Advanced training questions

[Donpedro]

I have a PADI OW cert. with about 25 dives. I am looking at some dives here in Australia that are past my 18m depth and want to get some training in deep diving. I know I could take the PADI AOW but I was looking to see if I could bypass that and get specific, focused training in just deep diving.

I have been looking and I know that other agencies, SSI/SDI, have a different path to Advanced open water status. Could I as a PADI OW diver cross over and start taking specialty courses from these other companies? Has anyone else done this? What was your experience? Other thoughts? What do you say DIR crowd, should I go whole HOG and dive into a GUE fundamentals course?

I want to get a lot of good learning for my money, not just looking for a card with some letters. I appreciate your input.

DonPedro

 

[tstormdiver]

Many have gone that route. Crossing over to most other agencies, at your level is no problem. Although I am not GUE, the fundamentals course would generally give you the most bang for the buck, However (& I may be mistaken) that particular course does not really deal with deep diving, I'm sure they also do have deep diving somewhere in their specialties. If you can find instructors at your destination, of the agencies, talk to them & see what they have to offer you. There are plenty out there that can help you attain your goal.

 

[FinnMom]

The Deep Diving class (several agencies offer) is good, but the Advanced (meaning "not basic" or than actually "advanced") class by any agency is worthwhile and contains a great deal of basic things you should know, know in greater depth and be required to think about again with more care if you are going to to be diving 20m and deeper.

So my answer is: take the advanced class first, after this by all means take a deep class if you like. Otherwise you have the card but you really don't have the best background.

 

[TSandM]

Fundies is not a class on diving deep, but it is a wonderful class for building solid dive skills and good buddy skills.

PADI offers a Deep specialty class, but how good it is depends on how much the instructor is willing to put into it.

 

[scoobydrew]

The aow course could be what you want but it will depend on who you do it with. Courses differ vastly depending on who you do them with. Research your options then go in and talk to the short list about how the course will be run, tell them what you want out of it and ask them if they honestly feel they can meet your expectations then make your decision.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

You may also have to do some remediation of skills and knowledge to enter the Advanced Level classes offered by some agencies. This is due to the fact that some of the skills they require in OW are in effect pre requisites for Advanced Level Training.
My advice, before you do any kind of further training, is to take a rescue class. An advanced card gives you access to dives and dive sites where the risks can be substantially higher. The knowledge, skills, and situational awareness you'll gain from a GOOD rescue class will make any advanced training that much safer.

 

[TMHeimer]

I second that. Rescue course comes first (once you have the prerequisites).

 

[Agility]

depending on where you travel for diving you might likely find out that you need this AOWD card sooner or later. many of the Op's I have dived with required them for some of their sites.
AOWD, Nitrox and Deep are the cards to have.
Apart from that the your gain through training depends on the instructor not the certifying agency.

 

[Bob DBF]

depending on where you travel for diving you might likely find out that you need this AOWD card sooner or later. many of the Op's I have dived with required them for some of their sites.
AOWD, Nitrox and Deep are the cards to have.
Apart from that the your gain through training depends on the instructor not the certifying agency.

Since the reason that AOW is necessary is to show training to 100', it seems to me a Deep card would trump it. With SSI you can take Deep and Rescue directly from OW.



Bob
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“I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.”
― Winston Churchill

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I second that. Rescue course comes first (once you have the prerequisites).

OW and a few dives is all that is required with some agencies. As it should be.

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