sapphire
Contributor
After being certified for more than 10 years, I decided it might be nice to "officially" get my AOW. I actually took the course a long time ago, but never took the written test (fall out with my LDS) so no card... And the agency was NASDS which is no longer. My goal is to take a rescue diver class after this, which is what I really want to learn.
I am going to Cozumel in July and have seen very reasonable prices for AOW certification. My "replacement" LDS wants $600 for an AOW course, which seems extremely high compared to the Cozumel prices. I doubt they would just sell me the books, but I could ask.
My diving experience is well above what is required for the AOW as far as deep, night, boat dives, etc. The only thing I really need to work on is navigation (math never being my best subject this was the most challenging set of dives for me when I first took the class) and I plan to really work on it in Cozumel.
Since we only have 3 days of diving in Cozumel, I would like to be prepared and study here before going. The operator we will probably be diving with teaches SSI or PADI.
OK - here are my questions:
1 - Can I buy the Advance OW course materials here, read them on my own and then be ready for Cozumel? I do not have time to take a class or do any open water dives here before I go, so that would be my preference. Neither the PADI nor SSI websites sells training materials directly. I saw PADI AOW on LeisurePro, but out of stock. If anyone has any ideas where I could purchase the PADI or the SSI materials for AOW I would appreciate the information.
2 - Having the choice, should I do SSI or PADI? My NASDS OW will be replaced by an SSI card since they merged, but I don't think it matters where your basic card was from when you select an advanced class. Does it?
Thanks for any information!
sapphire
I am going to Cozumel in July and have seen very reasonable prices for AOW certification. My "replacement" LDS wants $600 for an AOW course, which seems extremely high compared to the Cozumel prices. I doubt they would just sell me the books, but I could ask.
My diving experience is well above what is required for the AOW as far as deep, night, boat dives, etc. The only thing I really need to work on is navigation (math never being my best subject this was the most challenging set of dives for me when I first took the class) and I plan to really work on it in Cozumel.
Since we only have 3 days of diving in Cozumel, I would like to be prepared and study here before going. The operator we will probably be diving with teaches SSI or PADI.
OK - here are my questions:
1 - Can I buy the Advance OW course materials here, read them on my own and then be ready for Cozumel? I do not have time to take a class or do any open water dives here before I go, so that would be my preference. Neither the PADI nor SSI websites sells training materials directly. I saw PADI AOW on LeisurePro, but out of stock. If anyone has any ideas where I could purchase the PADI or the SSI materials for AOW I would appreciate the information.
2 - Having the choice, should I do SSI or PADI? My NASDS OW will be replaced by an SSI card since they merged, but I don't think it matters where your basic card was from when you select an advanced class. Does it?
Thanks for any information!
sapphire