How much should Diver Training cost?

[koozemani]

My opinion, as a newer diver, on what would constitute the perfect class to produce a quality diver.

I didn't begin to feel comfortable until I reached 20-25 dives. So let's say 20 ow dives over a 3 month period and covering what an OW, Nav, deep, and rescue classes would cover.

Say $2000 for class, pool, and ow dives (assuming local dives) plus materials and gear.

 

[rhwestfall]

As Lynn said, that $1k number up through rescue is likely accurate (and what could be considered a competent & prepared diver), but also likely to chase off those not dedicated (I know my folks had wanted me to be a certified diver when I was younger, but cost always prevented it). Then again, for me when it happened later in life, it was a $20.00 lab fee as a college PE class with the instructor part of the university staff, and the agency (YMCA) not interested in its coffers being stuffed..... :cool2:

Keep in mind, it takes two to dance. The instructor and the student both need the dedication to achieve the result.

 

[Lorenzoid]

What's the goal of this discussion? I don't think the question is so much "what should OW diver training cost," since that would vary based on local cost of living, but rather "what should OW diver training consist of?" The latter question has been debated a lot here. As for that question, it seems to me that since someone with no prior knowledge who wants to learn to dive doesn't know what he doesn't know, a dive agency is going to face a difficult task of trying to persuade him that their comprehensive course is better than what you might call "the first module" of some other agency's modularized course. As has been pointed out, once upon a time the OW course was longer--equivalent to OW+AOW+Rescue. I suspect most of us here on SB, with the benefit of hindsight, would rather have taken that kind of comprehensive course. But an uninformed novice doesn't have the benefit of hindsight. He doesn't know what's lacking in the basic OW course. I am very impressed that some agencies and individual instructors seem to have taken on the challenge, such as GUE now offering a Rec I (OW) course. If I understand correctly, it's generally done over 10 fairly intensive days. In hindsight, I wish I could have taken that course. If I had, I wouldn't be where I am now, realizing in frustration the deficiencies in my diving only now after 15 years and 225 dives.

 

[Hawkwood]

What's the goal of this discussion? ....

I agree, this can end up all over the map.

I can tell you that if I had to pay $1,000 to get OW certified it would not have happened. Three people times $1,000? Nope. We were going on vacation to the Caribbean and wanted to try scuba diving while there. No intention of doing anything other than that.

This same scenario is what 80% (plus) of our students are looking for.

 

[redacted]

I'd like to see "required training" replaced by "required testing". I expect the testing could be conducted over a period of 2 days for no more than $250 plus any added cost for dive facilities and logistics (parks, boats, travel, lodging).

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Most OW students do not continue diving beyond their first year. I don't think you would get many willing to spend a lot for training they would never use. I've dived in some really terrible conditions with current, zero visibility and cold water. Actually, that sounds like most of my dives. I did not consider myself comfortable enough to dive in any conditions until I had around 600 dives. Most divers will never even reach that number.
I think OW should be as affordable as possible and that shops should concentrate on getting their students to continue their diving education and offer as many dive opportunities as they can. Dive clubs making local dives and offering affordable travel will keep divers interested. My OW class was six weeks long and included all gear for the entire time for $160. Of course, that was a thousand years ago, but I think shops will make more money if they keep divers interested in diving and take their money in small chunks.

 

[boulderjohn]

Add me to the list of people who would not be a diver at all if the initial cost had been much higher than it was when I certified. I was not a wealthy man by any means, and I was still raising my children and preparing to send them to college. Even the little I paid was an extravagance when I paid it.

I think a real problem we have is courses that provide certification without meeting the standard requirements. People in this thread have talked about students getting certified without being able to do some of the skills. Yes, that happens. In my case, and in the case of every diver certified in the Mexican Resort where I was certified, they kept their costs (and thus the cost of the course) down by skipping a bunch of standards. I did not realize until much later that the standards I supposedly met (but didn't) were listed in my log book, signed off by the instructor who did not teach them.

If all the courses in the world actually taught what is required, and if all the instructors in the world required students to meet the required level of performance on each skill, this discussion would be much different.

 

[supergaijin]

Perhaps this is nothing more than a whinge...

However on SB there are stories of people who post near-misses, or who regularly state that 'x-skill' was not part of their training etc. I wouldn't be surprised if the training course that they took was under $500 for the first 'beginner license'. Many posters lambast the instructor or operator in giving sub-standard training, however if you pay peanuts...

Many comparisons are made between learning to dive and learning to drive a car. Both involve study, practice etc. and the consequences of getting it wrong can be injury or death. However driver training costs a bundle and there often isn't a car supplied as is with typical OW training.

From my experience, many OW training courses are around the $350-$450 mark. However knowing what I know know about the costs involved in boats, crew salaries, equipment purchase and maintenance etc., well that takes care of that.

I honestly believe that quality training even just at the OW level should run to about $700-$900. From there we look at 'gaining experience' and that could be a lot cheaper as the initial training is completed and we're talking about refinement of skills and opening up new environments but approximately $500 (again for quality training- not glorified fun dives). Rescue+CPR around the same again or even more- Rescue courses are extremely tough.

My 'price' for quality diver training: $2000 to 'become a diver'.

 

[DevonDiver]

Let's say 10 days & 20 dives (based on 2 long dives per day).

Here in the Philippines, I charge (private classes):

$95 per day for rec-level courses/clinics
$30 per dive (inc boat, tanks and weights)
$22 per day equipment rental

Per day cost of $177 x10 days = $1770

+ Certification Fees and Manual = $80 x 3 (PADI OW, AOW and Rescue)

All up cost of approx $2010.00

That's a no compromise 'real' diving course, based on one-to-one.

Never had to teach one... people always opt to pay someone else $300 for a plastic card. That's why most of my work comes in specialist/advanced areas - where people recognize that not all training is like-for-like and are serious enough to commit financially to good training.

 

[redacted]

... people always opt to pay someone else $300 for a plastic card.

Once you have that "learners permit", there are plenty of ways to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a "well trained" diver.