Is there a benefit to some PADI Courses?

[cayal]

I was browsing the various courses that PADI offer and see ones like the National Geographic Diver, AWARE - Fish Identification, AWARE - Coral Reef, Project AWARE etc.

Now they sound cool and interesting but surely they don't hold any real benefit that you couldn't learn on your own? I mean they don't really hold much except for being aware of oceanic issues or knowing fish?

Are there any benefits that I am missing or is it just a way to make money?

 

[TMHeimer]

If you took those 4 and one more plus Rescue & 50 logged dives you are an MSD.

 

[DevonDiver]

Just my interpretation, but I divide PADI specialty courses into 3 categories:

1) Specialist Activities - Subjects that either focus on a specific equipment proficiency (i.e. sidemount, dpv) or a specific diving competence (nitrox, buoyancy, search & recovery).

2) Marine Life and Conservation Interest - Subjects that focus upon (as the name implies) the marine environment and issues that stem from it.

3) Advanced Diving Activities - Subjects that require a higher level of training, where specific risks and hazards present themselves. Typically, these courses are only available beyond AOW, not OW level). Would include; deep, wreck, cavern, tech basics, tec sidemount etc. In many instances, I present these courses at the 'Tecreational' level.

That is how I list and present them on my website:



When you ask about 'benefit' - that is really something defined by the individual. There are many perceptions of benefit - typically defined by a persons interests and goals.

If you specifically mean the benefit of 'skill development', then -of course- not every PADI specialty course is ideal in contributing to that goal.

As for your ability to self-learn the topics covered in those classes, then yes - you can learn that by yourself. A 15 year old kid just hit the news because he invented a ground-breaking clinical test for cancer - all via Google research and self-learning.... so the limits of 'self-learning' via the internet are really proven effective.

Having said that, the learning outcome of any given course is ultimately dictated by the quality and knowledge of the instructor. Whilst the relevant PADI Manual might only present the 'bare bones' of a topic, a motivated and capable instructor should be able to provide a wider breadth of material from their own knowledgebase. There's a fair few qualified marine biologists out there working as scuba instructors - and they have a great deal of supplementary knowledge to contribute to such courses.

In addition, many of the 'conservation' themed PADI courses specifically focus on the application of the manual materials in a local context - it is the job of the instructor to add relevance to the materials by teaching how specific issues impact on a local or regional basis.

Come to Subic Bay and your 'Project Aware' course goes into detail on the Seahorse study and artificial reef projects that we have ongoing. Likewise, the 'Coral Reef Conservation' course focuses on our local issues - the impact of dynamite and cyanide fishing practices. These include the opportunity to get involved with the projects themselves, the local community and assist, or observe, with the dives we do.

You can't judge the quality of a course from reading a course outline online - talk to prospective instructors and find out exactly what they have to offer.

 

[cbm32]

The way I see it....some of them are simply a way to make money that has been constructed by an instructor/instructors that have a particular interest in the subject matter.

Now, probably nearly every instructor that has come up with one of these is genuinely invested in the subject matter and so feels there is a real benefit to the course. Likewise, the people taking the course obviously have an interest in the subject matter and so will probably perceive a benefit (assuming the instructor manages to come up with some interesting/enlightening content).

However, I dont really see a lot of practical benefit to many of these courses and personally wouldnt waste my time or money on them. But, thats just me and I am not particularly politically correct in a LOT of areas

I am not going to knock anyone for coming up with a way to make a buck, or for spending their money in whatever way they see fit, or laugh in someones face if they proudly display a fancy card for some of the things. But, I might just shake my head chuckle about it to myself about it later

 

[DevonDiver]

I'm not sure about the 'making money' issue that you are referring to. From my experience, these courses rarely break even. I can only speak for myself, but I offer the 'conservation' based courses purely because I want to educate and involve people - with the sum goal being to help improve awareness and, hence, action in changing the behaviors that contribute towards the decline of the marine environment.

Cynicism is a very negative behavior trait.

 

[graham_s]

I think if you learn something that you didn't know before, it's worth it.

 

[scubawitch]

Hello, I am not a dive professional and have sought out speciality courses that will add benefit/skill/safety to my dives.
I read dive books and watch marine related TV programmes quite avidly, so like you I am hesitant about some of the
'2) Marine Life and Conservation Interest - Subjects
I beleive the quality of these course to be instructor reliant.

I would like you opinion on Master Diver qualification. I have 4 specialities at the moment and when I find the right instructor I will take the UW photography course. That will give me 5 cards - my impression is that I will then automatically (on payment) be granted MD status, is that right?

 

[TSandM]

I think there are very few things that you can't learn on your own. What education does is make it easier and faster.

Up in the top tier of classes I have taken, as far as value to my diving goes, is my Pacific Northwest Marine Life ID class I took as a novice diver. It's a distinctive specialty, put together by a photographer with an encyclopedic knowledge of what lives in our waters. It's a PADI specialty.

I think anyone who dives would find their diving more interesting if they knew more about the things they're looking at. Even in quarries and lakes, there are freshwater species, and knowing more about them will just make the diving richer. Granted, the typical PADI Fish ID class is fairly superficial -- but superficial is better than nothing, and if it sparks a greater interest in the student, there are lots of places to get more extensive education.

 

[DevonDiver]

I would like you opinion on Master Diver qualification. I have 4 specialities at the moment and when I find the right instructor I will take the UW photography course. That will give me 5 cards - my impression is that I will then automatically (on payment) be granted MD status, is that right?

Typically, the MSD certification is processed by the instructor who provides the final requisite course and confirms all the requirements are met. As there is no specific training involved, the only payments (IMHO) should be for the card application and, perhaps, postage. For the last few years in PADI SE Asia region, the MSD certification has been free - very nice.

The MSD certification, in itself, doesn't prove much. This is due to the variables in courses undertaken and the quality of instruction received. As a Dive Pro, I see it only as evidence that the diver concerned has a positive attitude towards education and development. That is typically a good indicator that the diver won't be a liability. Note: a potential indicator, not a guarantee.

The requirement for Master Scuba Diver is: 5x specialty courses, rescue diver + 50 logged dives. The card doesn't list which specialty courses you took - which I feel is an over-sight by PADI, as that information would be very beneficial on the card.

 

[Searcaigh]

I did two courses (U/W Naturalist and Research) with a marine biologist instructor when I lived in Jeddah and I learned a lot from both of these courses. Both of these also helped me understanding marine life better in order to improve my photography. To add to the last statement I have never taken an U/W photography course.

As DD has already pointed out there are many courses you can take to improve your skills and will benefit you in diving, as you have less than 24 dives just get out and dive and improve your basic skills first before looking at other specialities.