drrich2
Contributor
Discussions of AOW & MSD often bring up the subject of whether these are inappropriately grandiose mislabels for relatively inexperienced (compared to the title) divers.
I think this misses the reasoning behind the naming, which I think is about marketing the courses to fairly new divers. Which gets more formal training (directly via AOW, or indirectly as MSD seekers pursue requirements) to more divers early in their hobby, which is good for all.
It is not to provide a prestige label to the truly advanced divers (e.g.: many technical divers) or the true masters of modern scuba diving.
On the other hand, reading forum postings leads me to believe the truly advanced and beyond that those at the pinnacle of the craft, so to speak, tend to represent themselves by the types of dives they do, and how they do them. Chatterton solo diving the Andria Dora on air, and his capable and experienced discussion of that (as opposed to reckless ignorance), comes to mind. Others speak of them with similar references.
I don't think these people present themselves by rattling off their highest certification levels.
Likewise, those in a position to estimate a diver's competence (likely to judge whether to take him/her on a given dive) may take certification level into account (AOW, and especially MSD, does say something an OW card doesn't, however little some may claim that is), but for a really advanced dive, I think they will consider additional factors.
Richard.
P.S.: Sometimes, from some other threads I've read, I think if some had their way, the PADI OW, AOW & Rescue progression would be renamed Lousy Diver, Mediocre Diver and Finally Trained Diver.
I think this misses the reasoning behind the naming, which I think is about marketing the courses to fairly new divers. Which gets more formal training (directly via AOW, or indirectly as MSD seekers pursue requirements) to more divers early in their hobby, which is good for all.
It is not to provide a prestige label to the truly advanced divers (e.g.: many technical divers) or the true masters of modern scuba diving.
On the other hand, reading forum postings leads me to believe the truly advanced and beyond that those at the pinnacle of the craft, so to speak, tend to represent themselves by the types of dives they do, and how they do them. Chatterton solo diving the Andria Dora on air, and his capable and experienced discussion of that (as opposed to reckless ignorance), comes to mind. Others speak of them with similar references.
I don't think these people present themselves by rattling off their highest certification levels.
Likewise, those in a position to estimate a diver's competence (likely to judge whether to take him/her on a given dive) may take certification level into account (AOW, and especially MSD, does say something an OW card doesn't, however little some may claim that is), but for a really advanced dive, I think they will consider additional factors.
Richard.
P.S.: Sometimes, from some other threads I've read, I think if some had their way, the PADI OW, AOW & Rescue progression would be renamed Lousy Diver, Mediocre Diver and Finally Trained Diver.