Advanced Open Water Diver Course

Question 1

AOW Required Materials and Equipment

Answer 1

1. A Guideline Reel or berglass tape measure can be used to mark both the course and distance for the 30 m/100 ft timed/kick cycle swim.
2. Each student should have his or her own slate to record navigation information such as kick cycles, swim times and compass headings. Use the NASE Data Record, found in the student eBook Appendix, as a guideline for setting up this slate.
3. Dive lights help restore the appearance of natural color on deeper dives and can make it easier to keep track of students.
4. Elective specialty dives may have their own equipment requirements, such as lift bags for search-and-recovery dives.

Question 2

AOW students must demonstrate proficiency in the following:

Answer 2

1. Mask removal and replacement.
2. Regulator recovery and clearing using both reach and
   sweep methods.
3. Alternate air source use (stationary, ascending and travel-
   ing horizontal).
4. The ability to swim, stop, and change depth and direction
   while maintaining control of buoyancy.

Question 3

AOW Open Water Training Requirements

Answer 3

1. Students are to make dives totaling at least 150 minutes of Actu- al Bottom Time (ABT) under the direct or indirect supervision of a Teaching status NASE Instructor
2. At least one dive is to be to a depth of 20 m/65 ft (15 m/50 ft for students ages 12-14).
3. No dive is to be in excess of 30 m/100 ft (20 m/65 ft for students ages 12-14).
4. A total of three distinct entries and exits are required (a typical Advanced course will consist of five or more dives). No more than three dives are to be conducted in any 24-hour period.

Question 4

AOW instructor may choose any of the elective dives listed below to reach the 150-minute bottom time minimum so long as he or she is quali ed to teach the corresponding Specialty Diver course.

Answer 4

1. Digital Imaging
2. Drysuit
3. Naturalist
4. Night
5. Nitrox I and II

Question 5

The Advanced Open Water Diver program focuses on three areas:

Answer 5

1. Review and enhancement of core diving skills.
2. Natural and compass navigation.
3. Planning and making dives to the recommended recreational depth limit of 30 m/100 ft.

Question 6

AOW students must be able to:

Answer 6

1. Prepare a detailed dive plan that includes planned and maximum depths and times, Minimum Gas Reserve (MGR)and Usable Gas values, potential risks and hazards, and environmental and other features unique to the open-water training site.
2. Assemble and test a personal scuba unit as well as any other required equipment.
3. Perform a pre-dive systems and buddy check.
4. Enter and exit the water using techniques appropriate for
   the dive site or dive vessel.
5. Communicate with the instructor, dive leader, or buddy(s) using common hand signals.
6. Monitor breathing gas supply and communicate this status with the instructor, dive leader, or buddy(s) as needed.
7. Maintain buddy contact and team cohesion by keeping team members in sight (and close enough to respond quickly in an emergency) at all times.
8. Demonstrate buoyancy control throughout each dive by proper weighting, BC use, and breath control.

Question 7

AOW Compass Skills

Answer 7

1. Swim a distance of at least 30 m/100 ft and measure the number of kick cycles it takes to cover that distance.
2. Without using a compass, swim under water to a point at least 100m/330 ft from the starting point, and then return to the starting point under water using only natural navigation for reference.
3. Follow a compass heading under water to a point at least 30 m/100 feet distant and return along a reciprocal course, passing within at least 15 degrees of the starting point.
4. Using an underwater compass, navigate a square of at least 10 m/35 ft on each side, passing within no more than 5 m/15 ft of the starting point.
5. As an alternative, students may simulate navigating at least 10 m/35 ft around an underwater obstruction by making a series of 90-degree turns, as described in the Advanced course student materials.

Question 8

AOW DEEP Dive Requirements

Answer 8

1. Plan and make a dive with another diver to a depth of at least 20 m/65 ft (15 m/50 ft for students ages 12-14), staying within the no-decompression limits and Minimum Gas Reserve (MGR).
2. Ascend at a rate of no more than 10 m/30 ft per minute, and then simulate an emergency decompression stop of at least ve minutes at 3-6 m/10-20 ft while maintaining team contact and cohesion.
3. Describe the contingency plan should a diver exceed NDL by less than five minutes and more than five minutes.