question for an instructor

[tigerjustice]

Hello All...If you do your classes and poolwork with a certain instructor/dive shop, do you have to do your 5 openwater checkout dives with the same instructor/dive shop?

Thanks

 

[mer]

Nope, you can have your shop issue a referral to complete your dives elsewhere, locally or on vacation. This referral might cost your a nominal fee $20-$30 in my area.

Depending on which agency you did your class and pool with, you might have to stick within that agency (PADI) or can get a universal referral (SSI, NAUI, YMCA etc). Previous lists not exclusive. Big thing is to check with the shop you want to do your checkout dives with and see what types of referrals they can and cannot accept.

Do keep in mind that
$class&pool with shop A + $checkouts with shop A
will be alot less $$ than
$class&pool with shop A + $referral from shop A + $checkouts from shop B

 

[Paco]

Hello All...If you do your classes and poolwork with a certain instructor/dive shop, do you have to do your 5 openwater checkout dives with the same instructor/dive shop?

Thanks

I'm not an instructor, but if you are certifying through PADI, I do know that you can do your checkout dives (part II) through any PADI facility. It is called a referral. Just tell the dive op where you did your classroom and pool work that you need a referral form (essentially, it is a photocopy of a page of your blue folder). Of course, you will have to pay extra for your part II where you finish, but that should be all you need.

 

[tigerjustice]

Do keep in mind that
$class&pool with shop A + $checkouts with shop A
will be alot less $$ than
$class&pool with shop A + $referral from shop A + $checkouts from shop B

Why would it cost any more and how much more are we talkin..we only paid 140 for the classes and pool and were gonna have to pay $300 for cert weekend..we like the instructor and all...just tired of his schedule..Thanks for any input

 

[alcina]

It will likely cost more because each shop will need to be paid for the separate segments and each segment will need to be worth each shop's commitment - ie, each will need to make money.

A good shop will probably also require a confined water session and a theory review session with a student who brings the referral to them. This helps establish a rapport between the new instructor and student and allows the new instructor to assess the skills and development of the student before heading out to open water.

Also be sure to check if there are any additional local requirements to completing your Open Water Course. If you started in the US, for example, and wanted to finish in Australia, you would require a diving medical done to the Australian Standard 4005.1.

HTH

 

[Azza]

Why would it cost any more and how much more are we talkin..we only paid 140 for the classes and pool and were gonna have to pay $300 for cert weekend..we like the instructor and all...just tired of his schedule..Thanks for any input

Because now you are paying two people to train you. The new instructor is not going to get any money of the previous instructor, and he isnt going to teach you for free.

 

[Aquanaut4ata]

Depending on which agency you did your class and pool with, you might have to stick within that agency (PADI) or can get a universal referral (SSI, NAUI, YMCA etc). Previous lists not exclusive. Big thing is to check with the shop you want to do your checkout dives with and see what types of referrals they can and cannot accept.


As I understand it, PADI has now joined the universal referral program as well.

 

[toodive4]

No

Hello All...If you do your classes and poolwork with a certain instructor/dive shop, do you have to do your 5 openwater checkout dives with the same instructor/dive shop?

Thanks

 

[Iruka]

One quick point--only 4 "checkout" dives are required if it's through PADI. There's an optional skindiving, but it's not required. The dives are no longer called "checkout" dives, but I know what you mean.

 

[JodiBB]

You may want to consider one point about hiring a 2nd instructor...if you liked your confined water instructor, you may want to consider sticking with this instructor. Why? This instructor should've been monitoring your skills, breathing, air usage, use of equipment, etc. S/he knows your strengths and weaknesses and can continue to monitor them during your OW dives. A new instructor will not be as familiar with your dive skills and different instructors work differently.

My friend did this for her OW dives. The 2nd instructor was not familiar with her abilities/weaknesses and she ended up getting trapped in a kelp bed. The instructor wasn't paying attention and almost left her behind. Since being certified, she hasn't gone out again due to this experience.

I almost had to do this as I could not go out during the scheduled OW dives and was going to have to do a transfer. My instructor really wanted to make sure that I completed with her and not have to go out with another instructor, so she made arrangements for me to go out diving with her 1-on-1 without any additional charges. I was so glad she was willing to do this as she is very cognizant of her students' capabilities and knew of my struggles and could work with me on them at my pace...another instructor may not have been so in tune with my needs.

Just a thought....