OW and AOW

[tr3a]

my NAUI card from 1972 simply says SCUBA DIVER, my Advanced from 1974 says ADVANCED DIVER. Wifes NAUI card from 1981also says SCUBA DIVER.
I also have a PADI card from 1974 that says ADVANCED DIVER.

 

[rjgiddings]

I'm convinced that PADI's OW diver cert is well enough to go diving in most tourist / tropical destinations. You can show that card basically anywhere and get an air fill. Their materials are very well written - very clear- with all the check-up quizzes spaced throughout the book.

Is Advanced Open Water even really advanced though? Meh. Not really, but they had to call it something. I did my OW and AOW back-to-back and by no means would I call myself an Advanced OW Diver after that.

If I had my way, I'd change it to something like OW 2.0 or something. I would lose the word Advanced.

I like that they introduced PADI Adventure Diver as an in-between class for new divers. If I remember correctly, it's just past OW, and not quite Advanced is how it's been marketed. Any chance to get fins wet while continuing their education, to me, is a smart move.

 

[Erich S]

Anyone else certified in the 70s remember eating a raw hotdog under water in their basic scuba class? I also had to breath from the tank valve without a regulator.

 

[Clark Fletcher]

Didn't have to eat a raw hotdog under water but, did have to breath from a tank valve without a regulator.