There are some people I've seen who I would not let start AOW until they got more experience, learned to really control their buoyancy, and adjust their attitude to reflect the seriousness of what they were getting themselves into. Many times the AOW card is a very good way to gain access to sites and dives that can kill you a whole lot quicker that your average 40-50 foot warm water low current reef dive. The sooner this is realized the better.
The AOW Deep Dive as PADI teaches it is supposed to qualify one to dive to 100 feet. The deep specialty is intended to go beyond that to 130. At least at the time I took them it was. Unfortunately neither of these has as prerequisites good buoyancy control and trim, very good to excellent buddy skills, a proper attitude towards safety, and obeying the rules of the instructor. To be fair, I know of no agency AT THE PRESENT TIME that requires all of them. I am doing my part to change that. It is however the duty of the conscientious instructor IMO to see that the student does have these. I do insist on it with all of my AOW students.
The skills do not have to be demo quality but they do have to possess the fundamentals. I expect AOW and frankly any student for a class beyond OW to be able to do their own weight checks, perform all basic skills horizontal in mid water, know how to use tables, and have a good attitude towards safety and personal responsibility. I should not have to show them how to set up their gear, decide if they need to add a few extra pounds of lead, or choose the type of exposure suit. I have taken divers on fun dives just to see if they are ready to do an AOW course. A couple weeks ago I had someone come to me for a pool session devoted to proper weighting and trim. We also worked on skills in midwater. He was going on a trip and did not feel he had sufficient training in any of these areas from his previous instructors in OW and AOW class. He will be redoing AOW with me and the course as I teach it. He also wants to do UW Nav with his wife and son with me.
My experience to date with the advanced students I have taught is mixed. I have had some who were naturals in the water and as such I added to the course I already teach to challenge them further. Others were fine with it as I wrote it and were not ready for an increased level of challenges. But in every case they all were dissatisfied with their previous level of training and the lack of content and skills required. That's why they came to me. I have no desire to turn out large numbers of divers. What I do have is the desire to turn out ones I would be ok with my son diving with at whatever level they were at. Without me in the water. I also want to turn out divers who though they may want a DM or Guide in the water they certainly will not need one.
The AOW Deep Dive as PADI teaches it is supposed to qualify one to dive to 100 feet. The deep specialty is intended to go beyond that to 130. At least at the time I took them it was. Unfortunately neither of these has as prerequisites good buoyancy control and trim, very good to excellent buddy skills, a proper attitude towards safety, and obeying the rules of the instructor. To be fair, I know of no agency AT THE PRESENT TIME that requires all of them. I am doing my part to change that. It is however the duty of the conscientious instructor IMO to see that the student does have these. I do insist on it with all of my AOW students.
The skills do not have to be demo quality but they do have to possess the fundamentals. I expect AOW and frankly any student for a class beyond OW to be able to do their own weight checks, perform all basic skills horizontal in mid water, know how to use tables, and have a good attitude towards safety and personal responsibility. I should not have to show them how to set up their gear, decide if they need to add a few extra pounds of lead, or choose the type of exposure suit. I have taken divers on fun dives just to see if they are ready to do an AOW course. A couple weeks ago I had someone come to me for a pool session devoted to proper weighting and trim. We also worked on skills in midwater. He was going on a trip and did not feel he had sufficient training in any of these areas from his previous instructors in OW and AOW class. He will be redoing AOW with me and the course as I teach it. He also wants to do UW Nav with his wife and son with me.
My experience to date with the advanced students I have taught is mixed. I have had some who were naturals in the water and as such I added to the course I already teach to challenge them further. Others were fine with it as I wrote it and were not ready for an increased level of challenges. But in every case they all were dissatisfied with their previous level of training and the lack of content and skills required. That's why they came to me. I have no desire to turn out large numbers of divers. What I do have is the desire to turn out ones I would be ok with my son diving with at whatever level they were at. Without me in the water. I also want to turn out divers who though they may want a DM or Guide in the water they certainly will not need one.
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