Course learning about to expire

[charliex]

Hi,

About 10 months ago I completed all the book and pool work for PADI certification. Due to many factors I never got around to doing the check out dives. Time is obviously running out and it is not looking real good for me as far as a free weekend in the next two months.

My question is if I can get a free day to do a re-fresher course, will that extend the time I have to do the check out dives, or I am basically looking at having to do the whole thing over again?

Thank you.

 

[Marie13]

Not knowing your location, I'd simply suggest calling your LDS or wherever you did your training and ask. In my understanding, the "refresher" classes offered are for certified divers who have been out of the water for a long time before they dive again.

 

[SeaHorse81]

Yes, refresher sessions are for certified divers who want to tune up a bit before re-entering the water after some time away. Agreed that you just need to contact your LDS to see what your options are.

 

[charliex]

I will give them a call. Thank you.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi,

About 10 months ago I completed all the book and pool work for PADI certification. Due to many factors I never got around to doing the check out dives. Time is obviously running out and it is not looking real good for me as far as a free weekend in the next two months.

My question is if I can get a free day to do a re-fresher course, will that extend the time I have to do the check out dives, or I am basically looking at having to do the whole thing over again?

Thank you.

First of all, you need to RESUME your training within a year, not finish it. If you do a pool session in the next two months, which you will need to do anyway, then the timeline is extended. Moreover, if you resume your training with the same shop/instructor where you did your initial training the time line is longer than 1 year, although I admit I would have to look it up to know for sure if it is 2 years or 3. Some Instructor-manual expert will be able to tell you for sure.

That said, rules aside, the big question isn't just about finishing. It's about achieving the goal of becoming a competent diver. Assuming you still want to become a diver then taking a step back will be good. What I would normally advise for a student in your position who had already done everything except the check out dives would be to take a minimum of 2 pool sessions to get back into the swing of things before going to open water. In the past I've had a student who "tagged along" for several pool sessions during a normal OW course when resuming training because she wanted to do that. I was ok with it because we work with small groups and the shop gave her a good deal on the "extra" training. See what the shop is willing to do and see how much time you can make (want to make) for it.

Any way you look at it, you want it to be safe and you want to know for sure that you didn't forget something important. Take time for that because rushing things causes regret.

R..

 

[emoreira]

In the dive school where I work, if the student does not do the checkout dives within the first 6 months after the written and pool exams, we offer a refresher, just like the one we offer to divers that do not dive since 6 months or more. If that student does not do the checkout dives after a year, he should start the course again with some special discount.
Refresher courses are aimed to OW divers so, no advanced topics are addressed in the course, which makes it suitable for OW divers and students that have not made the checkout dives.

 

[charliex]

Excellent advice. Yes I don't feel 100% comfortable any longer anyway so extra pool time would rock. Thanks all.