Cannot find a reason for AOW certification

[Jerome O'Neil]

In that case I'm surprised nobody ever tried to sell me on it. They did suggest taking the instructor course. I wonder what the course covered since the basic course was so thorough. More of the same, only more in depth? Pun intended.

I have a NAUI AOW cert card... somewhere. So I know they exist. The instructor was a friend (and I guy I dove with regularly) but the course material wasn't so much skills based as it was exposure to different dive conditions based. Deeper dives, drifts, etc...

 

[admikar]

I am a DM for my local shop. The instructions from my boss are: I do not lead anyone a dive that is deeper than their certification limit. If they only have OW, that limit is 60'. AOW, the limit is 100'. Full Deep specialty, the limit is 130'.

Sorry, but your shop is wrong. Limit to any recreational diver is 40m/130ft. Limits you specified are recommendations, nothing more, nothing less. For example, my current rating limit is pPO2=1,4 bar, so 56 m/180 ft on air. Of course I am not going that deep, without further training or, more likely, never, but those are the limits.
Your boss could say, don't take them bellow certain depth, because I said so and I have every right to put whatever limit I think I should enforce, but don't put it on agencies.

Great points brought out here. Another reason to do the AOW and may I say the Nitrox class is to avoid the limitations placed by certain charters. I've seen charters not only limit a diver based on AOW certification, but the charter has denied a diver access to the boat without nitrox certification. Get the courses/ knowledge base the charters are looking for and avoid this confrontation.

Reason I took both cards. Second reason, to be covered in case of insurance claim. Turns out, DAN standards recognize certification and/or experience, so I could basically go down to 40 with OW and some mentoring.

I went the other direction. After teaching for 12 years I retired and became a mentor. I'm currently mentoring a young man who became certified just a few weeks ago. We've so far done a half-dozen dives together. I am not trying to be a substitute for a class ... quite the opposite, in fact, I'll happily refer him to an instructor if his progress indicates that a class would be a good idea at a given point in time. I just take him diving, talk to him about what I see him doing and how he can improve his skill set, and primarily try to set a good example ... most divers, especially new ones, can learn a great deal by simply watching what experienced divers are doing.

I enjoy diving with newbies ... they have a way of keeping me from taking anything about this activity for granted ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

That is how most of clubs here work. Right now, I'm on AN, or, to be more precise on Extended range Nitrox, two OW divers from my club, with basic Nitrox were out-flat refused this course, because of their current skill level. According to standards, they are OK, but as instructor put it: I wold certify you for dives I would not be comfortable to be buddied with you for.

 

[HantsDiver]

Sorry, but your shop is wrong. Limit to any recreational diver is 40m/130ft.

Sorry you are wrong. Different agencies treat different depths as recreational. You can't just state that as a fact.

 

[azstinger11]

I wold certify you for dives I would not be comfortable to be buddied with you for.

That's mildly terrifying.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I have a NAUI AOW cert card... somewhere. So I know they exist. The instructor was a friend (and I guy I dove with regularly) but the course material wasn't so much skills based as it was exposure to different dive conditions based. Deeper dives, drifts, etc...

I looks like I guessed right

About what year was your AOW card issued?

 

[admikar]

Sorry you are wrong. Different agencies treat different depths as recreational. You can't just state that as a fact.

OK, but do we agree it is more than 60'?
@azstinger11, maybe I should elaborate. If diver fulfill standards for a pass, then you should,as an instructor, give a card. I have a friend which fulfilled standards for OW, so he is a certified diver, but I am not comfortable diving with him, not because of his skills, but because of his attitude.
If you accept someone into a course, and they behave during that course, you can not say: sorry, but I don't think I should give you a card. They obeyed standards. Standards you should obey too. But if you know they are wild cards, you have right to refuse to teach them, and no one can call standards violation on you for that.

 

[robwiles79]

Well, it makes sense that you know what you're dong when it comes to your dives. However, it is nice to say that you can LEGALLY go past 60 feet. Also, there are things that you can do as a rescue diver/dive master that you can't do as just an open water diver. As an example, you can't dive as a volunteer in an aquarium, or at least my local aquarium, until you reach the rank of rescue diver. Plus, other divers will take you more seriously. Keep in mind, I'm 15 and these are just my opinions.
'

 

[Bob DBF]

Sorry, but your shop is wrong. Limit to any recreational diver is 40m/130ft

Sorry you are wrong. Different agencies treat different depths as recreational. You can't just state that as a fact.

As a matter of fact, there are agencies like TDI that certify recreational divers to much greater depths than 130'.

Bob

 

[ams511]

Well, it makes sense that you know what you're dong when it comes to your dives. However, it is nice to say that you can LEGALLY go past 60 feet. Also, there are things that you can do as a rescue diver/dive master that you can't do as just an open water diver. As an example, you can't dive as a volunteer in an aquarium, or at least my local aquarium, until you reach the rank of rescue diver. Plus, other divers will take you more seriously. Keep in mind, I'm 15 and these are just my opinions.
'

Rob legally means within the law. There is no law that I am aware of that limits the depth a diver can go. You can just as legally dive to 300 feet if you want. There is no legal requirement to even be certified. What you refer to as LEGAL is just a recommendation from a standards organization. It does not have the force of law.

 

[boulderjohn]

As a matter of fact, there are agencies like TDI that certify recreational divers to much greater depths than 130'.

Are you including technical diving in the recreational category?