What are good sources for a PADI Adventures in Diving manual *with hologram*?

[WheelsUSN]

Is this person truly current with their insurance and agency requirements?

No idea, really.


That's not something I'm going to quiz a friend about when he's offering to do a significant favor.

While it is a good idea, I don't think that instructors in Mexico are required to have insurance. However if your friend is current with all other requirements to be an active instructor then he can order the materials you need directly from PADI and have them shipped directly to you. If he is not current then he can't do the certification.

 

[oly5050user]

True about the need for insurance. Mexico is not the USA and most likely does not require insurance.

 

[Kay Wilson]

Your daughter can complete the AOW theory on line via PADI PADI The Way the World Learns to Dive? - Find Scuba Diving Lessons, Scuba Certifications, Dive Shops, Dive Resorts, Scuba Gear, Scuba Diving Trips and Vacations, Scuba Diving Careers click on the eLearning link, no paper manual is required unless you would like your daughter to have one to reference.

Your instructor, if he is registered with PADI, can then submit an online pic for you. The standard charge is US$30 for the Personal Identification Card - your daughter can also ask for an electronic version, if she has her smart phone she will have access to her PADI certifications.

Given the information that you have been provided by your Instructor friend I would be inclined to confirm that he / she is a teaching status instructor.

As a dive shop owner I have no problem with my staff undertaking teaching on their own time, as long as they put their certifications through the dive center, and ensure that they stick to PADI standards.

 

[mstevens]

Not sure why I should need to get into this here, but...

1) My friend has certified a LOT of people through various shops on the island. He's well-respected and skilled. I have known him for years, and he's certified a number of friends and family.
2) We have paid for a number of things for our friend, totaling many hundreds of dollars, over the past year while he was trying to make his own business float. That didn't work out. However, rather than feel indebted to us for helping him with some bills he offered to do our son's girlfriend's AOW for her without charge. I prefer to think of it as his doing me a favor, but he still comes out significantly ahead.
3) Doing the online course adds no value at all compared with reading the book and costs quite a lot more.
4) Things are pretty different in various parts of the world. In the past I've been asked to supply materials by a PADI instructor (who has trained people you've heard of, their kids, etc.) who said she just can't reliably get materials where she is. Maybe things have changed since then, but given that my electric bill in Cozumel is delivered by shoving it through the gate onto the ground, I have no difficulty accepting that my Mexican friend might have trouble getting course materials on his own.
5) Nobody actually needs AOW certification. It's something she'd like to do, but whether it results in certification or not she'll still have the same instruction and experience. It's conceivable my friend didn't keep up with his fees to PADI and his instructor status has lapsed. If that is true, not much is lost.

Thanks for the info about holograms only applying to DM and above. I'll just buy the book wherever. I'll also offer to let him use our laptop to see if he can do the "paperwork" electronically.

 

[Kay Wilson]

Doing the online course adds no value at all compared with reading the book and costs quite a lot more.

If you can purchase the book via your local PADI shop there is a cost saving, however your Instructor will spend a little bit more time in the class room working through the theory with the student.

PADI eLearning is a great resource, yes it does cost a bit more, but my students have really enjoyed the content and the flexibility that it affords them during the course.


4) Things are pretty different in various parts of the world. In the past I've been asked to supply materials by a PADI instructor (who has trained people you've heard of, their kids, etc.) who said she just can't reliably get materials where she is. Maybe things have changed since then, but given that my electric bill in Cozumel is delivered by shoving it through the gate onto the ground, I have no difficulty accepting that my Mexican friend might have trouble getting course materials on his own.

I live in the islands, and I have to collect my bills from the post office we don't have any type of home mail service! My PADI materials are sent via FEDEX, this adds cost, which is one of the reasons that I try to recommend eLearning as an ALTERNATIVE to using the paper based materials, but I also advise purchasing a paper version if possible.

It's conceivable my friend didn't keep up with his fees to PADI and his instructor status has lapsed. If that is true, not much is lost.

Unfortunately if your friend has allowed his teaching status to lapse then he should not be teaching and if he does he is breaking PADI standards, and he won't be able to issue a certification. Best to confirm his status as a PADI instructor prior to starting the course.

 

[oly5050user]

Not sure why I should need to get into this here, but...

1) My friend has certified a LOT of people through various shops on the island. He's well-respected and skilled. I have known him for years, and he's certified a number of friends and family.

all the more reason to maintain his well earned instr certifications.

2) We have paid for a number of things for our friend, totaling many hundreds of dollars, over the past year while he was trying to make his own business float. That didn't work out. However, rather than feel indebted to us for helping him with some bills he offered to do our son's girlfriend's AOW for her without charge. I prefer to think of it as his doing me a favor, but he still comes out significantly ahead.

I find that you usually get what you pay for..

3) Doing the online course adds no value at all compared with reading the book and costs quite a lot more.

Value is what effort the user puts into it..every one learns differently.

4) Things are pretty different in various parts of the world. In the past I've been asked to supply materials by a PADI instructor (who has trained people you've heard of, their kids, etc.) who said she just can't reliably get materials where she is. Maybe things have changed since then, but given that my electric bill in Cozumel is delivered by shoving it through the gate onto the ground, I have no difficulty accepting that my Mexican friend might have trouble getting course materials on his own

.get
True, I have lived the island life for a short time and can testify that getting anything can be at times difficult.

5) Nobody actually needs AOW certification. It's something she'd like to do, but whether it results in certification or not she'll still have the same instruction and experience. It's conceivable my friend didn't keep up with his fees to PADI and his instructor status has lapsed. If that is true, not much is lost.

If he/she did not maintain their instr rating , or lost it, what you lose out on is the c card. Still an ow diver, not advance. Will she have the same instruction/experience, I do not know,would not count on it. Its like saying "oh this Dr. lost his medical license for some unknown reason, but is willing to do some surgery on me for free" would you do it?

Thanks for the info about holograms only applying to DM and above. I'll just buy the book wherever. I'll also offer to let him use our laptop to see if he can do the "paperwork" electronically.

If he has not maintained his instructor rating , or lost it for unknown reasons, he will not be able to get anyone any kind of certifications.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Your daughter can complete the AOW theory on line via PADI PADI The Way the World Learns to Dive? - Find Scuba Diving Lessons, Scuba Certifications, Dive Shops, Dive Resorts, Scuba Gear, Scuba Diving Trips and Vacations, Scuba Diving Careers click on the eLearning link, no paper manual is required unless you would like your daughter to have one to reference.

Your instructor, if he is registered with PADI, can then submit an online pic for you. The standard charge is US$30 for the Personal Identification Card - your daughter can also ask for an electronic version, if she has her smart phone she will have access to her PADI certifications.

Given the information that you have been provided by your Instructor friend I would be inclined to confirm that he / she is a teaching status instructor.

As a dive shop owner I have no problem with my staff undertaking teaching on their own time, as long as they put their certifications through the dive center, and ensure that they stick to PADI standards.

I don't understand this. Why should a shop get credit for a student the instructor got on their own, or was a friend? The instructor did all the leg work and all the teaching. The shop did nothing so I don't see why they'd deserve any credit for the certification. It sounds to me like the instructor is under the thumb of the shop and is being used by them. Why can't an instructor freelance if the shop would not have got the student anyway? Pretty low practice and why I refuse to ever teach for a shop.

 

[oly5050user]

I don't understand this. Why should a shop get credit for a student the instructor got on their own, or was a friend? The instructor did all the leg work and all the teaching. The shop did nothing so I don't see why they'd deserve any credit for the certification. It sounds to me like the instructor is under the thumb of the shop and is being used by them. Why can't an instructor freelance if the shop would not have got the student anyway? Pretty low practice and why I refuse to ever teach for a shop.

could be that the facility covers the instructors insurance under a group policy?..what credit are you referring to? its not like the facility gets anything from PADI for every student they put thru..Here in NY I guess I am lucky working for the facility here in that if I recruit a student on my own and want to teach I can use the facilities pool/gear/classroom/computer visual aids/etc as long as student purchases personal gear of mask/snkl/fins/boots through the facility.

 

[mstevens]

Good grief. I have instructed scuba (NAUI). I have performed surgery. There is no comparison.

I am truly offended that anyone would equate a medical license with dive instructor certification. No, it's not like that at all.

 

[oly5050user]

Good grief. I have instructed scuba (NAUI). I have performed surgery. There is no comparison.

I am truly offended that anyone would equate a medical license with dive instructor certification. No, it's not like that at all.

If both an instructor or a Dr has lost their "license" to perform their job you would have them do something that can kill you?? Neither one is no longer authorized to do this service.