What is PADI?

[gj62]

BTW - PADI's history, key individuals and even certification stats are well documented - both on PADI's site and other sites on the web. PADI is also visible at most industry events - if you're really interested, you can find much of what you are looking for that way.

 

[voop]

I'm an instructor.

Didn't your CD cover this during your IDC?

Anyways, and with the disclaimer that I do not keep up on how PADI's cooporate structure develops, it's roughly as follows:

PADI Worldwide is a privately held company, mostly owned by the (family of) Cronin, with some key employees (Drew Richardson, for example) also being among the (minor-share) owners.

The "regional" representations (PADI Europe, PADI UK, PADI Nordic etc.) are independant companies from PADI Worldwide, operating under an (exclusive, I think) "license" to market and develop PADI products and generate c-cards in their respective region. Some of these regional PADI's are wholely owned by PADI Worldwide (Padi UK, for example), while others are independantly owned (such as PADI Europe). The exact relationship between PADI Worldwide and the regional representations are beyond my knowledge.

What you, as a PADI member (DM or Instructor) pays for is basically the "right to generate c-cards with PADI's name on, as long as you follow PADI standards". Which implies that your membershib fees in principle goes to developing, maintaining and defending these standards (and all the follow-up things such as lobbying legislative bodies in different countries, developing teaching materials etc).

That's, in brief and probably rough terms, about it.

I'm sure that if you pick up your phone and call your local friendly member-service representative at PADI, they'll be able to give you much more (and much more accurate) details. I'd be surprised if PADI doesn't have some sort of booklet describing the cooporate structure somewhere in their arsenal, so if you call them, ask 'bout that

Hope it helps...

 

[dweeb]

I see your point. I guess it just seems strange....I mean, as an instructor you're kind of a technical sales rep for PADI.[/QUOITE]

No, you're their customer/reseller.

And I don't know anything about the company I represent. Maybe the owners are Nazis. It's like, "shut up and pay your dues....and buy more PICs". Oh well...

Now you're starting to get the picture, except they're not Nazi's - being in California, they're more likely to be Communists.

The Nazi's are down at Wakulla. (couldn't resist.)

 

[RIDIVER501]

Ok Did you miss the this is PADI part of the IDC? Not trying to be sarcastic here. The information you seek is in your ID candidate workbook and in all the UJ's you receive as a renewed instructor.

 

[downunderjenn]

Professional Association of Diving Instructors

You pay for the liability insurance to protect you as an instructor, DM, or Master Diver, as long as you act within your capabilties and perform within PADI standards. PADI standards are set to ensure safety of all divers.

As a member you are paying for the research and updates that you receive. These updates ensure timely information of safe and professional teaching methods. Some people complain that they come too often. However, how much attention would you pay to the standards if they came once every five years? They would be out of date. If you forget the standards because you feel you do not have time to learn them, reference them, make notes, read them.

You are also paying for:
the Undersea Journal
job listing services
educational opportunities
the brand

Sign in to the professional section of PADI with your instructor id and take advantage of what PADI is offering you.

 

[voop]

Professional Association of Diving Instructors

You pay for the liability insurance to protect you as an instructor, DM, or Master Diver, as long as you act within your capabilties and perform within PADI standards. PADI standards are set to ensure safety of all divers.

Nope, you're wrong.

Master Diver's are not PADI members nor does that rating require that you carry professional liability insurrance.

PADI membership fees do not include liability insurrance. If you take liability insurrance through PADI, this is paid in addition to the membership fees.

As a member you are paying for the research and updates that you receive. These updates ensure timely information of safe and professional teaching methods. Some people complain that they come too often. However, how much attention would you pay to the standards if they came once every five years? They would be out of date. If you forget the standards because you feel you do not have time to learn them, reference them, make notes, read them.

You are also paying for:
the Undersea Journal
job listing services
educational opportunities
the brand

Sign in to the professional section of PADI with your instructor id and take advantage of what PADI is offering you.

That's true.....and good advice.

 

[downunderjenn]

Master divers can be members. $30 odd bucks
DM $62
Instructor more

The membership fee is low enough for me to consider it neglible when compared to the liability insurance. I included the liability insurance with the membership fee for this reason, though you are right Master divers do not have to carry the liability insurance.
Sorry for the confusion.

I also felt the person posting the original question was feeling his dues were high, as they might have been including the insurance into the fees as I was. To be an active instructor, you must carry the insurance.

 

[Mako Mark]

P - Please
A - Abort
D - Diving
I - Immediately

Not bad, but I am sure you can do better, I would give yo a 3 out of five for it.

 

[mtnredhed]

Professional Association of Diving Instructors

You pay for the liability insurance to protect you as an instructor, DM, or Master Diver, as long as you act within your capabilties and perform within PADI standards. PADI standards are set to ensure safety of all divers.

Now I'll admit that it's been a few years since I was active as an instructor, but when I read the fine print of the "Liability Insurance" they made you buy, It seemed to boil down to this:

You pay primarily to protect PADI in the event you are sued. Second is the dive store/op, and somewhere down the litigation trail, if they happen to think about it, and their lawyers think it's in their interest, and they can't figure out a way to hang what happened on YOU, maybe they'll try and help you out. One of the people I dove with at the time was pretty much an unabashed ambulance chaser er, Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. He read the policy and thought it was hilarious, and then told me that I'd better buy my own policy if I ever planned to have any assets.

hopefully it's changed since then

 

[downunderjenn]

that's where I put the as long as … you do have to follow every rule to a T to be represented. I'll look at the fine print, but I'm pretty sure at minimum it saves you legal fees, which you would have had to pay.