PADI Rocks!!!

[vladimir]

Two fun approaches to dealing with those kinds of posters is to either agree with them and say you're FOS, because it completely takes the wind out of their sails and they don't get the satisfaction of arguing with you and wasting your time, or you can just argue for the sake of arguing to piss them off.

May I suggest a third approach? It is admittedly less entertaining--especially for the know-very-littles--but why not read the posts of these experienced know-it-alls, compare it to what you can learn from authoritative sources, appraise the logic of what they say, and maybe learn something? I have learned a great deal on Scubaboard from some of the experienced divers in this thread.

 

[oreocookie]

I can't say I've read through this entire thread, but since it's been revived, I'll say this: padi is getting me into the water. period. whether their learning materials are worth the ridiculously expensive paper they're written on, I have no idea since I have nothing to compare to. It's going to allow me to get in the water so that I can dive and become a good diver. I don't expect padi to make me a good diver, nor do I really expect any of my present or future instructors to make me a good diver. What I do expect is for ME to make myself a good diver. Padi may get me started but its what I do after they give me a c-card that matters.

 

[SPG3K]

Said it before and I will say it again.

Until PADI turns into a living, breathing, walking, talking, diving instructor, the quality of your initial instruction and training is in the hands of the person who teaches you.

The agency just signs your card. Period. All arguments on the topic are mute, afaic.

You can argue standards and policies until scubaboard is no longer in existence, but it will not change the fact that no agency that I know of sits in on every training session conducted by their instructors.

Meaning that any instructor can, at any time, push any student through regardless of their level of ability or understanding.

Which means that the entity or responsibility for your training is on the trainER. Not the agency the trainer represents.

I don't understand why this is such a heated argument. There are NAUI/GUE/PADI/SSI instructors who may be subpar. And there are ones from each agency who are excellent.

The agency puts their name on a card. They do not "certify" you as is the common misconception in debates such as this on this board. Associating human traits to a non-human entity is called something - I cannot remember what right now - but thats what usually happens in these debates.

 

[emttim]

May I suggest a third approach? It is admittedly less entertaining--especially for the know-very-littles--but why not read the posts of these experienced know-it-alls, compare it to what you can learn from authoritative sources, appraise the logic of what they say, and maybe learn something? I have learned a great deal on Scubaboard from some of the experienced divers in this thread.

Because as I alluded to, people who think they know it all generally have a mediocre (at best) fund of knowledge who bring nothing to the table. I've learned plenty from the know-it-alls on SB, but primarily, I've learned who not to take advice from. Learning something is fine as long as it's from a reputable source, but with something such as scuba, I'd rather learn fact rather than fiction less I end up following some potentially fatal "advice".

I've learned a lot from SB and the people on it, however, not once have I learned anything useful from someone who thought they knew everything except to ignore them. This obsession with "looking up to the people with more dives" is growing out of proportion on here, and I'm not going to perpetuate this pandemic, because as other threads have mentioned there are divers out there with hundreds or maybe thousands of dives who are poor divers. I choose not to become one by following them.

I can't say I've read through this entire thread, but since it's been revived, I'll say this: padi is getting me into the water. period. whether their learning materials are worth the ridiculously expensive paper they're written on, I have no idea since I have nothing to compare to. It's going to allow me to get in the water so that I can dive and become a good diver. I don't expect padi to make me a good diver, nor do I really expect any of my present or future instructors to make me a good diver. What I do expect is for ME to make myself a good diver. Padi may get me started but its what I do after they give me a c-card that matters.

Well said!

 

[vladimir]

This obsession with "looking up to the people with more dives" is growing out of proportion on here, and I'm not going to perpetuate this pandemic, because as other threads have mentioned there are divers out there with hundreds or maybe thousands of dives who are poor divers. I choose not to become one by following them.

There's also an amusing revolt of some of the 25-49-dive guys, who want to feel like experts even though they aren't close. And probably never will be, because they aren't smart enough to listen to experts.

Nobody is suggesting that you should look up to people just because they have more dives. If you reread my post, you'll see that I also don't recommend you take advice without evaluating it against authoritative sources and your own knowledge and common sense. Without trying to figure out who you think the know-it-alls are in this thread, I can recommend that you take the counsel of MikeFerrara, Walter, and NWGratefulDiver seriously. But not on faith.

 

[Winterpeg]

As an inexperienced diver, I have learned a lot by reading SB, but I am disgusted by the bitterness of this thread.
PADI has opened up recreational diving to landlocked frozen northerners like me. Perhaps it does not occur to some of you debating the various agencies, that not all of us live in cities where divers are numerous to have a bunch of choices. Lots of us out here take lessons with whatever agency the local dive shop is affiliated with. In my city with a metropoliten area of around 600,000, there are only 4 dive shops. Three of them run PADI courses. The other teaches SSI. But at the time I enquired about lessons, that dive shop's policy was that you must buy all your own equipment from him before even before the OW lessons begin. How many people are going to commit to that in any sport before they see how they like it and how they do? :11: So I took the PADI classes.
I am not a young kid and I didn't just fall off a turnip truck yesterday, so I know my limitations. Living where I do, diving will be a vacation hobby only. I don't plan to go off on my own and take risks. I am perfectly happy to go a couple of weeks a year and do a few dives with a guide. I plan to refresh and review both my theory and skills before I go. Give people like me a break and let us take some responsibility for ourselves.
As for the criticism of PADI publications, I have to say I like them. They are very user-friendly - well organized and laid out, give clear explanations and have good photos and illustrations. I have a bachelor's degree and have also studied musical harmony, and I have had my share of lousy textbooks , so this was a pleasant relief. Yes, the ads and promos are a little much after a while, but I can skip over them and so can you. Don't you fast forward the ads on your VCR?
I plan to move on reading more informative threads on other issues.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I will say what at least one other has said....I have not read every post in this thread as they number around 150. My take on PADI is this:

PADI really does stand for "Put Another Dollar In" and a lot of what they are pushing on you is nothing more than propaganda selling their products (PADI approved this and PADI approve that). HOWEVER, they are the one that started me out on what I can only say has become ONE HECK OF A RIDE!! I certified OW PADI on one of the islands, and knew at that point the education was less than perfect because some things they taught were just useless. But, I paid attention, proved my skills, certified, dove within my comfort level, experience and training. I have continued my training in the cold waters of Canada and now carry several NAUI certifications. Even the NAUI courses left some things to be desired and I believe that was the LDS' and Instructor's fault. It really does boil down to the Instructor or the DM and how they teach. Granted, PADI can make some pretty defined rules about how something is to be taught but I believe that for the most part, a good instructor can overcome that.

PADI is far too big to not play a huge part in "introducing" many people to Scuba who might otherwise never bother. You can't go to an island without tripping over a dozen "PADI 5 STAR...." shops. I agree they are not the best but a lot of people would likely not dive were it not for their "Location and Convenience". The will be continued to be argued as a bad thing, and I am not disagreeing....just stating what I believe to be a fact.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

At least let's get this right. No Australian invented the demand regulator. Emille Gagnon (Frenchman) actually developed and invented it. Coustaeu joined him and they tested and refined it in 1943. Look it up. Today; most historians refer to Gagnan and Cousteau as the fathers of modern scuba diving gear.

Now, there are parts to every organization that are fantastic and much that is crap. It depends on where you are and who is instructing (also who is watching the teachers..). Can all programs be improved? Yup. Some more than others.

And by the way, I teach tables as part of SDI instruction. It is part of the manual, and while I cannot speak for all, my shop and all of our instructors teach and test tables. A computer could always fail, and while SDI requires that you utilize technology, I believe you must have the knowledge to do it yourself.

This is the way I see it- even the best organization and set of standards can be horrible depending on the instructor. Conversely, the weakest set of standards can become the best course depending on the instructor.... Those instructors who are looking to make money teaching scuba(HAH!), produce cut corners and cattlecar classes. Huge mistake. Those instructors who teach diving to teach someone to Dive, will go the distance and insure that they produce well-trained, capable divers. A name is marketing and not worth anything if the diver is unsafe. No organization can ensure competency. Only the instructor can do that. Thank your instructor and dive masters. Not an agency.

 

[Riger]

Ha Ha, When I read the topic, "PADI ROCKS" I could not help imagining an outlet store with little River Rocks and the PADI sign on them as a commercial drive. Get your PADI rocks here !!

OK OK, it seemed funny at the time.

Regards

Richard

 

[Walter]

At least let's get this right. No Australian invented the demand regulator. Emille Gagnon (Frenchman) actually developed and invented it.

True as far as it goes, but divingscubadude never said the demand regulator was invented by an Australian. He said:

Also, an Australia invented the single hose regulator.

That happens to be true. The single hose regulator was invented by Ted Eldred of Australia in 1949.