How much would you be willing to pay?

[PvtStash]

I can only assume you are joking. $50?

And there would be zero market demand for this course. Regardless how much you read, bouyancy and skills can not be learned on the internet or from books. You need to practise, and there are few in the world who can climb into scuba gear and be good enough instantly even to pass the PADI tests.

nope, no joke... what do You consider "fair" payment to administer a written test and do checkout dives?

and of course there IS demand for such an option (albeit not a large one) unless you believe that I am completely and utterly unique (not) in my thinking.

And , actually skills Can be taught from books... we do it all the time... dont try an make OW harder than it is. And bouyancy skills? good try... yeah they dont teach that in OW basic either, thats why they have an actual class called "peak buoyancy"... (which I'll never take as I think buoyancy skills are learned by diving, diving, diving.)

 

[NudeDiver]

Instruction is generally about $300 around here. Plenty of shops also bemoan that if they raise their prices, then the bulk of thier customers will just go somewhere else. Which is probably true.

Damn! I wish it were that cheap here! Local dive shop here is charging $899 for tuition, books, rental gear, and the dives.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I believe the question would be better posed to the professionals in the manner that they say what they believe the "More Value" education is worth and we, the non-professionals can say whether we agree and whether we would pay that amount.

Perhaps it is my Purchasing background, perhaps it is my personality (or lack of according to some ) but I will never say "How much I would pay". I will only say if I would pay what was quoted.

And FWIW, I do not recall everything I got when I certified but I believe I paid close to $600-$650 for OW certification in the Caribbean, but we got a lot of extra "post-certification" dives and things on top of it so the instruction portion (including cert dives) was only a portion of that.

 

[CBulla]

No ... dive classes used to be about 40% of that.

Then I may be shooting low on the price or value of the course. It has amazing value added opporutnity for a diver to come out competent and confident.

 

[OldNSalty]

And , actually skills Can be taught from books...

I disagree. I don't think diving skills can be anymore effectively learned in a book then say fighting skills or driving or surgery or gymnastics. You can get theory but you can't develop the skill by reading. I would hate to step into a ring having only read how to box...

 

[mwilding]

Instead of replacing the current system, I'd add a class that takes you right to AOW or further with the intent of creating divers who come out of the gate with much more practiced skills. The way of the world is that few would pay a lot more for such an intensive class without a reward at the certification level, but if you could take on class and walk away with OW, AOW, Nitrox and Deep Diver C-Cards, I think you might have something.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I disagree. I don't think diving skills can be anymore effectively learned in a book then say fighting skills or driving or surgery or gymnastics. You can get theory but you can't develop the skill by reading. I would hate to step into a ring having only read how to box...

Well, if you were taught to cover your ears....you would be safe against Tyson anyways. I think that could be taught in a book.

Instead of replacing the current system, I'd add a class that takes you right to AOW or further with the intent of creating divers who come out of the gate with much more practiced skills. The way of the world is that few would pay a lot more for such an intensive class without a reward at the certification level, but if you could take on class and walk away with OW, AOW, Nitrox and Deep Diver C-Cards, I think you might have something.

I believe this is a huge problem that we find ourselves in today. People are certified and then are allowed to go immediately into further and higher certifications without ANY proven skills. This then allows them to do things that are way beyond their level IMHO. An AOW diver with 12 dives is no more prepared to dive a 120' wreck than an OW diver with 12 dives. I believe there should be mandatory dive limits and skill checks put in lace for advancements.....rather than "You want to give me money??? OK!!!"

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

I maintain that the initial Open Water certification no longer meets that specification, not even close. Most new divers survive not because they have the skills that are needed but because they are, by sheer chance, usually not stressed sufficiently to have to actually perform the skills that they've done once in the pool. When they are, we've all seen what happens.

YouTube - Diving Accident Broken Regulator

I never said, ...new divers have the skills that are needed...

My sentence only stated that they received the information. I submit that "sufficiently stressed" ANY diver is subject to death under water. It is up to the adult diver to take responsibility for their own safety (part of every dive class I've ever heard of...) and the limits proposed in class (artificial as they are) ARE sufficient to allow a new diver the chance to become skilled.

A 16 year old (In the USA) reads a book, does some tests and spends a little time learning to drive. Most new drivers survive not because they have the skills that are needed but because they are, by sheer chance, usually not stressed sufficiently to actually have to perform the skills they've practiced once on the road. When they are, we've all seen what happens. The skills are learned over time and experience. The same is true of diving

 

[redacted]

I disagree. I don't think diving skills can be anymore effectively learned in a book then say fighting skills or driving or surgery or gymnastics. You can get theory but you can't develop the skill by reading. I would hate to step into a ring having only read how to box...

You need to consider the specific course and it's associated skill set. For example, a diver seeking EAN cert should be able to learn everything they need to know from the book. Paying for hours of an instructors time to rehash and embellish the material presented in a book is a waste of time and $$.

IMHO, the scuba training industry would be better off if the crux of certification were testing to established standards and not instruction. All instruction should be optional.

 

[ScubaSteve]

......IMHO, the scuba training industry would be better off if the crux of certification were testing to established standards and not instruction. All instruction should be optional.

So in this scenario, who do you ask questions of? Did you go all the way through your certification and not ask one question? I am of the belief that too many people would take the approach "Ah heck, I will figure it out" rather than have to schedule an instructor to ask questions of.

Improve the instruction AND the testing and we have a safe certification practice (IMHO)