PADI just released its 4th quarter training bulleting and startying Jan. 1, 2006 all students are required to have their own manual during the course and have it with them for future reference.
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jtoorish:I am always fascinated by this discussion.
Let's spin this out a bit. Let's say that we can all figure out a way to take PADI (or any other certifying agency) courses without paying for them. Eventually, your certifying agency goes out of business because nobody paid for the service they offer. I mean, it's just knowledge right; that has no actual value once it has been transferred once.
So, your certifying agency is gone. And one day you spend a couple thousand dollars to travel to some exotic destination to dive and the shop there declines to fill your tanks or rent you gear because you are no longer certified by an existing agency.
That is not a farfetched scenario.
Personally, I think these kinds of discussions truly go to a very fundamental concern. If someone is willing to cut corners on something as basic, and cheap, as course material. Then there is a real question about their willingness to be safe when it comes to the far more expensive proposition of dive gear, and the safety inherent to making the right decisions on the purchase and maintennance of that gear.
In my opinion, dive instruction is incredibly inexpensive. Dive instructors clearly do it for the love of the sport. The course material costs practically nothing compared with other activities of comparable nature. Not to mention, there are so many certifying agencies for diving, unlike activities such as sky diving and flying. That competition seems to keep the price low.
If someone is unwilling to pay for a book, how can I trust that person to have the necessary equipment to be my dive buddy?
I don't mean to offend here, and I understand there are varying levels of financial ability involved. But by the same token, I have never heard anyone say "I'm an unsafe diver because I can't afford to be a safe diver...but I'll dive anyway."
A final point: Personally, I would like to see my certifying agency continue in business. Just like I want to see Adobe continue to come out with new versions of Photoshop. For that reason, I am willing to pay for the services both offer.
Again, I hope I haven't offended anyone here.
Best wishes and safe diving.
Jeff
in_cavediver:This misses one point. He ALREADY has a copy of the book minus the 5 worksheets. Are you telling me that those 5 worksheets are the key to the book and without them, the material is somehow comprimised?
Its about money, pure and simple.
jtoorish:Actually, that's exactly what I'm saying for three reasons.
1. The book is incomplete and the knowledge reviews are an important part of the book and its purpose.
jtoorish:2. Those books are supposed to remain with the original student, so his having the book means another diver does not.
jtoorish:3. Those pages are copyrighted material. I realize a lot of people don't understand the nature of intellectual property, but PADI made an investment in creating that and they have a right to earn a return on it.
jtoorish:Do I believe it is about money? Sure. But it's about money on both sides. On one side a company invested in creating a product and wants a return for their investment. On the other side someone is trying to avoid paying for something. So, yes, it is certainly about money.
I also stand by my eariler point, that not wanting to invest in something as inexpensive as a new book raises questions about what other more expensive equipment someone would decide not to invest in.
latitude:You agreed to those terms when you bought the book/signed up for the class. If you're doing other, you're breaking the law and so are the dive shops allowing people to do it. Like the others have said, $30 isn't that much over a diving career. Stop being so cheap and do the legal and ethical thing and buy the book. You're asking people to break the law by giving you copies. :14:
By the way... Enjoy your diving and welcome to the world of SCUBA!!!
latitude:PADI's mistake is selling the book seperately... They should wrap the cost of the books into their certification fees and give the books away for "free" and avoid all this bickering...