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The NAUI AOW is an extension of the OW class. It hits on everything you already learned but more in depth. I remember mine being so much fun because I was already familiar with my gear. It’s great to get the opportunity to do several dives of different types with other divers.
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I did my PADI OW in March of last year while in Florida on vacation and then went back at the end of October and did my AOW though NAUI. Both courses were excellent and very educational. I happened to be the only student both times and got to cover things more in depth and ask my instructors questions about anything that I may have had difficulties with. Like Eric_R mentioned earlier, you do several different types of dives and enforce things you’ve already learned. I happened to touch upon cavern, rescue and a drift dive. Had the ocean been a little more calm at the time, we would have done an intro to wreck diving and I would have also gone for my NITROX certification. Those will have to wait for another trip.
Trust me, you’ll have a great time. And don’t forget, no question is a stupid one. If you are unsure, please don’t forget to ask, because yours or somebody else’s life could very well depend on it. My best advise would be to go over your material from your OW course as well before hand. But first and foremost, have fun.
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Let your instructor know well beforehand if there are any specialty dives you are interested in - especially ones that are a little out of your comfort zone where you would appreciate some guidance and supervision. AOW allows to have some say in your training plan. Make it yours.
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The biggest advice is to keep diving prior to your class. You’re going to do Deep, Underwater Navigation and Night/Low viz dives along with three other specialty dives that will be determined later. Every dive, whether training or not, needs you to have one thing under control: your buoyancy. So, get some diving done and work on your buoyancy so you’ll be able to deal with the specialty tasks at hand during your AOW dives rather than messing with your trim and buoyancy the whole time. When you have your buoyancy under control, you’ll breeze through the dives. Good luck with it..
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I’m hoping I get some dives in at Dutch Springs a month prior to the AOW course. I believe it’s the first or second week of April. Thank you all for the advice .
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Do they usually charge extra to add NITROX to the AOW course? Just wondering before I decide what I should add or ask to add.
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Nitrox is a specialty course $$. PADI no longer "requires" a dive, just the book work. I would say take the dive. I "feel" better diving Nitrox, maybe its all in my head, but I do.
Best to do your AOW in warm water, everything is easier in warm water.
My dog could pass AOW in the Caribbean or Florida.
But he prefers Jersey Wreck diving. Go figure.
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I noticed I’ve been calling it AOW when it’s ASD.
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I did similar...........and it was NAUI AOW.............It is going to be intense but a great class.......My recommendations is to practice Buoyance Control before the class. Practice hovering Because my class did allot of that, don’t try out new gear during the class. "Know your gear" before class, My class was in 2009 so we were into Decompression Tables and if you bring a dive computer know how it works. Know how to assemble your gear correctly. Good luck..........I just finished PADI Rescue diver class. Log your dives because as you gain experience and get more advanced training they require certain about of logged dives before you take the class. Remember this is an advanced class so be very proficient with the basics.
good luck Pat
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They usually charge for a NITROX certification. But usually they will give you a break if its in conjunction with a class....There are No required dives for NITROx (PADI)
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I received my ASD Certification in April, and will be doing NITROX in 2017.
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