OW Certification in St.Lucia

[Jack x]

Hi,

I recently joined the forum - this is a great community!

I am planning a trip to St. Lucia in the new few months and I am interested doing a PADI open water certification course (theory, pool and 4/5 OW dives) while there.

I am wondering how I should select the company I use for the program. I am considering the following PADI dive operators:
Jalousie plantation dive
anse chastanet.

Does anyone have any suggestions how I can rate these or compare them before I get on island? Is it possible to contact PADI for positive/ negative feedback about dive operators?

I will be staying at Jalousie Plantation.

Also - some offer a home study course where you learn the theory at home and then reinforce it with the Instructor before the pool and OW dives.

Thanks for all your insight!
peter

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Let me be the first to welcome you to Scubaboard!!

Sorry no info on St. Lucia. Good luck though. Plenty of info here.

 

[Tigerman]

Talk to the instructors on both the possible operators and see who you feel most comfortable with.
Theres also a list of questions you could use when talking to them somewhere on this forum but i cant find it atm.. Try searching around a bit.

 

[Jason Ooi]

Welcoem to :sblogo:
:wave-smil :wave-smil

 

[PePaw]

Jack, is there a LDS in your area where you could get the study materials and do your confined pool dives ?

I'm doing my study/pool where I live and doing my open water dives in Aruba.

That way your not rushed trying to learn the material.

 

[glugo357]

Welcome to the Board Jack.

 

[Jack x]

Dear All,

Thank you very much for all your insightful feedback.

I did obtain the list of questions, but it is not so easy to evaluate all the recommended questions mainly via e-mail and in a few days, not weeks.

I have spoken with 1 location, but I was hoping to read/obtain multiple data points i.e. reviews/comments from divers using these operators.
Of the dive operators I consider in St. Lucia, Dive Fair Helen seems to be the most commented on and is well regarded. However, it seems they charge a premium for their services and I am not sure how this premium is justified. Certainly safety and solid Instruction are paramount and are my key concerns/ desires.

I was going to just do a resort course on my trip but then I became concerned that I would be rushed thru the important safety stuff and into the dives ill-prepared.

My e-mail to PADI was not been answered yet.

Thanks!
-jackson

 

[cayman diver]

great diving right on the beach. The only issue is its a marine park that they charge for but i'm sure if you stay there its all in. Very nice site lots of life, i recommend it one of my favorite sites ever - and i live in the caymans!!

 

[Jack x]

Hi Cayman diver,

Thanks for your reply. Did you learn from Jalousie plantation Dive Shop? I am trying to obtain feedback about these PADI dive operators so I can make a decision about who to learn with.
Thanks!

 

[cayman diver]

No i did not but i heard they were the most pro lot on the island, my friend got cert with them 4 years ago and was very plased he is now a DM. It is the best site on the island and the most professinal, the other option is Sandals great boats dove with them as well in antigua but the Jamacian Instructor was just after money not intrested in teaching pay him $200 and he would sign off anything - so we didn't but they have lovly boats and 4 days we were the only people on them.

Getting a good instructor is just luck while on holiday so if i were you i would do all the pool work first then just do the referal dive there.
Good luck and happy diving