our belts was the right decision for us.

OTOH, I know someone who did AOW after doing 6 OW dives independently. Magically although she was afraid to go deeper than 60' after OW, she felt she was certified to go to 100' after AOW, so would. She said that she was "advanced trained" to dive deep. Huh??

[SarahBella]

I was told by my OW instructor to get in at least 10 dives before taking AOW. My goal is to get into AOW next summer which should put me at 12 or 15 dives.

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by SarahBella

I was told by my OW instructor to get in at least 10 dives before taking AOW. My goal is to get into AOW next summer which should put me at 12 or 15 dives.

As a general rule, I would have suggested in the 25 dive range, or when someone feels really comfortable with any issue that might come up. How long it takes to get those dives also plays a part... and for a new diver, faster is better.

[Ohmdiver]

I don't know what the hurry to AOW is. I see all sorts of "students" rush to AOW. I appreciate the eunthuiasm, but it is an empty tittle. What I see is that dive sites are listed for AOW Certs, or location that require AOW certs to do certain types of diving. (Dutch Springs requires as a min AOW cert to do a night dive or under the supervision of an instructor) The card it self can be obtained within a few extra weeks of training, While training is good, it is not a replacement for experiance. My LDS strongly suggests that Stress and Rescue Course be taken before any advanced training. I think there needs to be a min # of dives before doing any advanced training. Time to learn your equipment and the new enviroment.

There are plenty of "Advanced" Open Water Divers that aren't. And all they really need is more dives

As always this is just my opinion.

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Yes, there are a lot of "advanced" open water divers that aren't.

Main reason is AOW is definitely not advanced training.

I got my AOW fairly soon after OW but in no way considered myself 'advanced'. In fact I'm still just a stroke.

FWIW, I believe that AOW is a prerequisite to Rescue with PADI. I think at least for PADI, getting AOW as soon as you're comfortable in the water is a good idea. Progression might be: OW, do some dives, AOW, do some more dives, Rescue, dive dive dive.

[cgvmer]

Originally Posted by Ohmdiver

I don't know what the hurry to AOW is..... My LDS strongly suggests that Stress and Rescue Course be taken before any advanced training.....

Actually PADI requires AOW before Rescue, so that is why I am going for AOW as I believe Rescue diver provides skills that I would like to feel comfortable with, and hope never to use.