Is there a benefit to some PADI Courses?

[paolov]

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?

Learning on your own is encouraged by PADI, the courses are for guidance that goes directly to the stated goals. the pay for PADI is more on the organizational effort of materials and sequencing and the labor of love of the instructor

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

its a way to make the scuba sport thrive. benefits you on your knowledge and in a safe manner (assuming it is done as specified)


so its basic knowledge provided in the materials (you have to expand this knowledge both in content and understanding)

and the VALUE you put on the knowledge provided vs. the cost you were charged for it.

 

[supergaijin]

You can learn pretty much anything from trial and error.
You can learn from people.
You can learn from professionals.
You can learn from media (books, video, internet).

Depending on your base knowledge, the stated PADI courses can completely open your eyes to a new world, or just re-confirm everything you already knew- including the fact that PADI instructors are just bums needing a haircut and a real job.

 

[TMHeimer]

I see what Devon Diver says about these courses not being real money makers. Except perhaps that they serve to keep divers interested in diving, which means they may buy new equipment from the shop. A positive monetary way of looking at it is to consider how many dives you get for the course and what doing these dives outside a course would cost you (if you're dealing with charter dives I guess). In addition you get the education. For MSD most of the specialties I took had to do with improving diving and safety.

 

[Crowley]

I like TSandM's post for the comment - "...if it sparks a greater interest in the student..."

One of my best friends in the whole wide world decided to quit being a dive instructor to go back to university and study marine biology, just because he did a whole bunch of agency training and it sparked off enough interest that he couldn't give it up. It doesn't work like that for everyone because that is so very dependent on the individual, but sometimes these little "taster" courses do generate a great deal of interest and a willingness to learn more.

The success of that, like any teacher, is dependent on the competence, knowledge-ability and level of enthusiasm on behalf of the instructor, and the receptiveness of the student. Some people - students and instructors alike, just go through the motions. For the Project Aware specs - yeah, it's not much you can't read about in the first place but - actually, a lot of divers never read it.....

Cheers

C.

 

[bbarnett51]

Lets say you are a new diver and have been having a great time diving. However, you have no idea what you are looking at. You can buy underwater ID cards and flip through them. You can film each fish and research them online or you can take a course organized by PADI and have all the info you need plus an instructor to help. Is it worth it? Thats up to you but it sure seems like an easy solution.

Another example. Deep Diver. I took deep with SSI but I am sure its close to PADI. You can trust another diver and hope he remembers to tell you everything. You can do deep dives and experience narcosis and learn as you go. OR you can learn about narcosis, PPO2, air consumption at various ATMs, and a million other things. Then take your knowledge and make a well thought out dive. So is the class worth worth it? HELL yes! Most divers don't even know the questions to ask or the possible problems that can occur until they read about it.

I have taken deep, rescue, navigation, nitrox, and night limited vis. ALL of them exposed me to situations that I didn't even know where possible. I am a better diver and a better buddy because of it.

There is a dangerous theme on scuba board that is echoed by more than a few. And that is that these courses are a scam designed to make money. Knowlege and situational awareness will save lives and those are best achieved from learning then practicing with a professional. IMO

 

[tracydr]

I highly recommend the drysuit and nitrox class.
After that, deep and search and rescue would be my next choices, navigation would also be up there. Night diving if you don't have experience in it. There are some special techniques that are important to night dives, especially when doing them from shore, to make sure you navigate back to your exit point( my husband is an instructor so I think I've had that specialty 10x over, night dives are our favorite).

 

[BDSC]

There is a dangerous theme on scuba board that is echoed by more than a few. And that is that these courses are a scam designed to make money. Knowlege and situational awareness will save lives and those are best achieved from learning then practicing with a professional. IMO

I'm not sure I would call some of the courses a scam but I cringe when I hear the local dive shop announce that 4 people just got their "Boat Diver" certification. No doubt there are courses beyond OW and Rescue that can be a benefit to a diver and learning from an instructor may be the way to go. But really, a lot of that stuff you can learn on your own far cheaper than paying for the course.

What I tend to see on ScubaBoard is for the most part, but not always, those folks that are instructors/DM's/shop employees will say, "Don't dive deep until you take the deep diver course." Or "You should take the wreck diver course before you start wreck diving". Etc. There is certainly nothing wrong with going that route. However, you can also learn to safely dive deep or wreck dive by learning from a more experienced dive buddy or mentor. "Taking the course" is just one way to learn but not the only way and usually learning from a buddy or mentor cost you nothing.

 

[matts1w]

I truly believe two of the bests classes I have ever taught was the PADI Fish ID and Naturalist courses.... to a bunch of 7th and 8th graders when I was working for a summer scuba/sailing program in the Caribbean. Those kids came out of the water smiling ear to ear, stoked about the sea life they discovered, and could not wait to compile and present their data to their peers. They especially loved studying PVC quadrants and listing all the creatures they could find in such a small area. We all had a blast and the kids absolutely learned a ton.

I agree these classes are not for everyone, but even Boat Diver can be a great class to the right audience. Any kid who spends time on a boat needs the knowledge in the course outline.

 

[TSandM]

I can still remember Peter more or less rescuing an AOW student who was doing his "deep" dive. He got to about 80 feet and began to behave really erratically . . . he was unstable, kicking randomly, and not responding to signals. Peter grabbed him and towed him up about 15 feet, where he woke up.

I think there are some people who really OUGHT to do their first "deep" dive with somebody who's capable of and comfortable with rescuing an impaired diver. The problem is that those people don't know who they are until they get there.

 

[cayal]

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.

Cynicism by definition is negative

However I don't mean to be negative. I want to help, I would love to somehow make a career in diving and marine studies. But I was never smart enough in school and never knew I wanted to do it until I started diving and became fascinated by the ocean world.

But my cynicism comes from years of getting hopes up only to find out it's a scam or not legit. You look at courses online for something you are interested in, you think it sounds good but in the end they want your money and they are not qualified.
This is the reason I asked my original question (I didn't word it so well I know), is it a benefit, could it help me move into something that will focus on marine conservation.

I like TSandM's post for the comment - "...if it sparks a greater interest in the student..."

One of my best friends in the whole wide world decided to quit being a dive instructor to go back to university and study marine biology, just because he did a whole bunch of agency training and it sparked off enough interest that he couldn't give it up. It doesn't work like that for everyone because that is so very dependent on the individual, but sometimes these little "taster" courses do generate a great deal of interest and a willingness to learn more.

The success of that, like any teacher, is dependent on the competence, knowledge-ability and level of enthusiasm on behalf of the instructor, and the receptiveness of the student. Some people - students and instructors alike, just go through the motions. For the Project Aware specs - yeah, it's not much you can't read about in the first place but - actually, a lot of divers never read it.....

Cheers

C.

This is exactly what I am talking about. I would LOVE to do that, I fear I am not smart enough though.

I want to help and be aware, most definitely, but I guess I want the best way to do this.