Course frustration

[Patoux01]

For an example of the consequences of such an idea look one province to your east. FQAS – Un site utilisant WordPress

It's an interesting conversation whenever governments begin to regulate it's citizen's hobbies.

Can't be more messed up than France. Latest fads is the "official agency" trying to enforce CE markings. Basically if you buy a reg, you're not allowed to add anything to it that is not approved, leading to results such as:
- you can't add an SPG to a reg set because the official set from the manufacturer doesn't have it.
- you can't put a braided hose instead of a rubber hose, but even better, the rubber hose has to be "manufacturer approved". And don't get them started on the massive WOB issue a long hose causes.


So yeah, nah, governments should stay out of this.


@Schwob I'm not a part of the organization, would love to be on the teams, but ghost nets are quite absent in lake geneva as far as I know. But they do cool stuff. You can find info on their website, if that is what you were asking. Ghost Fishing

 

[Schwob]

You can find info on their website, if that is what you were asking. Ghost Fishing

Thanks. Interesting.

 

[runsongas]

Because the two instructors are likely to be in different situations is why.

78 year old probably has a pension and a house that was bought for almost nothing in the 60s. Doesn't matter if he charges you 100 for the drysuit class or not because he doesn't rely on the money from teaching scuba.

Padi shop instructor might be doing it as a job, can't make their rent if they don't charge for each individual class.

 

[scubafanatic]

Can't be more messed up than France. Latest fads is the "official agency" trying to enforce CE markings. Basically if you buy a reg, you're not allowed to add anything to it that is not approved, leading to results such as:
- you can't add an SPG to a reg set because the official set from the manufacturer doesn't have it.
- you can't put a braided hose instead of a rubber hose, but even better, the rubber hose has to be "manufacturer approved". And don't get them started on the massive WOB issue a long hose causes.


So yeah, nah, governments should stay out of this.


@Schwob I'm not a part of the organization, would love to be on the teams, but ghost nets are quite absent in lake geneva as far as I know. But they do cool stuff. You can find info on their website, if that is what you were asking. Ghost Fishing

Funny thing is, I used to do business with a US (Texas) based dive shop in town that had exactly the same policy as what you describe as happening now in France. (they went out of business back in 2006) But if I ever brought in a reg set with an after market swivel hose, or installed a LP or HP 'elbow' on my 1st-stage, or anything else for that matter that at all changed how the reg came out of the box from the factory, they gave me grief about how they couldn't service the reg because of the unauthorized 'modifications' I'd made, for which they didn't want to be held 'liable'. They were 'anal' beyond belief, more like visiting a law office than a dive shop, and this was in the middle of Texas, the least regulated state in America, in the country that sees/prides itself on 'less' regulation!

 

[lermontov]

I took my OW aow course and I was talking to a buddy who took a course through a different company (the big one) rhymes with daddy.
He asked how much I paid for my drysuit course and my photography course and lift bag course and so on and so on.
I told him with a puzzled face that my instructor walked me through the steps and we went and worked on it the one day.
And that he does this for anyone .
He was shocked and dejected because he felt like he got robbed not only of his money but his time as well
Am I wrong in my thinking or am I a rogue diver who needs to be stopped

yes your definitely a rogue dive who needs to the spanked back into line!
Some companies will charge for every little thing that they can and over value their knowledge- some will play the long game and try to establish a long term relationship ( Mentoring ) with the added satisfaction (for them) of seeing you develop your skills, Im fortunate to have had the latter. To me these are the artisans of the scuba scene, yes of course they need to earn a living but they are motivated by the learning of the craft.
If you are quick to pick up skills and are dextrous and coordinated then you'll have little problem with a compressed schedule - some take longer and at the end of the day you are paying for time and knowledge -however nothing beats time in the water- I see so many divers doing course and do very little diving in between. They somehow think that the instructors skill set will pass onto them by osmosis.

Keep doing what your doing dont sucked in to the hand wringing anxiety of insecurity that so many will tell you that you NEED their special course

 

[TMHeimer]

In beating a long dead SB horse--Keep the government out. Too many laws for everything today (as was true 3-4 decades ago or more). No gov't fees, rules, permits. Dive flag required (in certain PLACES-- maybe not state/province wide) maybe OK. But one should just use common sense on that as well.

 

[Littlerayray]

Wow look at the can of worms I opened

 

[Schwob]

Wow look at the can of worms I opened

Naturally, totally unintentionally...

 

[Littlerayray]

It was

 

[Schwob]

It was

Sure!
Actually, I believe you, just pulling your leg & enjoyed the three words ending in "y" joined together forming a comment that may even fit in the conversation... maybe sporned on by the beverages enjoyed during a bday dinner we just returned from. No harm intended. Good thread.