General question about genuineness of OW & AOW tests in Phuket?

[Diver_City Boys]

Which two dive shops?
There are both very good and not so good here in Phuket.
To me it sounds like you went to a shop employing the bottom end of the food chain dive instructors, If you find an instructor who is passionate about teaching diving, your experience of the shop may well have been different.

Infact i did it with very well known dive shop, they had own boat with their name printed on it

Alot of the instructors here see instructing as a way of finacing there party time rather than a vocation to really help people learn to dive. Its not so much the shop as the individuals you delt with maybe see if you can talk to the shop owners and see how they feel about your comments.

Exactly. well, though i feel i didn't get good value for paid amount, better get over it instead of having chance of finding whoever manager is, doesn't change anything

You are right not dealing with anyone who makes you feel that they wont provide the best possible service. Dont let it discourage you as diving is awesome,
Drop me an email if your still looking and I might be able to point you in the right direction.

No, it doesn't.
i'll incase i need help, thanks

 

[Diver_City Boys]

To go from 140 meters to 200 should be faily easy for you. That's only about 40% further, if you increase your distance 10% each time you go to the pool you're only 4 swims away from your goal.

Find an instructor who will work with you - be honest with your abilities and wants up front and you'll likely be pleased with the result.

Thanks for inspiration.

200 meters is piece of cake, and I am determained to go 400 meters. I physicaly very strong for my size of 5'6" (i did 3 years drug free bodybuilding) i just need to find better balance and increasing breathing technique and endurance

There are no good swimmers or swiming courses offred by anyone. it's not like US or other places.....

 

[Diver_City Boys]

This is called "confined water"; a swimming pool also offers "confined water" conditions, but most people would rather see a natural place on their Discover Scuba dive rather than ceramic pool tiles. DCB, you are probably one of those who would have benefitted from a pool session first.

I didn't ask for one day pool session, because i knew Zero about diving those days. I guess i was too stupid or too brave deciding to dive after picking up a dive brocher. I think i got too excited

If you had decided to go on to do the Open Water course, it's almost certain that you would have been asked to demonstrate your swimming abilities, and if you couldn't swim, DCB, you wouldn't have passed!

Because i was surprised to see too many OW divers around, I thought of ways one
can get away from doing them

Also, as stevenl notes, it's not a race, so you can take as long as you like to finish.
Come on, it's not easy as you think unless you learned it from early age, I don't see a single person who can swim 200 meters where i swim daily, among nearly 200 guys coming to swim here in 33X20 & 25X15 meters long pools.


DCB, it sounds to me like you would be a good candidate for one-on-one training (after you improve you swimming, that is). Now that it is low season on Phuket, you could easily get that kind of attention. Any one of us here on Phuket who have replied to this post of yours could probably help you find the right instructor. Just ask.

Yep, i think i can become a good swiming instructor some day. Remember this, Not everyone has what it's takes to teach. Because Some student are not talented enough and need to be spoon feeded

I did 10 sessions training for $300 with former iranian team 1,500 meters champion, he was too lazy to teach me, three other guys trained with him that i know, even quit the idea of becoming diver some day

 

[Batfish]

I thought the swim test was changed some years ago. There is no longer the requirement to swim 200m. You can choose to snorkel 300m with mask, snorkel and fins instead. There is also the 10 minute tread water/float test. All in all the idea is to make sure a potential diver is comfortable in the water, rather than enforce all divers to be good swimmers.

I have failed a couple of students for non swimming. Well, not failed, I mean we never got past the swim test, so I would not let them continue the course. I have also failed a student before who would not clear their mask in open water. I have never had to fail anyone for failing the theory test. I can recall maybe 2 or 3 students who had to retake. A couple of times language was the problem, one time a hangover was the problem. On that note, I have also refused to dive with a student and charged them for an extra day becasue they were so hungover it would be unsafe to dive.

 

[MoonWrasse]

I thought the swim test was changed some years ago. There is no longer the requirement to swim 200m. You can choose to snorkel 300m with mask, snorkel and fins instead. There is also the 10 minute tread water/float test. All in all the idea is to make sure a potential diver is comfortable in the water, rather than enforce all divers to be good swimmers.

I have failed a couple of students for non swimming. Well, not failed, I mean we never got past the swim test, so I would not let them continue the course. I have also failed a student before who would not clear their mask in open water. I have never had to fail anyone for failing the theory test. I can recall maybe 2 or 3 students who had to retake. A couple of times language was the problem, one time a hangover was the problem. On that note, I have also refused to dive with a student and charged them for an extra day becasue they were so hungover it would be unsafe to dive.

For PADI, I think that's correct - snorkel and mask is ok.

One of the problems in Phuket is that I don't know of any non hotel sized pools, i.e. you'll be doing lots of turns in a pool. If you do it on a beach with a snorkel, that should be a cinch.

Key thing is it's not a race, so pace yourself with breathing and you should be fine IMO.

 

[Zeeman]

I did my AOW in Phuket - the outfit I was with was quite good, and their OW students did the 200m swim etc. I think th elevel required will depend on the shop.

Z...

 

[Diver_City Boys]

There is no .......swim 200m. You can choose to snorkel 300m with mask, snorkel and fins instead. There is also the 10 minute tread water/float test. All in all the idea is to make sure a potential diver is comfortable in the water, rather than enforce all divers to be good swimmers.
I prefer to do my 200 meter swim, you can't scape it once you decide to go 400 meters for DM test. No way out

I have failed a couple of students for non swimming. Well, not failed, I mean we never got past the swim test, .....

What do you mean by word "enforce"? I know 200 meter test has no time limit, but should be non-stop? what if they take few seconds break on each lap

Can you say what are swiming pool sizes in phuket, I think it much easier to do swim test in smaller pool 20 or 25 meters than olympic size 50 meters, because more often you can flip and kick back

Can you recommand few large swiming pool in Phuket for me so i can train when there?

Thanks

 

[Diver_City Boys]

For PADI, I think that's correct - snorkel and mask is ok.

One of the problems in Phuket is that I don't know of any non hotel sized pools, i.e. you'll be doing lots of turns in a pool. If you do it on a beach with a snorkel, that should be a cinch.

Key thing is it's not a race, so pace yourself with breathing and you should be fine IMO.

Right, for snorkle fin test it's better to go with larger pool or beach, as opposed to freestyle swiming test in smaller pool

 

[Diver_City Boys]

I did my AOW in Phuket - the outfit I was with was quite good, and their OW students did the 200m swim etc. I think th elevel required will depend on the shop.
Z...

I think there shouldn't be any exception to any test, I personaly think PADI themselves should monitor all DM tests for approval, as they do for IDC

 

[stevenl]

I think there shouldn't be any exception to any test, I personaly think PADI themselves should monitor all DM tests for approval, as they do for IDC

There is no exception to any test allowed. Also for the IDC, PADI does not monitor the swimtest, that is up to the CD and his staff. PADI monitors the theory exams, General standards, and presentations of confined water, open water and theory development.