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Quite a different and entertaining thread, whatever one chooses to make of it...
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That's exactly what's going on. The actual training occurs at PADI Career Development Center and PADI IDC courses in Mexico and Caribbean and then they can "intern" at one of the ProDive shops before moving on to explore the rest of the dive world. DMs and instructors have to start somewhere. While I personally prefer a dive op that employs seasoned divers that knows the reefs and its creatures very well, that kind of experience IMO is wasted on newer divers who are just excited about being underwater where it's warm and clear. Finding the exotic stuff and knowing all the secret nooks and crannies isn't as important to a less experienced diver that claims, for example, "I've been to Coz and playa a number of times and have seen little more then coral, morays and parrot fish" The newer diver is more concerned about staying safe and newly-certified instructors are great for that since they haven't yet forgetten most of what they learned in IDC.Hey Dave,
Is it possible that the young foreign contingent are interns being trained? I have been with a number of PADI places in various destinations in the Carib who do just that...intern trainees who work alongside the regulars.
Just a question...no dog in this fight.
That's exactly what's going on. The actual training occurs at PADI Career Development Center and PADI IDC courses in Mexico and Caribbean and then they can "intern" at one of the ProDive shops before moving on to explore the rest of the dive world. DMs and instructors have to start somewhere. While I personally prefer a dive op that employs seasoned divers that knows the reefs and its creatures very well, that kind of experience IMO is wasted on newer divers who are just excited about being underwater where it's warm and clear. Finding the exotic stuff and knowing all the secret nooks and crannies isn't as important to a less experienced diver that claims, for example, "I've been to Coz and playa a number of times and have seen little more then coral, morays and parrot fish" The newer diver is more concerned about staying safe and newly-certified instructors are great for that since they haven't yet forgetten most of what they learned in IDC.
It's a shame that large international companies can end up putting smaller local companies out of business, but that's a fact of life everywhere nowadays. In Cozumel, most everyone moved there from somewhere else anyway, so it's not as big of a deal IMO than when, say, a WalMart moves into a small USA town and out-competes the local small businesses into closing their doors.