I'm looking to move on to my AOW cert and there is a plethora available in the DFW area. The shop I originally got certified with was bought by another so I was shopping around and checking prices and noticed how many were available. SDI, SSI, Naui and Padi just from my limited time looking. My OW cert is from Naui but I've read that there are advantages to learning from different agencies. I guess I'm just hoping to get some feed back on differences, advantages/disadvantages and stuff like that. Oh, and is it normal for the SDI course to be double the others? Thanks in advance.
Which Agency?
- Thread starter Flig
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gcarter
Contributor
The true advantage is in the instructor, not the agency. Re-vector your search and analysis on that basis and you will get much more bang for whatever bucks the course costs.
Scuba_Noob
Contributor
Exactly, gcarter. I'll reiterate that it's all about the instructor - there are good and bad instructors in any type of agency; you just need to talk to the dive shops to see if you can get a good feel about them and get trained at the one with which you're most comfortable. In other words, check out how professional and helpful each dive shop is, and see if their goals match your goals.
PADI is wider-known, but SSI and the others are almost as recognized. They all have pretty good curriculums, from what I've read. If you liked the dive shop that did your OW and felt the instruction was good, why not do your AOW with them too?
PADI is wider-known, but SSI and the others are almost as recognized. They all have pretty good curriculums, from what I've read. If you liked the dive shop that did your OW and felt the instruction was good, why not do your AOW with them too?
drrich2
Contributor
Take a closer look. The PADI AOW entails 5 dives, each of a different specialty, with Deep and Navigation required as 2 of the 5. So you get an AOW cert. but not any specialty cert. (though the specialty dive done on AOW can count as one of the required dives when you do take that relevant specialty later, if you like).
I believe the SSI AOW is actually a 'package deal' were you do (is it 4?) actual specialties, getting certified in each.
Richard.
You're right, now that I look at it closer that is what I was missing. The shop I got my OW cert with was bought by Scuba Toys right as I was finishing my course, I would gladly go back there as I am sure I would receive excellent instruction but I've moved further south since then and it's definitely a drive now. I'll investigate some of the shops closer to me and if I can't find any that I'm comfortable with I would gladly make that drive in the name of furthering my education.
ajduplessis
Contributor
Find an instructor that will cater for your needs and have a reputation for being very good. The agency does not matter
+1, agency not THAT important. Instructor more important. Honestly, I'd interview the potentials. Warren Buffet said he picks people to do business with based on two things. Does he like them, and does he trust them. If those two things are not present, the numbers don't matter at all.
I'd say talk to them, see if you like them, see if you trust them. There's been a lot of posts about crappy instructors lately. And for me, my big thing is... How many students have they failed in the past few years. I know an instructor who has been teaching 150'ish students per year for the last 30 years. In that time he's failed 1 student. 1 Student? C'mon, there's a class where you pay for certification, not education. I want to know that what I'm paying for was EARNED, not bought. If there isn't a challenge there that begs the question, "is it possible to fail" then what's the point in the class. You didn't really learn anything anyway. But that's another thread.
I'd say talk to them, see if you like them, see if you trust them. There's been a lot of posts about crappy instructors lately. And for me, my big thing is... How many students have they failed in the past few years. I know an instructor who has been teaching 150'ish students per year for the last 30 years. In that time he's failed 1 student. 1 Student? C'mon, there's a class where you pay for certification, not education. I want to know that what I'm paying for was EARNED, not bought. If there isn't a challenge there that begs the question, "is it possible to fail" then what's the point in the class. You didn't really learn anything anyway. But that's another thread.
darushin
Contributor
More than likely you will end up doing the dives at CSSP in Terrell who ever you decide on. Consider Blue Sea Adventures in Rockwall and Garland both are just off I-30, indoor pool, nitrox, several instructors, two instructor trainers. SDI offers online courses as well.
IMO, SDI's advance course is a more " True " advanced course because the standard is higher.
The student must complete 4 Specialities ( 2 dives/each = 8 dives ) and have a total of 25 dives under their belt. The 25 dives do not have to be with an instructor.
The specialities don't have to require dives, such as the computer nitrox.
IMO, this standard is still low for an Advanced diver, but it's a step in the right direction. ( I always have questioned a diver with less than 10 dives, Really being " Advanced ". )
Because you are doing more training, it will probably cost more.
I agree that it is the instructor that is most important!
The student must complete 4 Specialities ( 2 dives/each = 8 dives ) and have a total of 25 dives under their belt. The 25 dives do not have to be with an instructor.
The specialities don't have to require dives, such as the computer nitrox.
IMO, this standard is still low for an Advanced diver, but it's a step in the right direction. ( I always have questioned a diver with less than 10 dives, Really being " Advanced ". )
Because you are doing more training, it will probably cost more.
I agree that it is the instructor that is most important!
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