AOW class

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Nuts4koi

I just completed my OW certification dives on Aug 23. My primary instructor convinced me to go ahead and take the AOW class. She said there is no reason a new diver shouldn't take advantage of the education offered by the AOW class. I am really looking forward to it. We will be diving at the Blue Hole in New Mexico. I have heard nothing but good things about the Blue Hole. I also want to take the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty class. I know my buoyancy control isn't what it should be. The AOW class should help, but I think the specialty class wil lbe even more helpful.

Be sure to take a night dive, as well!

[Quero]

Originally Posted by Nuts4koi

<snip> I also want to take the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty class. I know my buoyancy control isn't what it should be. The AOW class should help, but I think the specialty class wil lbe even more helpful.

IMO, the PPB class as part of the AOW is a great choice. Once you have the information the strategies for buoyancy control seem pretty obvious and intuitive, but for a new diver still dealing with task loading, it's very helpful to have it all spelled out and to have an instructor coach you so you can get it right. The PPB specialty is only one additional dive beyond the PPB Adventure dive, so essentially it ends up being another chance to put the skills to work under supervision.

I echo CompuDude's advice about the night dive as being a useful one as part of an AOW cert. And I'll add that here in the tropics at least, Fish ID or Underwater Naturalist may seem like "fluff" dives, but they are far from it. Most divers are there to see the wildlife, so it's quite useful to know the basics of how to figure out what you've seen. In your case, you might consider a Drysuit dive, or as mentioned above, an Altitude dive.

[Nuts4koi]

Be sure to take a night dive, as well![/quote]

The LDS I am taking the AOW course thru, almost requires a night dive. I realize I have the choice, but my choice would be for the night dive.