PADI Diving Society member benefits 2005

[piikki]

Just got a letter from PADI, and checked a few posts on the board regarding this membership deal. I hadn’t thought of joining but would anyone know particularly about this year’s benefits (my OW cert is from June), particularly:

- rebate value towards PADI AOW (coming up late summer/fall)?
- gear rebates that would still be good for stuff bought June-July (is PADI known to give rebates for certain companies only? In case so, can you give any idea for which ones?)

I have no idea of how tight expiration dates are and what the membership might bring. The mag can be purchased cheaper and I have DAN insurance, so rebates sound like the only thing that might make this beneficial. Any current insider info available?

piikki

 

[jrowland]

Here is the list to the Diving Society site that pretty much has the coupons in electronic form http://www.padi.com/english/americas/divesoc/benefits/ If you were to join now you'd get some rebates extended into the 06 year as well, they're generally good the full year.

Personally for me the biggest benefit is Sports Diver, which is a fairly good maganzine to add to a diving library.

 

[piikki]

Thanks for your response!
So that's really all there is... I thought there would be more secrets than the web page let's everybody know - considering I was "s e l e c t e d to receive the membership" tho by paying for it... heh
Thanks very much for confirming, I didn't realize. I can now pass with ease and get my magazines from elsewhere.

 

[mike_s]

While there are some benifits, after looking at the list, there are few I'd use since they aren't offered by any PADI places in my state. I'm sure they are some benifit to some people, but not much to me.

I personally like Sport Diver magazine, but it alone isn't worth the I think $36/year membership. Though I like it, it's a little too "biased" with articles towards promoting PADI or some padi course/speciality, but it IS thier magazine, so that's to be expected. I don't subscribe to it, but look at a friends or pic up a free copy at the dive shop they put out.\

(BTW... I don't think Scuba Diving magazine is worth the $18/year they charge, but you can pick up a 2 year subscription to it on EBAY for $9 bucks, which equates to about $0.40 cents per issue._

 

[StSomewhere]

Instead of "joining" to get the magazine, I check out SportDiver at the local B&N. Since I only buy every other issue, its far cheaper, though come to think of it I've blown about 10 bucks when I add in the cost of a grande Latte.

I still think DiveTraining magazine is the best recreational dive magazine out there. My two cents.

 

[spstar]

Instead of "joining" to get the magazine, I check out SportDiver at the local B&N. Since I only buy every other issue, its far cheaper, though come to think of it I've blown about 10 bucks when I add in the cost of a grande Latte.

I still think DiveTraining magazine is the best recreational dive magazine out there. My two cents.

I'd have to agree with StSomewhere I get three different ones and I like Dive Training the best

 

[piikki]

I am still getting free Dive Training (6mos free deal with my OW cert). After that I plan to use eBay deals for mags since they seem to be valid offers - another great piece of feedback from Scubaboard!

 

[Wayward Son]

Even cheaper is if your local dive shop has it. Both shops here keep Dive Training stocked and give it away free. Once my wife's free subscription runs out, we'll just pick it up when we go by the shop.

I really like Dive Training. If it wasn't available free at the LDS, it would be well worth our subscribing to.

 

[SoCalOffshore]

You join PADI to support Scuba diving in general, plus you get some benefits.

 

[Buoyant1]

I got this nifty plastic carry all bag for renewing my membership early last year! (used it on a dive trip to carry my munchies and mini cooler..which I got free at the Diver's Direct grand opening in Dania Beach last July!)

Scuba Diving for two years on Ebay for $9.00? hmm..better wander over there! My free sub from StartSampling.com is expiring soon!