PADI certification

[Sly New Girl]

Hi, I recently signed myself up to take several PADI specialty as I was advised that I would be better served to buy them as expanded courses than to take the AOW version.

Buoyancy
Navigation
Night
Depth
MultiLevel
Altitude
Rescue (this is for later. after I can find and rescue myself - and maybe just for the skill sets as I'm not big on the idea but my diving buddy thinks everyone should at least know how even if they lack the actual talent)

I'm getting a great deal and lots of fun time in addition to training so I'm not complaining, just confused.
So my question is this:
I thought that I would be eligible for my PADI AOW by default once I have completed my requirements individually. Will I need to do the AOW specifically later?

[jar546]

If you have 5 manuals and complete the 5 courses, you can automatically qualify for AOW and the instructor can process your AOW card, BUT, you must have the specialty manuals and testing completed. For Multi-Level, which does not have a manual, you would have to purchase and fill out that section of the Adventures In Diving manual, otherwise, you don't even need the manual. You still have to have the Deep and Navigation.

Your list looks good because you have 6 full specialty courses, more than required. The Rescue wont have to be part of the specialties for AOW.

[Sly New Girl]

If you have 5 manuals and complete the 5 courses, you can automatically qualify for AOW and the instructor can process your AOW card, BUT, you must have the specialty manuals and testing completed. For Multi-Level, which does not have a manual, you would have to purchase and fill out that section of the Adventures In Diving manual, otherwise, you don't even need the manual. You still have to have the Deep and Navigation.

Your list looks good because you have 6 full specialty courses, more than required. The Rescue wont have to be part of the specialties for AOW.

I have everything. My instructor gave me a copy of the Adventures manual to read first to help me decide how I wanted to go about it before I committed to investing in all of the individual courses he recommended. I know he said my AOWCert would be mine but I read somewhere on the boards where a diver was doing the AOW and already had specialty courses completed. Thank you for answering my question. I didn't want to ask my PADI ... He already warned me I read too much silly stuff online about scuba diving after I mentioned the humboldt squids attacking divers I just know he'd want to know where I got the idea to ask again after he told me I was good to go!

[jar546]

No problem. I even verified the info I gave you with PADI directly about 1/2 hour ago. Specialty courses is a great way to go, similar to SSI's AOW program.

[Sly New Girl]

"I gave you with PADI directly about 1/2 hour ago"
Wow. Above and beyond. Thanks
I have to have 8 credit hours to maintain my student status or I won't have medical insurance. I get 1 for AOW and 1 for rescue when I do that eventually. I'm counting on the hour for AOW fall term. Wish they would count each specialty as 1. That would rock.

[TMHeimer]

Good idea to get the specialties first. Wish I had done that, as I paid for AOW first, then did specialties. For some of the specialties I had to pay the full course price and do all the dives even though I had done the first dive during AOW. I know that splits hairs and it's all just a lot of good diving, etc., but I could've skipped the cost of the AOW I guess. Well, I guess I'd still would've had to cough up $40 or so for the AOW card itself.

[Ben Prusinski]

Don't feel bad- I paid twice by first getting Adventure Diver (what a waste!) and then AOW. PADI should eliminate that stupid Adventure Diver certification and just have AOW then Rescue.

[Jim Lapenta]

I would not waste money on altitude. You do not need a specialty to do altitude dives. All the info you need is in the adventures manual. Read and understand it and buy an altitude equivalency slate. Trident makes one. Take a Search and Recovery course. It will reinforce the nav and buoyancy courses. And don't take any new course until you get some dives in outside of training in what you have just learned. One course after the other does not give most people time to really absorb all they could from the new knowledge and skills.

[Sly New Girl]

Well, we're just doing things as they come along. I was working on holding myself in hover yesterday. The most ridiculously hard thing to do that looks so easy. I suspect I just totally suck at it. I bought a bunch of gear I ended up truly disliking. And then not even wanting after borrowing some way better stuff that works for me. So I got a credit back and this is what I'm doing instead.
I chose the altitude. I want to have my PADI along with me when I do Clear Lake and hopefully Crater Lake. Either that or I'll be half a minute getting down the hill into the lake and two days climbing back up it. If ever. I'm guessing it would be severely frowned upon if he left me down there because I was too exhausted to climb back out. And! He has the wetsuit I'd need to borrow.
I'll might get the search and recovery manual and read through it. Eventually. I have summer classes too.
What I really, really want is to take the solo. I didn't even know they had it until I read the boards here! The temptation is enormous. I'm thinking the course would either settle my mind to not do it or give me some knowledge of what to expect if I do.
Thanks
Sky

[jar546]

Looks like you have a plan SlyNewGirl, keep up the good work, get lots of diving in between classed and just enjoy yourself. I commend your commitment to receiving training