decisions decisions

[The Chairman]

Hey Heads up,

I am not sure WHAT you found so offensive in my post. I am a PADI Dive Master, and proud of it. I did state (you quoted me) that their "methods are NOT without merit", meaning they HAVE merit. Is that what you find offensive??? That I think PADI has some good to offer? Or was it the joke: (Put Another Dollar In)??? Being a part of PADI, I do not feel that I have to worship them or that I am not allowed to rib them because of some blind loyalty. You will find that I make no jokes about agencies to which I do not belong. Neither do I allow others to make hasty AND erroneous judgements about me or my motives without me at LEAST pointing out how far off base they are.

In the future, I would counsel you to post to the diver PRIVATELY first, if you feel they have erred. To berate me publicly demands a public response like this one. If you have anything more negative to say, please do it privately. If you can't figure how to do it from within the board, my E-Mail is PJM@NetDr.cc No, I do not expect an apology from you; I am not that optimistic. If you misread the first post, Lord knows how you will misread this one. Other than that, I consider this matter closed.

To the other participants, I am deeply sorry this has occured on our board. I will post no further about this misunderstanding.

Pete; ranting from Orlando...

 

[Fishkiller]

NetDoc

when I told my instructor today of my new knowlegde in regaurds to my diving career, I had to mention PADI, he laughed.

he and I agree that it's not who you get taught by but that you learn and understand and becomae a SAFE diver

 

[Heads Up]

Just wanted to post an apology to you all for my unwarranted rant at NetDoc. I have emailed him privately to personally apologise, but felt that I needed to apologise to the rest of you too. My post was well out of order and I agree that it was not the type of post we want on our board.

 

[Fishkiller]

I am now the owner of my first speciality Altitude Dver


Now I am scheaduled for the Navigation speciality

 

[DivingGal]

Bravo, well done. Well that's one speciality I won't be getting. Not that I don't want to know how to properly dive at altitude, but there is no altitude here......

Good luck with the navigation (and don't get lost)

 

[joewr]

This was like reading Shakespear without the iambic pentameter! My two cents:

Everybody learns in a different way:

(1) some learn best with a teacher
(2) some learn best by doing
(3) some learn best by reading
(4) some learn by watching others
(5) some learn best by a combination of the above

You have to be honest with yourself and advance the way it feels most comfortable to you. For me, I learn best by reading and then doing. So I usually get the PADI (I like that, "Put Another Dollar In") book and read it. Then I do whatever it is without benefit of teacher or cert class (my C-card cert being the one exception!). If I have a question, I will usually ask a more experienced friend or diver. But that is my way of learning: it works for me, but I do not tell anyone that is the only way to do it.

Key to all this is: Learn what you are interested in! there is nothing more boring or futile than learning something you do not care about or think you will never use. As a diver, though, I think you will find most topics interesting and relevant--and, if you get to dive as part of the learning experience, that makes you a better diver. I am convinced that the more diving you do, the better you get!

So, my advice: do what feels right to you and enjoy! By the way, my grandmother once told me, "Anytime you feel like giving advice, take two aspirin and go to bed." I do not heed her words often enough!

At any rate, enjoy!

Joewr

 

[neil]

An interesting thread. I am a NAUI and a PADI instructor, so I know a bit about specialties and advanced courses.
Joewr is exactly right about the way different divers learn. Some need to be shown, some don't. My job is to let the people who want to be shown pay me a reasonable fee for me to show them! Some folks come out of cert courses not knowing stuff WE might take for granted: how to beach dive, for example. Or do more advance navigation than simple out and back courses. Some people just want more supervised dives before they go off on their own, who knows?
There are also a few specialties that might be dangerous to tackle on a trial-and-error basis, ie., nitrox, drysuit, kayak diving, ice diving, altitude.
There is a place for advanced and specialty courses. The agencies didn't make them up JUST to make money. And they're not for everyone.
Having said that, I swear I will never take a dime for teaching someone to dive from a boat!! :>)
Neil

 

[Heads Up]

Have booked my Advanced course for two weeks time. Am at Vivian in North Wales for two days on 12th/13th May for the bulk (think I am doing Navigation, Night, Nitrox and Dry Suit) and am then finishing it at Stoney Cove a few days later for my deep diving. Shame Dorothea is closed

Any advice? (If not, wish me luck!!)

 

[Rick Murchison]

Those sound just right for your part of the world.. I'd follow up soon with the Rescue course, at about the 50 dive mark, and cavern at about the 75 dive mark. There are others that are interesting and fun, but those two, I believe, have the best overall value towards progression to being a truly excellent diver.
Rick

 

[Fishkiller]

Rick

Why 50 dives for Rescue Diver? I had in mind to take the class at about 25 give or take 2 or 3 dives. (might have to wait so another specialty course to make time pass, in a good way)(then agian maybe more if I can find a non-instructor buddy that can dive on my scheadule)