Starting DM program...which agency????

[Jim Lapenta]

I agree. But How is that specific to PADI?
I disagree. Getting a bad diver to continue its education. Teaching him Professionnal standards and making him even more responsible for others might be a good way to improve itself.
There is no bad diver, but divers that need to improve (under the guidance of qualified profesionnals).

My last point is that nobody pays its Divemaster rating. You pay a training. If you don't meet the performance requierement you do not qualify.

Under the water, I have seen (bad) PADI divers
Under the water, I have seen (bad) SSI divers
Under the water, I have seen (bad) CMAS divers
Under the water, I have seen (bad) BSAC divers
and I am pretty sure that there are out there (bad) SEI, ISE, GUE, DIR, TDI, IANTD divers.

I recently became active on scubaboard because I was tired of the PADI bashing on French forums and the French mentality that can be sum up in: "All divers that have not been trained following the French standard are bad divers" and I am sad to find the same behaviour here.:depressed:

May be if other agencies were spending less time fighting PADI domination and focussing on divers/customers needs, the domination of PADI might decrease.
The plain truth is that PADI is out there and people attracted to diving find PADI standards and PADI professionnal work suitable for them to learn and dive in a safe manner.
Wanna change that ? Just be better in fullfiling the custimer needs and the customer will become a diver from your organisation.
But thankd God, he will be a DIVER, and we should not forget, we are all DIVERS having in common OUR LOVE for the UnderWater World.

I did not specify PADI in that post did I? I am putting everyone that thinks because someone has enough money they are ok to become a pro in the same boat. No there is nothing wrong with continuing one's education. But there are some people who while they may make good divers eventually do not necessarily have what it takes to teach diving. I'm just saying that there needs to be more selectivity when it comes to allowing some one to become a pro. And that is what it needs to be is allowing them to become one. Not saying you know what you look like a pretty good diver and for 500 bucks we can turn you into a pro.

 

[jcpiota]

Well, I guess this is a case of 'be careful what you ask for'. Thank you very much to those who have discussed options, portability etc. That is what I was hoping to get feedback on.

I'll be honest in my naivity, I had no idea of the firestrom between the agencies. So thanks for the info but I'll be letting those who need to 'vent' press on.

Best to all, and wishing everyone could see the wonders we have seen.

 

[Bronson]

I am a PADI instrutor and love their system. Having said that i have to agree with TraceMalin in his above comment. Learn DM from the best in your area and if that is not PADI so be it.