Difference in PADI designations

[rawls]

japan-diver

First of all...I want to apologize for my own wording which looking back on, was in and of itself in bad taste
I also appreciate your clarification.

Having said that, IMHO I still feel your reply edged toward sounding like having a 5 Star rating basically means nothing more than staffing #'s and a paycheck to PADI and nothing to do with meeting the criteria to get such a rating. Actually that's what you did say.

it really boils down to the how many staff they have and how big a check they wrote to PADI

If this is the case then is PADI not being fraudulent in listing criteria that must be met in order to receive a 5 star rating. I will have to ask the shop owner where I teach. She has been in business since 1976 and I would be interested in getting her take on this subject. Bottom line is I am not questioning that checks are part of the equation, but I simply do not feel it is all of it. And 5 star operations or not, there are good and bad instructors in any operations.

And once again I sincerely apologize for my own distasteful post....

 

[friscuba]

Japan-Diver might be taking the cynical approach, but money is a big part of the equation. Essentially, part of the criteria is a check. There's no fraudulence involved. Shops aren't just given the title out of meeting the qualifying standards/benchmarks, unless they apply for it and send in the check.

Assuming you are an Instructor in the PADI system, you should realize it's quite comparable to becoming a MSDT... you could teach all the specialties available and have thousands of dives and hundreds of students under your belt, but you aren't awarded the title unless you send in a check. Theoretically the kid fresh out of the IDC with 100+ dives who's taken the extra few days of training to teach specialties and mailed in the check can claim the title of MSDT as they've met all the qualifications.

I think that Japan-Divers main point is that the title alone isn't everything, and just because a business chooses not to pay for it doesn't mean it can't be up to the level of those that have.

 

[japan-diver]

The last post is more clear to my meaning- having the designation means you might be very good or it might not.... Having seen too many 5 star, Pro Platnium whatever level you want to call it resorts that I wouldn't ever go diving with, and being on the inside where I have the level of accountability or lack there of from the cert agencies when it comes to these standards I put very little credence in the title- now some resorts and shops that have these rating are also some of the best I have worked or dove with. So look beyond the title and do real research before choosing a shop or resort.

 

[rawls]

I think that Japan-Divers main point is that the title alone isn't everything, and just because a business chooses not to pay for it doesn't mean it can't be up to the level of those that have

I never said that non-rated shops could not be just as good as a rated shop...

Essentially, part of the criteria is a check

I never said this wasn't true...As the saying goes...There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

My point was that it seemed to me that the reply edged toward a negative blanket statement about rated operations...That there is more criteria involved than just sending a check and meeting staff requirements.

I put very little credence in the title- now some resorts and shops that have these rating are also some of the best I have worked or dove with

Again thanks for your clarification here.

 

[Kingpatzer]

Personally, the larger, and more sinister aspect of this is not that one has to pay to get the designation but rather the fact that if you are a 5-star or gold-leaf shop you aren't allowed to teach any one but PADI courses.

This means that the professional instructors aren't allowed to utilize their professional judgement as to which course provides the best instruction for a particular diver.

That, to me, suggests that PADI doesn't actually believe in the quality of their instruction as they act in such a way as to preclude their instruction being in competition.

 

[String]

A lot of it does depend on how much you pay PADI for the honour. Some of the 5* designators have nice anti competitive rules about not teaching/advertising other agency courses and so on.
Same with high level padi instructor - they want you to teach only PADI. That said im not sure that is legal in the EU or UK but probably never tested - fairly sure it comes under restraint of trade and anti-competition laws.

 

[WILLVINO]

Thank you for the responses - sorry to get such a discussion going but it is good to see some constructive dialog amongst fellow divers.

Thanks again.

 

[twinkles]

Willvino, I gather you are new to internet discussion boards. It is a badge of honor to get a little enthusiasm underway.

 

[MikeFerrara]

This has been discussed quite a bit in the past and several of us have detailed the "5-star" requirements directly from the PADI standards more than once. I don't feel like doing all that typing again but a search should turn it up.

It is true that the shop can only offer PADI recreational courses and that's the part that always stuck in my craw because I was also an instructor with another agency.

It is required that the shop have no QA actions for a period of time but there are no other measures of quality as the name might imply...it's more of a "quantity" thing than a "quality" thing. "The 5-star" deisignation certainly is nothing like such ratings that are given to restaurants, as you might be tempted to believe.

The advantage to the shop? They get a little bigger discount on PADI products and get to advertise thet they're a "5-stare" facility. Of course, if you get the wrong idea, it's your problem...buyer beware.