3 day or 4 day courses

[caseylary]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to get my open water course in bali in 2 weeks. Some places offer 3 day courses, others offer 4. I am on a bit of a time limit so was hoping to find somewhere with a 3 day course. What is the main difference and what would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[ekewaka]

Go for the 4 day course. Even that is not long enough. There is a lot that you need to learn, and it is better not to rush through it.

 

[ekewaka]

Also, read this thread:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=153194

 

[Steve50]

Does the course include OW certification dives? How many hours total for each course?

 

[spectrum]

Since most if not all agencies require 2 days for the open water dives that means it's a 2 day class. Not a good start.

IF it includes advance home study for the book work and the first 2 days are long full days of academic review and mostly pool work then you have a prayer.

Breathing underwater and all that it entails does not come easy to some so beware. Some need time to absorb it all between phases. All will benefit from time.

Doing the whole thing in 3 days is hopeless.

Pete

 

[H2Andy]

a four day course (i.e. two days of training and two days of OW diving) is not even bare minimum. and i mean NOT EVEN bare minimum.

it doesn't give you time to "digest" anything or really work up any muscle memory.

at a bare minimum, i would suggest six class sessions, hopefully spaced out for about three weeks, then a weekend of OW dives (4 dives)

that's a total of 10 "sessions" with your instructor

 

[ekewaka]

that's a total of 10 "sessions" with your instructor

Has GUE started teaching open water yet?

You are certainly not talking about a PADI class.

 

[H2Andy]

Has GUE started teaching open water yet?

i think it's now official ... yes, i think it is

You are certainly not talking about a PADI class.

actually, i am

 

[chipwd]

My PADI OW course was twice a week for 4 weeks then 4 certification dives over two days. The classes were a minimum of 3 hours each, about equally divided between class time and pool time.

 

[ekewaka]

actually, i am

Surely you jest. PADI would excommunicate an instructor who taught a class that long.