PADI AOW vs SSI deep diver qualifications

[TMHeimer]

AOW and some extra dives before going to the full deep class would be a good thing. Particularly some training on good basics: Buoyancy, trim, propulsion.

I was reading this old thread about Padi Deep vs Tec-40. If you ignore some bickering about Helium and some other topics, it has good points about learning fundamentals before tackling deep or tec. And it has a nice link describing Padi deep and tec-40 classes at that time. I'm not emphasizing the deep nor the decompression part of that discussion, but rather the solid diving skills part.
What can I learn from PADI Tec 40 course?

Quoting your sig line:
"There are old divers and there are bold divers but there are no old bold divers."

Agree. We all know that good basics with buoyancy, trim, propulsion are things you should have down after OW course and not need to be with an instructor on AOW to improve them. But that's a very old topic.
Obviously the required Deep dive, and perhaps the required NAV dive in AOW should come before the Deep specialty. Not sure about any of the other 3 "Adventure" dives, especially the ones that don't give you basic diving skills--or maybe even don't require dives (like Nitrox, Equipment Specialist).
The gas planning is the only major difference in 130' vs. 100', 80' etc. There are a few other things, like hanging extra gas at 15', redundant gas supply, etc. But mostly, Deep diving is IMO the same as other diving.

 

[tursiops]

Not sure about any of the other 3 "Adventure" dives, especially the ones that don't give you basic diving skills--or maybe even don't require dives (like Nitrox, Equipment Specialist).

These are not Adventure Dives and do not count toward AOW.

 

[TMHeimer]

These are not Adventure Dives and do not count toward AOW.

Huh....When I did AOW in 2006 one of my 5 dives was "Nitrox Adventure Dive" (checked my old dive log). I recall wondering if that counted back then. Was it an Adventure dive back then and now is not, or was my instructor wrong. I suppose that dive could just be called a "Boat Dive", but assume that doesn't qualify either. I too Equip. Specialist a year later--was that ever an "Adventure dive"?

 

[tursiops]

Huh....When I did AOW in 2006 one of my 5 dives was "Nitrox Adventure Dive" (checked my old dive log). I recall wondering if that counted back then. Was it an Adventure dive back then and now is not, or was my instructor wrong. I suppose that dive could just be called a "Boat Dive", but assume that doesn't qualify either. I too Equip. Specialist a year later--was that ever an "Adventure dive"?

There has to be a dive for the dive to count for AOW. Equipment has never had a dive, and has never counted. The current Nitrox class does not require a dive.

 

[boulderjohn]

PADI's AOW was changed last year. There are 13 dives specifically allowed as choices in the book, along with their knowledge reviews. However, other dives can be done instead, using the material from the specialty versions of those dives. If those dives are chosen, there may be additional requirements. For example, the student can choose to do a cavern dive, but the instructor must be a cavern instructor, and the student must be 18.

Nitrox can be chosen, but the instructor must be a nitrox instructor. IMO, it is not wise to chose that one, since it does not get you nitrox certified.

This is in the current instructor manual, page 81.

 

[60plus]

Thanks for relies particularly #24. For most of my diving my OW cert is fine, its just that there are a fair number of dives I would like to do are 30m and a bit over. Although I have not done many dives my buoyancy is pretty decent. The deepest I have been is 31.7m (my computer) (2 divers with me recorded 32.4m at same point). Other than being a bit more focussed on my air consumption and staying closer to the guide than I would on a shallow dive I was comfortable at this depth. Its quite likely I will choose to do SSI deep diver, This will be with Subnauta and Portugal where I hope to dive the Ocean revival wrecks. My son learnt to dive with Cacoete Renato of Subnauta and on what I saw of his set up and instruction I will be happy to learn deep diving with them

 

[KenGordon]

Thanks for relies particularly #24. For most of my diving my OW cert is fine, its just that there are a fair number of dives I would like to do are 30m and a bit over. Although I have not done many dives my buoyancy is pretty decent. The deepest I have been is 31.7m (my computer) (2 divers with me recorded 32.4m at same point). Other than being a bit more focussed on my air consumption and staying closer to the guide than I would on a shallow dive I was comfortable at this depth. Its quite likely I will choose to do SSI deep diver, This will be with Subnauta and Portugal where I hope to dive the Ocean revival wrecks. My son learnt to dive with Cacoete Renato of Subnauta and on what I saw of his set up and instruction I will be happy to learn deep diving with them

Do you want to be a holiday diver or would you like to dive at home? (This is a trick question)

If you want to get some proper diving in then all the petty rules above, which make choosing a mobile contract look simple, are irrelevant because they are designed for completely different circumstances.

In particular the people (my first inclination is to use other terms but the mods will zap me) who insist that the limit for an OW diver is 40m are not thinking of the sort of 40m we have round here.

Litterally none of those courses will prepare you for that. It cannot be done in half a dozen dives after initial training.

You have a couple of sensible options.

1 - Do AOW (with whichever agency) and then go diving to a maximum of 30 but really mostly in the 25 range to start with. Do Nitrox asap and Deep eventually maybe. I have seen all these REQUIRED by various outfits in various places.

2 - Do BSAC Sports Diver, either by joining a local club and going diving a lot or by going to Malta for a week.

 

[Magnus Lundstedt]

I have dived wrecks in FL. If you walk in off the street (i.e. they don't know you) many dive ops require AOW OR require you to hire a private guide for advanced dives. Some will allow you to make your case for advanced dives by showing your logbook detailing past experience with advanced dives. If you'll go out on a few dives with an op so they can get a feel for your skillset, many will take you on advanced dives without AOW. It's not always a hard and fast rule as there is no FL scuba police. The AOW is used as a documented sorting tool that confirms you've been below 60 ft. at some point in the past. It also adds to the credibility of your dive count claim and your claim to have recently been on advanced dives. These questions are usually asked on a pre-dive form. You could say it's also CYA, but I prefer to believe the op genuinely cares for your well being and prefers to conduct their business with as little drama as possible. This has been my personal experience. YMMV.

I think you have a point, If the operator have no idea of who you are, they may set higher demand of cert levels than if they know you.

I stayed at a dive resort in the Philippines, when i came there i had 20 dives in my log and SSI AA cert i my pocket. I arrived in the early evening, and spent a few hours in the bar talking to the 2 managers in the place, and the next morning i got out diving with them, no-one asked to see my cert, but during the time i stayed I notice they was very careful to see the cards of every other diver who came in to dive, maybe the time we spent in the bar talking diving and the fact i had all my own equipment (not brand new), except tank, made them trust me.

But when diving i places with bigger operations and wast more turnaround of new divers my experience is that they have a easy set of rules, "if you don't carry the cert you don't do the dive" Its more easy, and manageable by the often unexperienced staff, than to do assessments on every other diver who like to go on the more advanced dives. Also a good way to sell you the Advanced or speciality cert.

But i only seen this applied to the depth of the dive or night, no-one ask for your "boat diver cert" or demand that you have to have the "photo speciality" to bring your camera.

 

[60plus]

Post #37. I like to dive on holiday but I also intend to dive at home (more than my occasional Capernwray quarry dive site outings) and am in the process of joining my local BSAC club. I have no intention at this time of diving to 30 + m in poor conditions, in fact I won't dive at all in poor conditions. I don't mind a bit of tide or swell but for me visibility has to be good. Nor will I be doing deep dives with just a buddy. I will only go deep with a reputable guide / instructor or a group of experienced divers. I like looking at wrecks but I have no intention of joining them on a permanent basis!

 

[KenGordon]

Just do SD if you are joining a club anyway. One pool lesson (might take two weeks), one rescue lesson in a lake, six theory lessons (maybe some extra Nitrox lessons) and a load of diving - usually the other open water lessons can be done on actual fun dives in the sea

The vis is what it is, sometime you get lucky, sometimes they are dredging channels for aircraft carriers...