The discussion of marketing success is actually an important consideration. For all the PADI bashing going on, how many divers on this board started with PADI? Even those who changed agencies and continued their training on other paths got in the water because PADI has a business model that put them pretty much everywhere potential divers live.
Folks might try to argue that the other agencies would fill the gaps if PADI weren't around. But the fact is they didn't. And most of the agencies people are point to saying "look you can do a quality course, see how much better it is" don't have meaningful market penetration in massive geographical areas.
Even if we grant that PADI's quality is inherently insufficient for recreational divers who only intend to dive a few times in their lives in pristine conditions -- a contention I am not quick to believe is a necessary result of following PADI standards nor which I find to be supported by observed risk levels -- the fact remains that of those who dive, either with regularity in local sports or as frequent vacationers, the majority started with PADI.
Do numbers excuse poor quality if those standards are an inherent result of PADI standards? Of course not, that would be rather spurious argumentation. But it does raise the more important question -- instead of bitching about the current state what can be done to change it?
The simple fact is that localized individual action will not be sufficient. The instructors here who are most vehemently anti-PADI admit that they serve a small segment of their local market. They don't have much impact. And while they contend they are fine with that, the postings on this board suggest that such is not the case. They are clearly discontent, but are in some way accepting their inability to effect the change their desire.
So what can those whose agencies are simply not doing anything close to what is necessary to address the problem, if it really is a problem? As far as I can see they are doing little to nothing that is meaningful!
The agencies complain about PADI controlling the market, but they do not band together to market higher quality dive education to the non-diving public. They bitch about their minor role in DEMA but don't simply walk out and force the manufacturers to consider how to address a customer base focused on quality education. They aren't growing instructor bases in areas that are under served. They aren't effectively enticing stores to change over from PADI to these other training options. They aren't making their presence known at local and regional dive shows. And the list goes on.
With all the complaints there is a true dearth of action by the agencies themselves to address the problem.
Where are the complaints focusing on the failure of those who claim to care but are failing to act in a unified, comprehensive and effective manner to address the issue?
So in some sense I find the whole discussion entirely misplaced. If PADI is the problem, then the other agencies have to be the solution. But they choose not to act!
EDIT: I see as I was posting this, DCBC posted the same observation. At least we agree on something!
