AOW & Nitrox course - What to expect?
- Thread starter Disco King
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I’m not sure I follow. I know i don’t always clearly communicate what I intend to say and this may be one of those times.
Dive planning is something I put in the category of knowledge, not skills. it isn’t like deploying a DSMB at depth or navigating a pattern or hovering. I.e., some physical activity. AOW is so short (5dives), there is typically no mastery of skills, as students need to not drown when completing the skills. Given that performance requirements of mastery are not met typically, my belief is that AOW students should be introduced to as many physical skills as possible. When I taught in the PADI system, I chose the electives of ppb, night, and DSMB. I even wrote a PADI-style student manual for the DSMB specialty to fill in the knowledge gap as no student manual existed in 2017.
Nitrox by itself has no required dives. I don’t see “don’t go beyond your MOD” as a skill.
So yes, I stand by my original statement of a red flag for a dive op that will have nitrox as one of their adventure dives. They are just lazy and are most likely just selling certifications. Personally, and I think pretty much every instructor on SB, really wants our students to learn and to improve in a meaningful way in every course we teach.
jonhall
Contributor
Wholeheartedly agree OW should produce competent divers and skills should be mastered before moving on. If I were a scuba instructor, I think I would also be frustrated by this conversation (I can relate as a retired school teacher/coach.)
Maybe because everyone doesn't get the same training in OW or because skills deteriorate somewhat from a lack of diving, my point to a perspective AOW student taking the course in a resort town is don't expect too much; and to use your point, a student taking the PADI AOW is not going to be asked to achieve the same mastery requirements as in OW. At least that's my experience of taking AOW and being on boats with others who were taking it.
"Build confidence" are the words from the PADI AOW webpage, not mine.
No problems here. I agree with you!
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Oh, I disagree that students are not asked to achieve the same mastery skills in OW and AOW. I think they are far too often never achieving the intended definition of mastery in all courses. And full disclosure, when I first became an instructor, I was part of the problem: students on the knees, student didn't drown when completing skills, and off they go! I was never taught how to teach. I hadn't even been shown the "moving towards neutral buoyancy" article. I didn't have to hit rock bottom as I already there. But I turned my life around. I went to IA (instructors anonymous), confessed that "I'm an instructor and I put students on their knees", and that was the first step in my recovery. I can say happily today that I don't put students on their knees ever. Those dark days are in my past!
"Build confidence" are the words from the PADI AOW webpage, not mine.
Yes, but the entire quote is: The course helps build confidence and expand your scuba skills through different Adventure Dives.
Anyway, I think we've covered this. Happy and safe bubble blowing everyone (the former just for you rebreather divers).
dbulmer
Contributor
I was the one who was unclear - not you.
I don’t see “don’t go beyond your MOD” as a skill either.
What prompted my aside was reading ""There are no underwater skills associated with nitrox" out of context.
A little voice in my head said: "Yeah, and you shouldn't chuck out common sense either."
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