PADI vs SSA for College Credit – Rusty Berry's Response

[Goodster]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a student at Claremont Mckenna College and just today I tried to get PE credit for finishing my PADI OWD certification course. I sent the head of the PE department an email as follows:

"Coach ****,

This fall semester I initially expected to take Beg/Int Scuba at CMC for my PE credit class. During the summer I completed the PADI Open Water Diver certification course and because of that timing even completed several extra dives with my family. PADI sent notice of my entire course completion to the Registrar and I'd like to petition you for a PE credit for this course. I'm presently enrolled this semester in Power Yoga instead of doing the scuba class over. I would be happy to talk with you further at your convenience about receiving this credit.

Thank you, **** *******"

CMC contracts out to Rusty Berry's Dive shop in SoCal and students wishing to become diver certified are sent through his Scuba Schools of America program.

I get this response to my petition from Rusty Berry, not my school's PE director.

Rusty Berry: "I would tend to decline the pe credit, primarily because he is not trained to dive like our divers are trained. As an example, in the program he was trained through.... they are not taught gas consumption calculations. To be specific, no mention of gas planning is within the PADI educational program other that the rule of thirds. If he can explain minimum ascent cylinder requirements then I would have no problem allowing a waiver, but as it was not taught in his program, at this point this diver does not have the ability to know how much gas he needs just to make his ascent safely with enough gas left over. Simply put he has been given an education to survive underwater...not to dive with autonomy."

Is there a real difference between PADI and SSA certifications? Is Mr. Berry just mad that I didn't give him the money by taking his course through his program? As far as I know, PADI is one of the world's foremost diver certification companies yet he seems to dismiss PADI as a second rate certification. Any responses would greatly help me in my quest for credit. Thanks!

-Goodster

 

[padiscubapro]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a student at Claremont Mckenna College and just today I tried to get PE credit for finishing my PADI OWD certification course. I sent the head of the PE department an email as follows:

"Coach ****,

This fall semester I initially expected to take Beg/Int Scuba at CMC for my PE credit class. During the summer I completed the PADI Open Water Diver certification course and because of that timing even completed several extra dives with my family. PADI sent notice of my entire course completion to the Registrar and I'd like to petition you for a PE credit for this course. I'm presently enrolled this semester in Power Yoga instead of doing the scuba class over. I would be happy to talk with you further at your convenience about receiving this credit.

Thank you, **** *******"

CMC contracts out to Rusty Berry's Dive shop in SoCal and students wishing to become diver certified are sent through his Scuba Schools of America program.

I get this response to my petition from Rusty Berry, not my school's PE director.

Rusty Berry: "I would tend to decline the pe credit, primarily because he is not trained to dive like our divers are trained. As an example, in the program he was trained through.... they are not taught gas consumption calculations. To be specific, no mention of gas planning is within the PADI educational program other that the rule of thirds. If he can explain minimum ascent cylinder requirements then I would have no problem allowing a waiver, but as it was not taught in his program, at this point this diver does not have the ability to know how much gas he needs just to make his ascent safely with enough gas left over. Simply put he has been given an education to survive underwater...not to dive with autonomy."

Is there a real difference between PADI and SSA certifications? Is Mr. Berry just mad that I didn't give him the money by taking his course through his program? As far as I know, PADI is one of the world's foremost diver certification companies yet he seems to dismiss PADI as a second rate certification. Any responses would greatly help me in my quest for credit. Thanks!

-Goodster

I am not defending Rusty but being a PADI instructo(one my hats) he has picked upon key true points. There is a differnece between programs offered by various agencies, they are not all the same.

Academically the initial PADI programs are very minimalistic.. They teach you what they feel is the minimum you need to know..

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Colleges also do not have to offer credits. Rusty is a piece of work to be sure but a college scuba program from any agency should feel like a college course even if it is for entry level pe. The course I would expect would have extensive gas management, physics, physiology, deco procedures, environmental concerns, and most importantly rescue skills. If it did not and did not insure the diver could plan and execute dives without professionals present it is not worth taking. If your ow class included these then I'd give it credit. If not then find out what is required and go too that through a reputable shop. Otherwise just take another pe class. Like archery, judo, etc. Btw probably a good idea you didn't take rustys class or you would have had to take out a loan for gear based on other peoples experiences. But hey its only college.

 

[BabyDuck]

no dog in the hunt, didn't take scuba in college, and not an instructor.

*but* - even if rusty's a a-hole in most respects, he's right here. i have several friends who took scuba in college, and it is a *very* comprehensive class since they have the time to burn. you usually end up the semester/year with rescue or some other higher card than open water, and have lots and lots of classroom and pool time.

that's not to say that your non-college class was not worth your time or not a good class. i'm sure it was fine and you have the knowledge & skills to keep learning & dive safely. but the comparison would be...taking driver's ed & learning to drive vs taking driver's ed and a car maintenance class and learning how financing works and having a field trip to test drive cars. it's not that you have been short changed, it's that the college classes are so value-added.

 

[warmwaterturner]

My LDS coordinates with the local college for college credit classes as well. There is a major difference in the two programs. The college course is much, much longer and more detailed. I only wish it had been around many years ago when I went to college. I would have prefered it to the tennis class that was forced upon me. That being said - I would suggest that you "challange" the cirriculum. Ask to place out by test if they try to deny your appeal. Of course, you will have to be prepared.

 

[theduckguru]

I am not defending Rusty but being a PADI instructo(one my hats) he has picked upon key true points. There is a differnece between programs offered by various agencies, they are not all the same.

Academically the initial PADI programs are very minimalistic.. They teach you what they feel is the minimum you need to know..

Would the PADI class at least be as difficult as golf to meet a PE requirement?

 

[dwaters]

Goodster, Good post above and mostly right as Rusty's course is more detailed than the standard PADI OW course and hopefully so with a whole semester to learn and get tested for.
We all here keep telling those that are looking for classes "that the instructor is more important than the agency he/she works for". See my personal opinion here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/socal/358721-scuba-schools-america-rusty-berry-7.html#post5571736 .
Now, let's go diving!!!!

 

[fnfalman]

Not all college diving classes are the same. It's all depending on who is contracted out to do the teaching.

One of the kids that used to work for me (University of Tennessee) said that his scuba course was very involved, especially with freediving, swimming and lots of malfunction drills, no-mask drills, buddy drills.

UCSB goes through a local PADI shop and they just get the basic PADI training.

The Boise LDS also does this for one of the local colleges and they stick to the PADI training regimen as well.

 

[oly5050user]

Rusty is full of it...PADI is ACE accredited.Contact PADI and get your transcript for the credit.
All of PADI courses are ACE accredtited. OW is 1 credit in Phys Ed..Advance is 1 credit also ..Rescue/DM/IDC are all counted as well.
Its up to the college to accept these credits. Rusty is trying to pull a stunt having you take his SSI course. Many OW courses taught at colleges are overdone to fill in time.The instructor may add in some snorkel time and longer swim times. All deliver the same end result of a certificatipon card. Can a student diver gain more abilities in a college run course?? Yes and No..I find many of these kids in college take the course for an easy credit and never dive again. Some one who completes a standard course ran by a LDS or independent instr. does it because they want to dive.They usually are more likely to stick to it and thus gain experience to become good skilled divers. If a LDS ran their courses as some college ones are the cost would be prohibitive as it would take 2 to 3 times more hours to complete.
Skill requirements are all the same in the end for certification,no difference at all in PADI system.

 

[Wookie]

If it wasn't gas planning, it would be something else. If it wasn't something else, it would be another thing. Yes, Rusty's just miffed that you didn't take the course at SSA, (insert sarcasm here) because no one in the world teaches as well as SSA does. I agree, challenge the class.