cgvmer
Contributor
Yes it is!
Bashing is a harsh, gratuitous, predjudicial attack on a person, group or subject.
PADI Rocks!!!
- Thread starter RussR
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Yes it is!
Bashing is a harsh, gratuitous, predjudicial attack on a person, group or subject.
I have been reading this thread with great interest. I am a PADI divemaster (getting the discalimer out of the way early) who was originally certified by the YMCA way back in 1968. I think it is great that RussR has joined the ranks of SCUBA divers and had a great experience. I do see Mike's postion on kneeling to learn skills, and have worked with a PADI instructor who does not kneel and some that do. Depending on the student, either way works for introducing the skill, IMHO. The vitrol that I have seen in this thread is unfortunate and can well turn a student off to learning our sport. We need to behave as adults and set a good example. It is great that different people have different opinions, but let us try to be positive in our comments and interactions.
RussR, welcome to our fantastic sport, continue learning and go diving often, that will improve your skills and make diving all the more enjoyable.
RussR, welcome to our fantastic sport, continue learning and go diving often, that will improve your skills and make diving all the more enjoyable.
You're not reading for content in context. None of my criticism of PADI is based on prejudice. My criticisms are based directly on PADI standards and first hand experience applying those standards. I don't attack any individual person or group. I attack the PADI educational system stricktly on the basis of what it is (standards) and how it works.
I spent a lot of time and money becoming a PADI instructor and opening a dive shop that was a member of the PADI retail association (a PADI dive shop). I wanted PADI to be good. I wanted to believe that PADI was good. Like many of you, I wanted to believe that my own training was good. I, of all people, understand why some of you rationalize and make excuses for the agencies. I just don't do it anymore.
On the other hand, very few of those who defend the PADI educational system are able to do so based on the standards or the results of those standards. In most cases, it's people who don't even know anything about the system. They just accuse me of bashing and that's the end of it. Now that's bashing. LOL
Zieg
Contributor
Mike, I think it is time for you to leave Indiana, move south to southern Florida, live near the water, buy a boat, and dive, dive, dive. Be a dive bum. Your life will change to the point where you no longer care about what anybody else thinks about anything. PADI and other issues will start to disappear from your life. Your attitude will be mellow and you won't have enough time to care about what is on this and other forums. I know you were an "Instructor" and you "dove everyday", but that wasn't diving, that was baby sitting. Go diving, in waters that all you need are the bare essentials. Spear dinner, take it home and grill it. Fresh fish, grilled, no need to smother it in tartar sauce, the only thing to think about is diving tomorrow. Padi? Padi who? Screw it.
This is the truth. I have already acknowledged that being in this landlocked state of Colorado is driving me nuts. Told my wife last week actually when this cold spell started that I am going to be looking into places to live that are WARM and have WATER. Said she can come if she wants LOL, but I gotta go!
I started reading through this post and unfortunately it quickly became a PADI bashing thread. It's just too bad so many think their certifying agency is better or the best out there. It really has nothing to do with the certifying agency, it has everything to do with the instructor and what the student learns from the course.
I wonder what comments would have been made if the OP said "Thank you NAUI" or fill in any of the other agencies out there....
I wonder what comments would have been made if the OP said "Thank you NAUI" or fill in any of the other agencies out there....
Adobo
Contributor
Well, in PADI's defense, my sucky open water training was courtesy of SSI.
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Actually, there's only one person on this thread who's bashing PADI ... and anyone who's surprised by that hasn't been here long.
I'm a NAUI instructor ... and I'm proud of my association with NAUI. But if someone had started a thread saying "Thank you NAUI", the result wouldn't have been much different ... because in the fundamental things that Mike is objecting to, NAUI isn't much different than PADI.
In any human endeavor you will find things to complain about, and things to be happy about. In any job position you will find conscientious people and people who do just barely enough to keep from getting fired.
Scuba instruction is no different.
The way I see it, this is a recreational activity ... we do this for the joy of it. When it becomes joyless, then it's time to find something else to do ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Adobo
Contributor
actually, the agency has a lot to do with it. They put together the framework of the class, the content, they provide the training for the instructor (indirectly), the quality control (or lack thereof), and so on.
The fact that so many people feel that it us the individual instructor that makes the difference is in itself very telling. To me it shows that many of the programs are woefully inadequate out of the box and that individuals are having to take lemons and make lemonade.
There are agencies that are superior in the areas described. They are just not as well known as the PADI's of the world.
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