Preferred Certification?

[2DiveOrNot2Dive]

Hello all. I've been reading some PADI-bashing on other sites and I'm wondering why so many people appear to have a negative idea of PADI. Is there another certification that is preferred or considered superior? I'm not certified yet, but was planning on going through the PADI OW course. I'd definitely like to dive as safely as possible, so if there was a course out there that would make me a better diver, I'd certainly reconsider the PADI course. Does anyone out there have any suggestions or information that might help me make a better informed decision?

Thanks.

 

[shugar]

hi there!

let me be the 1st to tell you that you will recieve the following answer among many others:

1) it's the instructor not the agency

my take on the PADI thing? i'm padi certified but we don't get very many options here... also it's easy to bash whoever's on top... for better or worse padi's got the business side of diving down pat and many (secretly or otherwise) don't look to kindly on businesses doing good (yes, welcome to the land of free enterprise)

it's also because since padi churns out the largest number of instructors on a regular basis, you also get the largest percentage of inept instruction coming under a padi name (it's a matter of averages and ratios) - this doesn't mean that other agencies don't churn out a dud but statistically you'll meet more padi divers than non-padi divers (generally)

that being said and done do this: LEARN during your course. don't just copy the skill and repeat it until you get an OK... DO IT PROPERLY and learn the WHY and HOW of a skill, UNDERSTAND what you are being taught (physiology, boyle's law, ascent rates, expansion, bouyancy, etc.)

if you don't get something or you're not super-confident about being able to do it in your sleep (like equalizing or finning) then make the instructor go over it w/ you again... it's your life on the tank, not theirs, when you're comfy you dive well

finally after everything, CONTINUE LEARNING... SB's a great place to get a lot of good insights... you'll have to trim some fat and garbage out sometimes or sometimes put some salt, but it's a great place to learn from other agencies and compare and contrast w/ what will make you a better diver

hope this helps

Jag

 

[utnapistim]

I went with PADI for OW, AOW and now resque course, and got some good instruction and practice ( I think ... ).

What bothered me about them is that they seemed very focused on the business part of diving (for example, the OW course manual is very expensive, and you cannot do the course without it; the same is with the resque manual).

All that said, you're not learning from a PADI school, but from a diving instructor; this is the level where you do the choosing; Unfortunately I don't know how you evaluate the instructor prior to taking the course .

Also, diving safely comes from your atitude, first and foremost (don't become complacent, learn continuously, don't overlook simple safety measures, stay within safety limits and know - and do - say NO when you feel the need to). That is up to you, but a good instructor should probably stress this more.

Maybe you could ask opinions on the board about instructors in your area?

 

[dilligaf368]

I am certifyed in PADI, NAUI, SSI, US-NAVY, other than the Navy, content is the same, style is the difference, but the Major concern is the Instructor. Bill

 

[Web Monkey]

Probably hard to come by, but injury rates and the percentage of former students who still dive would be a good indicator of how good a job the school/teacher is doing.

You can also get a good feel for a school by asking "How long does it take to get certified?"

• If they say 3 days/classes (or less), run away.
• If they say 6 classes, it's probably OK.
• If they say "as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable", you've found a winner!

A good school will let you work on your skills as long as necessary for you to feel really comfortable in the water.

Terry

Hello all. I've been reading some PADI-bashing on other sites and I'm wondering why so many people appear to have a negative idea of PADI. Is there another certification that is preferred or considered superior? I'm not certified yet, but was planning on going through the PADI OW course. I'd definitely like to dive as safely as possible, so if there was a course out there that would make me a better diver, I'd certainly reconsider the PADI course. Does anyone out there have any suggestions or information that might help me make a better informed decision?

Thanks.

 

[scubabear6]

I have to agree with everyone else. I'm PADI OW, NAUI AOW and TDI Nitrox.The most import thing is the Instructor, and that it's up to YOU to learn the hows and why's of diving. It's your life on the line dive only when you feel comfortable about a dive.

 

[garyfotodiver]

It is not the agency that is superior, nor is it the instructor. It is what you, the student, take out if the course. You are the one who will have to know what to do if (when) you have a crisis at depth. The materials help, the instructor helps, but you are the one who does the work.

Before I took my advanced courses, I spent an hour in conversation with the instructor. When I was assured that we were simpatico, I signed up and haven't regretted it.

 

[Walter]

There are big differences between agencies. Differences in philosophies and differences in standards (requirements).

Yes, with an excellent instructor, you can get an excellent class and end up with a c-card from any agency, but the majority of instructors teach exactly what is required by their agency and no more. PADI does not require skills I consider very important in teaching a good solid course resulting in safe divers. It is my belief confidence building skills as well as rescue skills are essential in producing safe divers. PADI does not require those skills to be taught.

Is any agency perfect? Not in my opinion, but some are excellent. I don't consider PADI to be one of them.

 

[TSandM]

I only have experience with two agencies, and one doesn't teach OW. But I will say that I have been frustrated with my PADI classes in some ways. They remind me of "new math". They appear to have tried to take all the effort of learning out of the process -- make things so simple, and candy-coat them to where the bare minimums are presented as palatably as possible. It's the USA Today of diving. The videos we were to watch spent as much time trying to be funny as presenting material.

The other organization teaches diving as an adult subject, one worthy of effort to learn, and they also have a much more cautious approach: This is an activity with inherent risks, and the diver should always be aware of those risks and take the necessary precautions to minimize them. I liked this attitude and teaching strategy much better. But I don't know if any of the OW certifying agencies teaches like this, and I would actually doubt it. Individual instructors may, but that makes it much more difficult to steer somebody to the right place.

 

[Walter]

Actually, some agencies have never cut standards and still present material in an adult manner.