mbs
Contributor
I did a discover at a resort and the next year did a club med "certification." That "certification" allowed me to dive within 1 year at another club med without redoing the class although they did a pool checkout first. It was me, 1 other person and the instructor. He wasn't in the mood for the pool so we did it off the beach (t&c). Great instructor and I learned a ton. Of course he told me to go home and get a proper certification as there was still plenty more to learn. I did do one more trip to club med on their cert and finally my gf, now wife/buddy signed me up for a class back home. From my experience these discover courses can be safe, but as with any other course the instructor makes all the difference!