also with PADI , if you choose to take a speacialty in one of the five, these dives count as the first one needed for that specialty. example.. deep and nav require 3 dives for spec. peak perf. bouy. is 2, so after AOW you would need only 2 more dives for the 1st 2 and 1 more for the last. this depends on your instructor also he/she may feel that you may need the extra dive in the spec. so as always ask your lds and/or your instructor....... Rick