That's certainly the game. The result is that you have minimum wage people teaching diving.
Now your on to something. I attempt to teach divers not just what they need to survive underwater but how to get along in the diving world. The only thing I have to add here is that I wouldn't have let you use split fins in the class because you would be unlikely to be able to learn the complete range of finning techniques that I teach while using them. The fins I would have recommended would have been much cheaper and you could do more with them. The proof would be in the water. Of course after the class you could use whatever fins you want and dive how you want but at least then it would be by choice.
I like to hear that. However, for what OW classes are selling for they're usually not even break even. Mine have been almost break even but that's because I never got paid. We won't ever have good instruction until it becomes a profit center. If you campare technical instruction to recreational instruction you can get an idea. A trimix class that's about half as long as an OW class (six or so dives but you don't have all the pool) is going to cost between $600 and $1000 plus instructor expenses, gas, charter fees and books. You'll have $2000 easy in it before you're done. Also most of the divers taking the class already have the basics down and the class is much easier to teach, IMO. Since the person is already a diver, I also believe that the liability risk is less. Also many instructors require that you have the full DAN insurance before you even start.
If mainstream instruction ever becomes a profit center and OW class is going to be about $1500. A private of course is going to be way more. That's what it's going to cost to get an experienced diver and instructor to spend 40 hours or more really teaching you to dive. There are thousands and thousands of instructors but a large percentage of them can't dive let alone teach. They're a dime a dozen because that's what they're worth.
The current economics of the dive industry is funny. Divers are running aroung complaining about LDS prices and bragging about the deals they get on line but what I see in the water tells the rest of the story. They may be getting their equipment cheap but their getting cheated because they're not learning to dive. I see several hundred divers a month in the water and it's so VERY VERY rare to see some one with even the most basic skill set. Divers are for the most part getting a great deal on mostly junk equipment that they'll likely never learn how to use. Such a deal. You get certified by a non-diving fool for a couple hundred bucks. Then you get a bunch of junk cheap from LP that you will through in the garbage if you ever stumble your way to learning to dive. You'll likely respend the training money also. See how many people are spending 300 on a DIRF to learn what they should already know. If you get the right instruction and the right equipment from the beginning you can spend more for it and still save tons of money and get way more for it.
LOL. I got off easy. I spent my time and money, learned what I need to know and now I can go dive unincombered by all the bs. LP can't sell you that. Now if only I could sell those split fins I've had hanging on the wall for three years. LOL
ut: No equipment sales - just good thorough instruction.
