AOW? Joke? Meaningless?

[Frosty]

I'm not really sure I get the point of the AOW class. Is this just an excuse to get more business for instructors and dive shops? Is it just a check-box so the LDS doesn't have to search my log book before that wreck or night dive?
I have about 70 dives, which is not many compared to most others. However, I consider myself reasonably competent and safe.
I learned nothing new. I am now AOW, but no safer or more capable than before.
So, what's the point? AOL didn't hold much value for him or me. When should AOW be taken? What's the purpose?
Help me understand.

This is apsolutely from MY pov.
if you learned NOTHING and gained nothing (barring a new cert card) from your AOW then there are two possible causes.
1)the instructor didn't teach you very well
2)You either didn't take in or chose not to take in the stuff you didn't know.
Or the third option is that you are a diving god.

Please forgive me being blunt but you should always get something out of an AOW course.

 

[Centrals]

And if you ask the Japanese, it's the Chinese divers who are a DM's worst nightmare, so I guess it really depends on who you ask . Although I must admit the things I heard about Chinese divers when I was diving on Okinawa were on a whole different level...

Divers from Republic of China are generally a lot better than those across the Strait!!!
I have dived a lot in SE Asia and would never buddy up with either commie chinese or Korean.
Generally, Russians are technically good divers unfortunately they don't take it seriously.

 

[dmaziuk]

Generally, Russians are technically good divers unfortunately they don't take it seriously.

'coz we do it for fun, not for "seriously"

 

[NAM001]

A drivers license may not be a good example as many states allow licensing at 18 or 21 and at 16 if a graduate of a recognized drivers ed course. Once again the dive ops are not in the business of themselves determining your qualification. that is left up to the agencies. the ops may and often do see if you have what APPEARS to be profiency based on your log book. In that case they are not looking for dives they are looking for the absence of dives. Having the cert, like you have said, does not reflect your ability. that is where the waiver comes in. The ops make you state you posess and retain the skills you were given at teh level of the carded certification presented. So yes it is s CYA. The boat can save you from the environment, gasses put in your tank but they can not save you from your self. You are responsible for your self.

No, my argument is that if you can pass a written test and demonstrate proficiency at driving a car you should be able to get a drivers license without taking drivers training. And, that is actually how it works if you are 18 or over. I never took drivers training at all but have had a drivers license since I turned 18 and took the tests.

Having dive ops require it is a good reason to have one....true, and that is why I got one. Having them require it though is not a good reason to have to take and pay for the training if you can demonstrate the requisite knowledge and ability without taking and paying for that training. I would further state that dive ops requiring AOW certification is actually far less important than having them require that you possess the requisite knowledge and ability to do the dives they will be taking you on.....other than the whole cya for insurance purposes angle. Having that AOW cert does not necessarily mean the person is really able to do the more advanced dives. I have dove with people that had certs all the way up to and including DM certification that were actually very very poor divers. Zero to hero gets you the certs but doesnt necessarily make you a proficient diver.

 

[scubadada]

The value of AOW has been debated numerous times. I'm always disappointed to hear divers got nothing out of their AOW training. I did nitrox cert at 40 dives. I did AOW (wreck, nav, deep, PPB, DPV) at 80 dives. I learned a considerable amount during AOW with a good instructor. I went on to do Rescue at 120 dives. I didn't do additional training until I did SDI solo at 750 dives. AOW and solo open doors that that might be closed, or at least more difficult, without those certs.

I'm with Dr Bill, I did Basic Scuba Diver with the LA County Underwater Unit in 1970, it was a very good course. I'm only sorry I never had the opportunity to do the Advanced Diver Program before I left California, that's an advanced course.

 

[mikeycanuk]

One pays your money, one gets you a cert card. What does proficiency have to do with it??

On our AOW it started out as a cluster F. Wrong dock, started 4hrs late at 4pm. The (late, overweighted, and obnoxious) DM- in training who was there to help blew through his air on both dives that afternoon and ended up wide eyed breathing from the instructors Octo. This was my first lesson in everyone passes, how on earth do you get to the DM level being that dangerous a diver?

A year later we were doing rescue and this guy a)shows up late and b) has a equipment failure and disappears for several hours. He eventually shows up and during the victim part he's panicky, can't get my gear off (normal bcd) and I really had to make a real effort to hold my mouth out of the water. He passed too. Real life I was a goner.

AOW is probably only necessary to a) PADI's bottom line and b) some places require it or you don't dive -period-.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Nemrod]

Despite my earlier comments, the OP and all others, you need to get your AOW and Nitrox as soon as practical. SCUBA diving is like a club when you were a kid. Without the secret decoder ring you cannot join in. In SCUBA, where you really learn is the mentoring from other divers and the school of hard knocks. You cannot go along with them and learn if you do not have the secret decoder ring, the AOW cert and Nitrox.

But, do not think for one minute that you are actually an experienced, advanced skill level diver, and besides, the real difference between a seasoned veteran and a newbie, plastic aside, is judgment.

N

 

[scubadada]

One pays your money, one gets you a cert card. What does proficiency have to do with it??

On our AOW it started out as a cluster F. Wrong dock, started 4hrs late at 4pm. The (late, overweighted, and obnoxious) DM- in training who was there to help blew through his air on both dives that afternoon and ended up wide eyed breathing from the instructors Octo. This was my first lesson in everyone passes, how on earth do you get to the DM level being that dangerous a diver?

A year later we were doing rescue and this guy a)shows up late and b) has a equipment failure and disappears for several hours. He eventually shows up and during the victim part he's panicky, can't get my gear off (normal bcd) and I really had to make a real effort to hold my mouth out of the water. He passed too. Real life I was a goner.

AOW is probably only necessary to a) PADI's bottom line and b) some places require it or you don't dive -period-.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Sorry to hear, you, obviously, chose the wrong operator. Seems you might have learned after the 1st experience.

 

[Centrals]

'coz we do it for fun, not for "seriously"

Scuba diving is indeed just a recreational sport but there are certain discipline that all divers should abide to whether it is below or even above water.

 

[Damselfish]

just to throw something amusing in this discussion, anyone seen this -
Kate Middleton Is Officially an Advanced Scuba Diver, Can Now Swim 98 Feet Underwater With Prince William | E! Online
Kate Middleton qualifies as advanced scuba diver - hellomagazine.com