Open Water Rates with eLearning

[ninjastar]

being 2 hours from the closed dive shop, I decided to take the Padi eLearning for the didactic portion of the Open Water Course. However the quote they gave me for the OW course was the same with our without the eLearning portion. Dont dive shops give a discount if you already pay $120 for the eLearning course, since your not taking the classroom portion with them?

Thanks

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Nope! According to the training bulletin on eLearning it is suggested that shops DO NOT lower their price. You are paying for the convenience of doing it on line. Is not supposed to affect the shop at all. If shops were required or even suggested to lower their prices why would they accept an eLearning student in the first place. OW class is not a big profit item to begin with unless you have huge classes or cut alot of corners. Neither usually results in a good outcome.

 

[ninjastar]

ah makes sense, thanks for the reply!

 

[Froid]

I was wondering the same thing. Is it only for OW that the LDS won't apply the fee or all the PADI eLearning courses?

I travel a lot for work and am stuck in hotel rooms in the evening. I thought of doing eLearning, but if I am going to get double charge what value is it to me to use the eLearning?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The eLearning program was set up to be a convenience for the customer while not causing a hardship for the shop. Shops are free to do as they will. But if students sending money to PADI was going to cut the shop's bottom line nobody would participate in the program. The shop to my knowledge gets nothing from the money you send to PADI for the on line course. THey may get credit for another student certified but that and a dollar will get you half a cup of coffee. If you want to have the convenience of on line you gotta pay and pay again. It's why I left the PADI pro ranks. You need to realize that this is to get you in the door of the shop. It is not to save you money, only time in classrooms. I have an opinion on that but I'll be nice and shut up.

 

[DiveNav]

....... I travel a lot for work and am stuck in hotel rooms in the evening.....

Then you should try eDiving; our free Scuba Diving Simulator

 

[oly5050user]

I was wondering the same thing. Is it only for OW that the LDS won't apply the fee or all the PADI eLearning courses?

I travel a lot for work and am stuck in hotel rooms in the evening. I thought of doing eLearning, but if I am going to get double charge what value is it to me to use the eLearning?

The value of e-learning is the convience. You are not "double charged"..Cost of e-learning is $120..
Cost of purchasing crewpack and dvd video for ow course is $95.
Either way you need the materials,does not matter which way you get it-electronically or on paper.
If you go e-learning route no need for crewpak,but still need to purchase a training log book and a RDP.
Price of course tuition is what it is. Think of the text or e-learning as materials needed to participate.
AND yes the LDS that you listed on the PADI site when you registered for e-learning gets a peice-very small peice-of the $120. you paid ..same pretty much as if they sold you the older crewpack/dvd version.The LDS that you listed does NOT have to be where you take the class though..can be done with an independent instructor or a different store.

 

[redacted]

Nope! According to the training bulletin on eLearning it is suggested that shops DO NOT lower their price. You are paying for the convenience of doing it on line. Is not supposed to affect the shop at all. If shops were required or even suggested to lower their prices why would they accept an eLearning student in the first place. OW class is not a big profit item to begin with unless you have huge classes or cut alot of corners. Neither usually results in a good outcome.

Isn't that a bunch of crap. Now they (the scuba training/sales system) are going to start ripping you off before you even get wet. I suggest the OP shop around and find a shop that reduces its price recognizing the reduction in resources it must expend. If you can't find one that is reasonably priced, take a look at golf because this is just the first screwing scuba is going to give you.

 

[Froid]

Ok Either I am reading this wrong or there is conflicting info

ninjastar
Open Water Rates with eLearning

being 2 hours from the closed dive shop, I decided to take the Padi eLearning for the didactic portion of the Open Water Course. However the quote they gave me for the OW course was the same with our without the eLearning portion. Don't dive shops give a discount if you already pay $120 for the eLearning course, since your not taking the classroom portion with them?

JimLap
Nope! According to the training bulletin on eLearning it is suggested that shops DO NOT lower their price. You are paying for the convenience of doing it on line.

oly5050user
The value of e-learning is the convience. You are not "double charged"..Cost of e-learning is $120.Cost of purchasing crewpack and dvd video for ow course is $95.

So if the LDS price for OW not including the open water cert dives is $239.00 with the crew pack, the LDS will deduct the amount for the crew pack from the $239.00?

I read that PADI is starting a nitrox Elearning class. How would I complete the class if not at my LDS? Would the class all on the Internet?

 

[dive_gorilla]

SSI has online learning as well; and it's free. I used it on my last class because I couldn't get the student materials in timee for the first confined water session. I am in Korea and sometimes there is a delay in getting student kits in english, this helps tremendously. There is a disclaimer on the site when you sign up that you will be required to purchase student materials (they bought them when they paid for the open water course). When they complete it, they affiliate with a dive shop and we go from there.

Again, with SSI, online learning is free.