One of the best courses after OW Certification

[Craig66]

I know a lot of new divers look forward to doing the AOW course almost as soon as they become certified and certainly there have been many posts that suggest that it is a course that should probably done once one has some experience.

There is one course however that is not as popular which I think new divers should take which will make a huge difference not only in their diving but also in their learning curve. Here I refer to the PPB course or Peak Performance Buoyancy. It is amazing how this is a skill that is so pivotal to diving and yet has so little focus placed on it. Besides the fact that it will help you protect the reef it will also go a huge way to making your dives safer, more fun and more comfortable.

Have fun and be safe

 

[TSandM]

I think a well-taught PPB class is a great thing, and any time and energy spent working on buoyancy is well spent.

I also think that, if you are going to dive in your local area, a fish ID class aimed at your local fauna is a wonderful way to make the diving you do much more meaningful and interesting.

 

[emoreira]

PPB is a PADI only course. SSI has no course to teach buoyancy, but taught in the OWD course.
Besides there is no AOWD course under SSI. AOWD is a status a diver reaches after completing 4 specialties and 24 dives.
To master buoyancy is a very important part of the skills a diver should have. At least for me, the fact to have a specialty course to teach buoyancy means that the OWD course is uncomplete or given too fast.

 

[BrianKon]

Yes, PPB is the course, I recommend it to divers all the time, especially after I have dove with them.

I think PADI should make it a requirement for AOW. It was suggested to me as part of my AOW and it helped make me a better diver.

 

[BrianKon]

To master buoyancy is a very important part of the skills a diver should have. At least for me, the fact to have a specialty course to teach buoyancy means that the OWD course is uncomplete or given too fast.

Buoyancy is taught in the PADI OW, I don't believe it to be incomplete, there is a bit of time spent on it, however its up to the instructor to teach it properly. You could be correct if it was given too fast or with not enough emphasis. I also do not believe you should be expected to master buoyancy as part of OW, it takes way more than a handful of dives.

Peak Performance Buoyancy is a short class that adds to what is taught in the Open Water Diver class, just like other specialties, Navigation for example.

and yes, to master buoyancy is a very important skill for so many reasons, every diver should make it a personal goal.

 

[cooperscuba]

PPB is a PADI only course. SSI has no course to teach buoyancy, but taught in the OWD course.
Besides there is no AOWD course under SSI. AOWD is a status a diver reaches after completing 4 specialties and 24 dives.
To master buoyancy is a very important part of the skills a diver should have. At least for me, the fact to have a specialty course to teach buoyancy means that the OWD course is uncomplete or given too fast.

PPB is not designed to teach buoyancy but to refine it. Most experienced divers I believe appreciate that perfect control buoyancy control (if such a thing exists) is not mastered after 4 or even 24 dives. I'll give you, though, that some instructors from most agencies don't spend as much time on buoyancy during initial training as they should.

 

[cooperscuba]

Buoyancy is taught in the PADI OW, I don't believe it to be incomplete, there is a bit of time spent on it, however its up to the instructor to teach it properly. You could be correct if it was given too fast or with not enough emphasis. I also do not believe you should be expected to master buoyancy as part of OW, it takes way more than a handful of dives.

Peak Performance Buoyancy is a short class that adds to what is taught in the Open Water Diver class, just like other specialties, Navigation for example.

and yes, to master buoyancy is a very important skill for so many reasons, every diver should make it a personal goal.

Must have been typing at the same time there

 

[Pullmyfinger]

I would agree,

If your initial training was with PADI, then their PPB class is a good next step.

-Mitch

 

[Quero]

PPB is a PADI only course. SSI has no course to teach buoyancy, but taught in the OWD course.
Besides there is no AOWD course under SSI. AOWD is a status a diver reaches after completing 4 specialties and 24 dives.
To master buoyancy is a very important part of the skills a diver should have. At least for me, the fact to have a specialty course to teach buoyancy means that the OWD course is uncomplete or given too fast.

Actually, SSI does have a course that is equivalent to PADI's AOW. It is called Advanced Adventurer. The SSI course requiring the completion of specialties and a minimum number of dives falls somewhere between PADI's AOW and PADI's recognition certification called Master Scuba Diver (5 specialties, 50 dives, and Rescue).

As to the second point, buoyancy is taught in the PADI OW course, but it takes most divers a while to fine tune their buoyancy. It's helpful to be able to concentrate primarily on buoyancy for the two dives of the PPB course, and it can help a great deal to get focused attention on this from an instructor. The fact that the course exists does not imply that the OW course is deficient, though it may be true that in a large group of OW students, an instructor may spend less time working on this aspect than some other aspect, such as mask clearing or air sharing, which are critical skills.

 

[k ellis]

I never did take PPB though now it would only be a waste of money for me but for new divers it is a good idea to look at the course. I have been on tours where some divers flat out devistated the visibility and also saw where they batted the heck out of the reef.

Though PPB does place alot of emphasis on the buoyancy it really does not stress the importance of how to really master the buoyancy. Simply getting out and practicing. I learned completely on my own though it took about 25 to 50 dives before it started to settle in how to really control it. One important factor is weight issue. When you practice always work with your weights till you get that perfect weight and then remember it when using it with certain gear and try to stay around that number (For seasonal or vacation divers it can change over a period of time)