Basic open water training fiasco

[The Kraken]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but I have a question along the same lines . . .

Let us suppose a diver takes his OW course in Cozumel and completes it without use of a wet suit.

Does this same diver have to now be certified in the use of a wet suit if he elects to dive in colder water?

the K

 

[Bubble Junky]

Is there some unwritten PADI rule that says you have to have a drysuit cert. to use one? Or is this just more PADI (Put Another Dollar In). Personally I think he should contact another shop to finish up his class. Any comments or ideas?

No, there is actually a written rule backing up exactly what the dive shop is saying. Good on them for sticking to the rules and looking after diver safety !! The below is taken from the PADI Instructor Manual.

'When student divers will use dry
suits during Open Water Training
Dives, they must complete a confined
water dry suit orientation session prior
to any open water training.'

 

[Bubble Junky]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but I have a question along the same lines . . .

Let us suppose a diver takes his OW course in Cozumel and completes it without use of a wet suit.

Does this same diver have to now be certified in the use of a wet suit if he elects to dive in colder water?

the K

No, the same principles apply, even though bouyancy will be different. You don't get a wet-suit squeeze, you don't get air trapped in your feet and you don't release air from a wet-suit. Dry suit diving has 'new skills' to learn. If your going from diving in a rash top to divingh in a 7mm suit, I would suggest a pool session/scuba review first followed by a nice gentle dive.

 

[oly5050user]

Actually, my PADi OW text mentions in several places that if you will be doing your dives in a dry suit, your instructor will spend time going over the details with you. The clear implication is that it is acceptable to use in the class. OTOH, the LDS might have liability concerns or just want the money.

you can use the dry suit from day one in the pool while doing your ow course.Also can use then during ow training dives..If never used in pool during course cannot use for ow dives as it is a liability concern for you had no training in it..using a dry suit this way in ow course does not automatically get you a speciality in the use of it.During dry suit speciality course it is not just how to use suit but also how to maintain,repair,type of materials in it and undergarment,hypothemia concerns,weight distribution,stc..Alot more than "put on suit-use suit-take off suit".Covering this material in a ow course to also get the speciality would be possible but longer and more expensive. If you like one of our boats splashes today at the marina.If you need to do ow cert dives give a call and we will get cert dives.call capt mike diving 718 885 1588,located in NY ,Bronx on westchester county border.

 

[El Orans]

The below is taken from the PADI Instructor Manual.

'When student divers will use dry
suits during Open Water Training
Dives, they must complete a confined
water dry suit orientation session prior
to any open water training.'

That doesn't sound like a mandatory DS specialty to me.

 

[espenskogen]

That doesn't sound like a mandatory DS specialty to me.

No DS Speciality needed. Only a confined water orientation, which effectively means one extra pool session. Whether that pool session should be charged is a matter for the dive shop to decide. Personally, I wouldn't think it's too unfair to be charging for the drysuit orientation. (Pool time + instructor + kit.. Adds up...)

 

[redacted]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but I have a question along the same lines . . .

Let us suppose a diver takes his OW course in Cozumel and completes it without use of a wet suit.

Does this same diver have to now be certified in the use of a wet suit if he elects to dive in colder water?

the K

Ah yes, the PADI rinsing wetsuit specialty. $125, BYOP.

 

[padiscubapro]

No, there is actually a written rule backing up exactly what the dive shop is saying. Good on them for sticking to the rules and looking after diver safety !! The below is taken from the PADI Instructor Manual.

'When student divers will use dry
suits during Open Water Training
Dives, they must complete a confined
water dry suit orientation session prior
to any open water training.'

No that just means the student needs an orientation not a ds cert.. The shop is demanding the full class.. Its 2 different things..

 

[wreckchick]

My guess is that it's not a full class since you can't combine the drysuit specialty with OW dives and being an OW diver is a pre-req for the drysuit specialty. The only thing they could mean is that they'd have to do the required pool session.

Rachel

 

[*Floater*]

A friend of mine enrolled in a PADI basic class. He has finished the classroom part and is eager to do the open water dives. Here is the problem. The dive shop won't have their boat in the water until june. My friend has access to a drysuit and is ready to dive now. The dive shop says that if he wants to use the drysuit for his open water dives, he first has to take the drysuit course for additional money or they won't let him do the open water dives. Is this kind of extortion acceptible? I took my advanced class using a drysuit and nobody questioned if I even had taken the drysuit class. Is there some unwritten PADI rule that says you have to have a drysuit cert. to use one? Or is this just more PADI (Put Another Dollar In). Personally I think he should contact another shop to finish up his class. Any comments or ideas?

Personally I'd take my business elsewhere, though I guess it may be too late if your friend has already paid for the OW course.