Thank you for your reply. Probably a reason is like, for the last twenty years or so, literally the majority of divers worldwide were certified by PADI - and for many who failed to do their own research PADI's route of OW - DM - Instructor is the only thing they know.
Given this and what you say on the second paragraph, I feel that many new OW/AOW divers did not train their skills because they think only a DM should "drill skills" - and many (A)OWs think they should not have the skill to operate dive independently. I've heard more than one such diver commenting 1) staying close to dive guide is enough to keep me alive, and 2) I paid the dive guide to deploy DSMB.
PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
So they pursue their goal, training people for becoming professional instructors and working in diving centers and holiday resorts.
Then, at a certain point, they did see the possibility to expand their activity working with diving shops.
Economically it was a wise choice for PADI, they decuplicated their revenue, making them the most widely known commercial agency for training scuba divers.
But they mantained their attitude towards professional instructors.
Which is not bad, I worked as a professional instructor in resorts in small Mediterranean islands and at Maldives for 5 years. Little money, but a wonderful life.
Not for everyone, of course.
So Padi is very good for people wanting to do this experience.
There are many other ways to dive. After concluding our experience as professional instructors, I and my wife made sons and spent years training them, in the pool and in the sea.
And after this, I switched to dive only as a scientific diver, as part of my work as a professor at the university.
I never switched to tech diving, which is whete GUE excels, simply because my CMAS recreational training and certifications did already include "light deco", "light cave", rebreathers and a dozen of other "specialties" which Padi certifies one by one.
So I did never feel compelled to go further. But I can see how GUE divers, fully trained for "full cave" or trimix, are more skilled than me.
Every diver should choose what kind of diving he wants to do, and train accordingly. I preferred to remain within Cmas limits for recreational diving, but I know many other divers who wanted more.
Some went to the (very dangerous) route of solo + rebreather.
Others preferred the (safer) DIR approach, focused on team operation, safety and standardisation.
Of course it also depends on the environment, the activity of local clubs or shops, knowing the good instructor, getting access to facilities as a diving center with compressor and boat, and getting well engaged with buddy divers.
It is very difficuly to suggest "the best way" of diving or training, not knowing all these local variables, and your preferences.
Every agency has its own highs and lows.
Padi is not as evil as many people here on SB think: they are a for-profit organisation which is very good selling a reliable, low-mid-quality service for an honest price.
They are like the Toyota.
Of course if you want a Lamborghini you should look elsewhere...
Cmas instead is a no-profit organisation providing an higher level training at a lower cost (as instructors are volunteers operating in clubs) but the variability is much larger and the time required for training is measured in months, instead of days.
GUE provides a top-notch service at higher price, with a very constant quality and very intense, short "full immersion" courses.
There are many other organizations and agencies operating differently.
As you see, the choice is ample, and each solution is not for everyone.
