Background
The AOWD is now the second level qualification in the American system, following the Open Water Diver qualification (OWD). At the OWD level divers gain basic knowledge of skills, equipment and theory for diving to a recommended depth of about 18 metres (60 ft). The AOWD is described by PADI as refining these skills, allowing the diver to explore a broader variety of diving to a maximum of 30 metres (100 ft) deep. Critics point out that the AOWD course consists of a single navigation dive, a single deeper dive and a choice of three "adventure" dives whose primary purpose, these critics feel, is to provide an opportunity to sell the student a specialty course rather than to impart any particular level of competence in a new activity. Prior to entering an AOWD equivalent course, some organizations have logged dives prerequisites. The course usually contains some mandatory dives and knowledge while a certain portion of the course consists of free elective topics such as drift diving or search and recovery.
The European international dive education system, CMAS, recognizes only three main levels of dive education indicated by a one star, two star, or three star designation. One star indicates an ability to dive, two star indicates additional skill of rescuing divers, and three star indicates the additional skill in leading a group of divers.
Read more about this topic: Advanced Open Water Diver
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