On Saturday, January 05, 2002 4:36 AM, Richard Blackburn wrote:

> My OW certification is via SSI.  I have logged 24 dives, and can now work
on
> my SSI AOW.  Now for the question:

> What AOW should I get: SSI, PADI, NAUI, IANTD, YMCA SCUBA?  Is there an
> advantage to one over the other?

As Mike and Steve have already pointed out, what you actually learn and
retain will depend very much on the Instructor rather than the Agency.
Having said that, it does seem to me that the Advanced Diver rating is not
as meaningful as it once was and that the emphasis on elective specialties -
as opposed to a course structured around key compulsory skills - tends to
neglect the polishing of those basic skills learned during the OW course.

I haven't kept up to date with the AOW requirements but as I recall the PADI
requirement is for five specialties in total - with deep and navigation
specialties being compulsory.  Under SSI, the requirement is for four
specialties chosen from those that require a minimum of 6 dives to complete
each particular specialty.

What this effectively means is that, for example, a group of divers on a
boat - and all holding an AOW ticket - have different levels of proficiency!
:-)

But if for no other reason, the AOW rating is worth geting so that - as
Chuck has said - you can take the Stress and Rescue course:  To my way of
thinking the finest programme currently available in mainstream recreational
diving.  :-)

In terms of which Agency you choose, (leaving to one side the ability of the
Instructor), it really depends on whether you intend to pursue a full-time
career in teaching diving?  In that regard, PADI is probably more flexible
than SSI in terms of travelling and seeking paid diving work.  (PADI places
the emphasis on the Instructor, whereas SSI places the emphasis on the Dive
Store/Operator/Retailer;  as an SSI Instructor you become affiliated with a
particular operation and then have to rely on a referral before transferring
to another SSI operation!)

Back briefly to the elective Specialties for the AOW rating:  Choose those
that have relevance to the area in which you intend to dive and the type of
diving that you either enjoy, or that you think you might!  And don't
neglect night diving - it's now possible to become an Instructor without
ever having performed a night dive!  :-)

Strike