It also depends on the what you are looking to get out of AOW. My AOW class is 8 hours of classroom and requires students to be able to perform basic skills horizontal in midwater before being allowed to take the class. I also teach advanced propulsion techniques, bag shoots, stage bottle deployment, navigation, search and recovery, deep with deep stops and simulated deco with stage, OOA drills at 90-100 feet with air share ascent to 50ft, and buddy rescue and assist. The last involves 100 ft no mask swims, air shares, loss of buoyancy assisted ascents, and unconscious diver from depth. Not all AOW classes are tours. I would do the same class for everyone but adjust the depth for junior divers to a max of 70 feet. Otherwise all skills would be the same. The dives I offer are Advanced Skills, UW Nav, Night/Low Vis, Deep, Search and Recovery, Buddy Skills and Assist. I can substitute wreck for the Search and Recovery. Weighting and trim are addressed on all dives and buddy positioning is strictly enforced. Get separated once you get counseled. Separated twice is a fail for the class. Safety violations are treated the same way. I may also withhold certification if I feel that more practice on the AOW required skills is needed.
Note: This not a PADI AOW Class.
Note: This not a PADI AOW Class.
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