What can I expect?

[diverrick]

As some of the more observant board members may have noticed, I and my wife are going to Roatan for a weeks diving at BIBR.
I have wanted to get my AOW and Nitrox Certification this year (new years promise to myself).
I bought the PADI AOW course sylibus/video and read through that, and took the tests. I still have the open water /pool part to do.
When I booked our vacation they said I could take the class there. I could not just do the open water portion, (or I could, but the cost would be the same) and AOW would be 200.00, plus 150.00 for the Nitrox. They said the dives would be blended into the dives I was already taking and paid for.
I asked why would I have to pay for the dives all over again, when I had all ready paid for the dives, as a cost for the weeks stay there. They said that it was to cover the cost of the class. I thought it was too high,so I figured that I'd do the training through my LDS as was originally planned for.
After talking it over with the SO, It became clear that it was actually cheaper to do the class down there, than take it up here, after I factored in the travel, hotel, food, rental, of taking it here. The dive resort then offered to do it combined for 250.00. That pretty much sealed the deal.
Now the problem.
I was trained YMCA in 1976, and my wife was trained PADI last year, The class they offer for 250.00 is Naui. What can I expect from a resort level class? My primary goal is to learn how to dive safely, not just to get the Cert.,but money, as always, plays a roll in your decisions. I know I have already committed to the class there, but I tend to be Math phobic, and am worried after my LDS heard about what I was doing, they showed me a NAUI training book, and it certainly scared me. seemed to be alot of math involved!. what have I gotten myself into?

 

[TostitoBandito]

NAUI is one of the most safety-oriented and in-depth training agencies out there. Their courses may be a little longer, tougher, and more expensive than PADI and other agencies, but it is worth it in my opinion.

 

[Foo]

Hi Diverrick,
I have a little different perspective- I began my open water as PADI, and ended up a few months later certified NAUI, after changing instructors. My dry class/bookwork section was mostly done with PADI (I took their written test), but I did retake a couple of classes in the NAUI program, on my own. I especially felt that I needed more work with the tables, so I made sure to attend that class. I felt that both programs are excellent, and provide a great introduction to the sport, although I do realize my limitations at this point in my training. Each instructor said things in a different way, sometimes one would make a point that the other left out and vice versa. I personally was not ready for the open water checkout dives when the PADI course ended, so I continued classes until I was comfortable. I kind of feel like I got the best of both worlds. )
Foo

 

[TostitoBandito]

Hi Diverrick,
I have a little different perspective- I began my open water as PADI, and ended up a few months later certified NAUI, after changing instructors. My dry class/bookwork section was mostly done with PADI (I took their written test), but I did retake a couple of classes in the NAUI program, on my own. I especially felt that I needed more work with the tables, so I made sure to attend that class. I felt that both programs are excellent, and provide a great introduction to the sport, although I do realize my limitations at this point in my training. Each instructor said things in a different way, sometimes one would make a point that the other left out and vice versa. I personally was not ready for the open water checkout dives when the PADI course ended, so I continued classes until I was comfortable. I kind of feel like I got the best of both worlds. )
Foo

Some good comments there. I would also like to say that having a good instructor is the MOST IMPORTANT thing. Which agency they certify should be secondary to that. Find the best instructor in your area and go with it.

 

[IslandHopper]

The math comes with the Nitrox classes ... not too intense though, you shouldn't have to memorize formulas, just know how to use them. The TABLES work the same way as the OW/Air ones.
The resort instructors are probably a little more lenient than others would be (focused on quantity more than quality SOMETIMES)... but you sound like you will learn the material regardless (having already read the texts).
Kick back, relax and have FUN with it !!!

 

[theskull]

You made a great decision. Why not further your learning and skills at the same time as you are enjoying great viz, water temp, and pretty fishies!

Don't worry about the math. Nitrox requires that you understand why O2 can be toxic at too great a depth and know how to calculate the Maximum Operating Depth of a blend, but you will never have to actually DO these calculations (unless you later take a Divemaster or Tech course).

Relax, enjoy yourself, and take the diving seriously--as you always should.

Be safe -- have fun -- improve your skills. That's what it's all about no matter what part of the world you are in at the time.

theskull

 

[Scooby Scuba]

But don’t forget <<<PLAN YOUR DIVE >>><<<DIVE YOUR PLAN>>>

More so when using N2/O2 ……. This course is not heavy on the understandings of Diving with higher than 21% Oxygen for nothing...

Interesting course and useful too….

 

[Brian Gilpin]

Diverrick

Beleive I still have my TDI manual which makes the nitrox part easy to understand. PM me and you can pick it up at my office if you want to borrow it.