PADI Advanced Open Water

[Keith.M]

Hey there Diver0001,

I can understand a shop being motivated to sell gear. But I don't understand any correlation between providing sub standard training and selling gear.

What would be the motivation of providing sub standard training? How would that benefit a dive shop?

---------- Post added February 15th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ----------

OK, I see your other thread and see the motivation you are claiming.

 

[Peter_C]

I would disagree with this qualification. I think instructors who can give outstanding AOW courses are quite common. You just don't find them through dive shops.

To a dive shop the AOW course is all about client binding, selling gear and cha-ching. They generally don't give a rat's ass if you learn anything. Instructors who want to teach diving to AOW level students, therefore, generally don't offer it through a shop.

This course in particular (especially if you already have your own gear) is one where a bit of research by the student to find a competent instructor who is not just "going through the motions" can really pay off. They're out there. Look for freelancers with good recommendations.

R..

In your area that may be true, but doesn't hold true in my area. There are not a lot of private instructors that teach outside of the dive shops as there just isn't that much business. Even the dive shops are struggling to find students.

Not one of my local dive shops sells, nor dives, Hogarthian type gear. Their training would not be inline with a HOG gear configuration. So that leaves instructors outside the immediate area, and outside of a dive shop. Fortunately we have a few GUE instructors, and at least a couple of UTD instructors, that can offer the training to the level desired.