Good IDC for getting PADI OWSI?

[MurkyRockDiver]

Emttim,

I am sure it was an oversight on your part but you forgot to mention Astronaut Training in your previous posts.

I am sure you are a smart good person but as others have so eloquently stated you need to set shorter term goals and achieve them first before you move on.

Best of luck in your future.

 

[emttim]

I can not help but noted that you said $200,000 in debt to become a physician is too much. Then you've not looked at the dive industry. You also said that as a physician, you are working for "free". Actually, most of us bring in at least $150 K a year, and around $35K during residency. So I really don't work for free.

I wonder if that'll still be the case when a Democrat gets elected (since it'll probably happen, considering how popular Bush and the Republicans are right now) and decides to make health care "free" for everyone. Perhaps they may just raise taxes enormously to pay for it in the beginning, but after they realize how much public outcry and/or deficit spending they're running in such a short amount of time to run that fantasy world, they'll probably start putting salary caps on healthcare workers and reimbursement rates (as if they're not already low enough already) to attempt to fix the damage. I would love to be wrong on this, and I'm not saying this will happen since I can't predict the future and the only experience in health care I have is as an EMT, but I won't be surprised if some of the aforementioned does happen.

Ok just thought I throw in some advice, same age as emttim but no offense mate your attitude reminds me of myself about 4 years ago when I thought I knew everything and had my next 15 years planned out . I have finished seven years of college last year and have changed my mind about my long term career future about three times in that period. Two years into college is not a lot, who knows what you will want to do in after another few years? When I was 17 I got a job in accounting and thought that was my life career, at 19 I picked my Economics major and thought I'd go with a career in that. At 23 I am now working in IT! Who knows what it will be in another few years (diving instructor?? ) These days I have realised that I am more likely to miss out on what I really want to do if I decide to pick one thing and stick with it. My only consistent loves have been marine life + wrecks (hence the diving) and mathematics! Keep your mind open and don't be too proud to change it.

Re your current goal: I have run my own business as well as other work and study for 3 years, my partner also has for about 10 years - from my experience, you really have to know the industry (this applies to all industries, not just diving) you want to get into *very* well before making such concrete plans you have mentioned here. 0-24 dives and little training is not knowing the dive industry well enough to be setting such concrete plans.



Also, on a separate note, this doesn't endear people to you in places like an internet forum as you have no way of backing it up and it just makes you look arrogant (even if it is true!). Again this points to a lack of self-reflection about how you come across to the rest of the world which you will really need to work out before putting any of your big plans into action.

I mean this as constructive criticism and apologies if it comes out harsh! Hard to convey things like these over a forum... My 2c.

Fair enough, like I said I'm more than welcoming of constructive criticism. Didn't really come off as harsh. I come off as arrogant pretty much everywhere I talk on internet forums but never irl because it's a lot easier to communicate yourself in person than with text over the internet. Although I do admit I know some things, not everything, but I know I don't want to work in an industry (IE health care) where the government is posed to stomp the hell out of it with their "I'm just trying to help!" boot. I'd rather work in something where I can make a decent living and enjoy what I do. Now, I know the majority of people on here probably think there's no money in diving, but I bet there's plenty of people who think there's no money in finance, accounting, consulting, (insert sector here), etc.

Emttim,

I am sure it was an oversight on your part but you forgot to mention Astronaut Training in your previous posts.

I am sure you are a smart good person but as others have so eloquently stated you need to set shorter term goals and achieve them first before you move on.

Best of luck in your future.

I honestly don't think those goals are /that/ outlandish...I think anyone has the capacity to achieve all that and more if they just try hard enough. *shrugs* but thanks though, I'll probably need it at more than a few junctures.

 

[Sas]

I wonder if that'll still be the case when a Democrat gets elected (since it'll probably happen, considering how popular Bush and the Republicans are right now) and decides to make health care "free" for everyone. Perhaps they may just raise taxes enormously to pay for it in the beginning, but after they realize how much public outcry and/or deficit spending they're running in such a short amount of time to run that fantasy world, they'll probably start putting salary caps on healthcare workers and reimbursement rates (as if they're not already low enough already) to attempt to fix the damage. I would love to be wrong on this, and I'm not saying this will happen since I can't predict the future and the only experience in health care I have is as an EMT, but I won't be surprised if some of the aforementioned does happen.

Or the Democrats might pull out of Iraq and stop wasting the enormous amounts of money that the Republicans are on maintaining the occupation. Then they can use that money to fix the US's incredibly screwed up health care system, and no need for tax increases! Yes, I am being too simplistic but you started it ;p The health industry is not a competitive industry so many people would argue that government intervention is warranted. But yea I am biased as I come from a country with universal health coverage... don't knock it till you've tried it!

 

[scubapatton]

 

[emttim]

Or the Democrats might pull out of Iraq and stop wasting the enormous amounts of money that the Republicans are on maintaining the occupation. Then they can use that money to fix the US's incredibly screwed up health care system, and no need for tax increases! Yes, I am being too simplistic but you started it ;p The health industry is not a competitive industry so many people would argue that government intervention is warranted. But yea I am biased as I come from a country with universal health coverage... don't knock it till you've tried it!

Well, I have my doubts that either of the Democratic presidential candidates would have the backbone to pull out of Iraq, although they may very well do that. I hardly doubt that they would allocate that money toward health care, however, seeing as the government chooses the most ignorant method possible when it comes to intervention; regardless of what they're intervening in.

I know friends in Canada. They know people who have died from so-called "universal" health care coverage....there's nothing good that will come from making people wait in line for months while they're currently dying and need the procedure now. Perhaps barbaric, but not good. Not much good to insure everyone if the same amount (or more) die from not getting treatment when they need it...the only thing it'll accomplish is driving up prices by putting a middleman (government or a second level of insurance companies, depending on how they do it) and possibly stamping out any incentive for insurance companies to control costs since people will be forced to do business with them. Plus you have to consider the people who work in the healthcare industry. I don't believe it's right for anyone to be robbed of the fruits of their labor, and unless I miss my guess, one of the side-effects of socializing health care or otherwise making it universal will be decreased pay and work conditions.

Lol! Tell me about it. Bleh, I'm too opinionated on health care and politics to even digress to those topics. I got the info I needed as far as the original question in this thread goes, so thanks once again for the input guys, but I'm going to bow out since I have a feeling this is going to get ugly.

 

[Sas]

Lol! Tell me about it. Bleh, I'm too opinionated on health care and politics to even digress to those topics. I got the info I needed as far as the original question in this thread goes, so thanks once again for the input guys, but I'm going to bow out since I have a feeling this is going to get ugly.

Well it is interesting you just threw in a very charged political statement along with your other questions (what? you expected no come back?) and now are saying you don't want to digress to that topic!

I will say one thing - universal health care coverage (at least in Australia) doesn't prevent you getting additional PHI so you can skip the queue and go private (so no waiting in line for care - only poor people have to do that :\) fyi. It's a safety net. I did one of my honours theses on this so I couldn't resist replying to you I am afraid

And back on topic, whatever you decide to do hope it works out, but take baby steps!

 

[fisherdvm]

The way I see it, the economy in the US is heading for the abyss in the near future.

Health care is the place to be, universal health coverage or not. People are going to get sick, they are going to need care. So is flipping burger at McDonald. You can not ship these jobs to third world countries (unless you're a radiologist, and your job is being done in India - it is happening right now folks!).

Scuba diving is a luxury sport. Less people will be able to afford scuba diving. Emttim, you've got twice as much sunk into your gears as I do in the 3 sets I've for myself and my son. Most folks can't afford half as much as you can, so I think you might be a little blind to the economy.

When we are in a recession, the folks that do OK are the ones in the essential business. Scuba diving, in my opinion, will suffer as one of the luxury folks can do without.

You are likely a great kid, Tim. And likely a smart one too. I think you really need to look at good career planning. Soon you'll have a family, like me, and you can not risk entering the retail business side without understanding the market and the business as well as Walmart did.

 

[Sas]

Well said fisherdvm!

 

[24940]

It always pisses me off just a tad to see a kid piss away a good education to pursue a 'career' in the dive industry. Good luck paying off your student loans.... What a waste.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Look over the years I've seen my fair share of genius fast track instructor types but they don't last long. They'll gather up tons o ratings as quick as any shop can cash their checks but, they won't be in it for the long haul.

Doesn't matter if you can ace every exam on the planet. You need experience, lots of it, tons of it. You can't get experience while on the fast track. You can get ratings, but not experience.

If you have the education you say you have, use that, make diving an activity you enjoy and then, hundreds of dives from now, if you still have the love, turn pro.

But an uncashed education is worse than dating my first wife.