CT-Rich
Contributor
Cards are made of plastic last I looked. I have to ask my self which show more competence, my 1980 basic NAUI and a log that I have made 17 dives this year or an AOW? My dive shop knows me and my basic will get me air anywhere. I would like to do a course or two, but will probably get the AOW in the end to avoid getting excluded from good dives.
But I come from a different generatation of diving. Divers today are not given the same level rigor that was imposed in the 1970s and 80s. I think that most divers that were certified in the recent system would still have something to gain from a specialty course. I can navigate fine and I can hover and I have been down to 90 fsw and can roll off the side of a boat, but if you don't know how and you were never trained, AOW will not be bad.
Just remember AOW means you have been taught the skills, but it does not mean you are compentent at doing them.
But I come from a different generatation of diving. Divers today are not given the same level rigor that was imposed in the 1970s and 80s. I think that most divers that were certified in the recent system would still have something to gain from a specialty course. I can navigate fine and I can hover and I have been down to 90 fsw and can roll off the side of a boat, but if you don't know how and you were never trained, AOW will not be bad.
Just remember AOW means you have been taught the skills, but it does not mean you are compentent at doing them.