im new! cant wait to get in!!!!!!!

[jackson]

hello all this is my first ever post!!!

i am planning on going to thailand next year (again) and am going to do a course....
i was thinking padi but have just today seen that there is bad feelings about there ways.... so i was just after any advice or recomendations

i cant wait to go, last time i was just snorkelling and even that was just amazing!

thanks

 

[El Orans]

There's nothing wrong with PADI provided that you get a good instructor.

 

[jackson]

There's nothing wrong with PADI provided that you get a good instructor.

i just read this and it worried me a little

http://www.cdnn.info/news/editorial/o050620.html

 

[El Orans]

Do not confuse PADI Open Water with PADI Scuba Diver as mentioned in the article.

 

[Ringo]

hello all this is my first ever post!!!

i am planning on going to thailand next year (again) and am going to do a course....
i was thinking padi but have just today seen that there is bad feelings about there ways.... so i was just after any advice or recomendations

i cant wait to go, last time i was just snorkelling and even that was just amazing!

thanks

Hi Jackson There is no such thing as a bad underwater diving organization (whether it be PADI,SSI, Naui, BSAC, CMAS etc), however unfortunately there are some bad diving Instructors in every organization. PADI is predominantly taught in Thailand, especially on Phuket - just find yourself a reputable dive operator. Avoid those who teach big groups! Go for more personalized attention.
Enjoy your holiday!

 

[pasley]

Welcome. There are many different certification agencies out there. PADI is the big boy on the block and of course as the large competitor, it gets to be the target of many things. There are good and bad things about any certification agency. They all teach essentially the same subjects, but approach it differently. PADI dictates what material will be taught and how, other agencies leave the instructor more discretion. PAID is a for profit company, other agencies are supposedly not (but their member instructors sure seem to remember to charge you for the lessons). When you see a rock tossed at one certification agency, check it out. Often I have heard PADI does this…., only to go to the NAUI site and find so does NAUI (but they were forced to do it because PADI does.... but if it was important, why not stand on principal and not do it?). And so it goes. A whole bunch of the pot calling the kettle black. Bottom line, look at the instructor you will be taking lessons from, and evaluate the different certification agencies and pick the one that is right for you.

Personally, I would encourage you to take lessons at home where you can go at a more leisurely pace and study the materials and learn from someone who’s first language is the same as yours. I would be afraid that a resort in a distant location might be tempted to rush things just a tad to get me through, knowing I will not be back. There are SCUBA diving shops and lessons in many parts of the world and some in the most interesting far away from the ocean locations. That way you will learn in your home environment where you will be diving the rest of the year.

 

[jackson]

thanks for the advice guys

as im still in early days yet i have loads of time to plan and research.....and that is exactely what ill be doing...

the reason i wanted to do it in thailand is because i love phuket and am going there again. i saw loads of english and american instructors so dont think there will be much probs there for me.

and as i live in england (the place the sun seems by forget about) it wouldnt be that much fun for me to learn here i think.

thanks again

 

[AndyNZ]

the reason i wanted to do it in thailand is because i love phuket and am going there again.

Well, if you learn at home you'll have more time to dive when you're there! Certainly both organisations I'm familiar with (BSAC and PADI) require open water training dives that are essentially skills based. So you'll be kneeling on the bottom, taking your mask off, doing fin pivots and other such things.... useful, but not much fun. Learn now and relish the things you'll see when you go to Thailand and dive purely for the fun of it!

 

[Spoon]

good luck with your decison bro. either or youl be satisfied with a good instructor. by the way like your avatar