Where to learn?

[krazykate]

I've been looking at various PADI and BSAC courses mainly abroad. However, a diver friend of mine said that learning in the UK actually makes a better diver. He said the water isn't clearer which means you have to learn a lot more and work harder - therefore making you a better diver than if everything was easier in warm clear waters.

Does this make sense to the experienced divers among you, would you agree? I'm not sure whether to believe him because he's one of these people that is always right (even when he isn't!).

Also, how much difference does it make if I train British sub aqua club or PADI? I know PADI is more universally recognised but is either system better/worse?

Thanks in advance for your advice! :14:

 

[Diving Doc]

Hi again Kate, really helps if you let us know where you are.

If you want to go the PADI route, the best way to find a place is to go through PADI.COM and look at their learn diving section. It will ask you for a town/city and will then list out dive centres in taht area. If you want to get some more advice, and bear in mind i'm not impartial here, send me a PM.

If you want to go the BSAC route, the best thing to do is look in the local phone book and talk to them.

Who's better, oh dear. Thats a whole can of worms. If you look through the forums you will see lots of threads on this subject, which cn get quite heated at times!!

In my opinion, both sides have their weak/strong points and it is the instructor that really makes a difference.

Basic difference. PADI is commercial and therefore you are paying to become a diver and gets you in the water quicker.

BSAC is club based (except for a few instances) and therefore MAY take longer to getyou in the water as you are reliant on club members to teach you.

Your comment on learning here will make you a better diver, yes in my honest opinion it will. When you get to warmer parts of the world it will be easier after learning in the more challenging environment that is the uk. Again, please remember that i am not unbiased here and expect to be shot down by other members of the board.

Like I say, PM me if
I can help at all and let us know where you are.

 

[spectrum]

a diver friend of mine said that learning in the UK actually makes a better diver. He said the water isn't clearer which means you have to learn a lot more and work harder - therefore making you a better diver than if everything was easier in warm clear waters.

Yes I agree but I'd temper the word "better". Learning in sub optimal conditions will certainly expose you to more challenging diving and prepare you best to dive in your home waters. Unless you are blessed with a huge travel budget your home waters are where you will get to dive frequently and where you will become proficient. While you will become acclimated to these conditions it does not automatically make you a better diver.

Also, how much difference does it make if I train British sub aqua club or PADI? I know PADI is more universally recognised but is either system better/worse?

The instructor and his or her implementation of the agencies program along with your hard work is what will make you a better diver.

Pete

 

[Diving Doc]

Yes I agree but I'd temper the word "better".


Pete

Yes good point mate....more aware perhaps better term to use?

 

[Walter]

I've been looking at various PADI and BSAC courses mainly abroad. However, a diver friend of mine said that learning in the UK actually makes a better diver. He said the water isn't clearer which means you have to learn a lot more and work harder - therefore making you a better diver than if everything was easier in warm clear waters.

Learning at home will make you an active diver. Learning while on vacation will make you a vacation diver. It's best to learn at home. Active divers are better divers.

Also, how much difference does it make if I train British sub aqua club or PADI? I know PADI is more universally recognised but is either system better/worse?

PADI is more common, but is not more universally recognized. BSCA is recognized every where you'll want to dive. BSAC is one of the best systems in the world. It does take longer, but good things take more time. There's no comparison, BSAC is the way to go, you'll have a much better foundation of knowledge and skills after completing your training. Instant gratification is rarely a good way to live your life and never a good idea with regard to learning to dive.

 

[Diving Doc]

PADI is more common, but is not more universally recognized. BSCA is recognized every where you'll want to dive. BSAC is one of the best systems in the world. It does take longer, but good things take more time. There's no comparison, BSAC is the way to go, you'll have a much better foundation of knowledge and skills after completing your training. Instant gratification is rarely a good way to live your life and never a good idea with regard to learning to dive.

Hmm interesting comment. I know an awful lot of BSAC and PADI divers and would not say this is true at all. And before you comment, yes I have a vested interest. YEs I am PADI. However, I am PADI and BSAC trained and
I think genralisations like this do not really help a new starter like Kate

 

[Walter]

Hmm interesting comment. I know an awful lot of BSAC and PADI divers and would not say this is true at all. And before you comment, yes I have a vested interest. YEs I am PADI. However, I am PADI and BSAC trained and
I think genralisations like this do not really help a new starter like Kate

I'm neither PADI nor BSAC, so I have no vested interest. I'm aware some folks disagree, but I've been around this game for a pretty long time and I believe my points are valid and are helpful to beginners. They are more helpful to beginners than to folks who've already gone through their training. She's now seen both sides, let her make an informed decision.

 

[Scotty g]

I've been looking at various PADI and BSAC courses mainly abroad. However, a diver friend of mine said that learning in the UK actually makes a better diver. He said the water isn't clearer which means you have to learn a lot more and work harder - therefore making you a better diver than if everything was easier in warm clear waters.

Does this make sense to the experienced divers among you, would you agree? I'm not sure whether to believe him because he's one of these people that is always right (even when he isn't!).

Also, how much difference does it make if I train British sub aqua club or PADI? I know PADI is more universally recognised but is either system better/worse?

Thanks in advance for your advice! :14:

Kate, like the others i agree about not necessarily being a better diver but i see where your diver friend is coming from. BTW, i'm not 'experienced' and have only been certified recently.

Here in the UK we can get dreadful conditions in both quarries and open water. If you learn and dive here then i believe you will learn smarter wits about keeping close to buddies, currents etc than you would in possibly a more pleasant environment in crystal clear water in the tropics. I woudn't say you'll become a better diver, perhaps we could describe it as a 'more aware/alert diver'? Who knows but i'm sure you see the point .

Bottom line is like the doc said, it's about the instructor and equally like Walter said, active divers are better divers so maybe an influence could be set about which is your closest club? I'm PADI personally but i would imagine that if my local BSAC club was much more convenient then i would have gone down their system. Weighing out the averages for your requirements and personal comfort is a major plus - i guess if you've done the research you said you have then you'd have a good idea by now?

Go to your local PADI AND your local BSAC. You'll soon find yourself with a preference. As previously stated, there are plus and negative points with both organisations, so go who YOU are personally happy and comfortable with. As a diver, your only as safe as you want to be, regardless of who your qualified with.

Scotty

 

[String]

Id say always learn to dive in the conditions where you expect to dive. If you want to dive in the UK then learn there.

If you learn abroad in nice easy conditions it'll be a steep learning curve trying in the UK. The opposite though, if you learn in the UK and then go abroad, it'll be easy pool-like diving elsewhere with no adjustment needed.

Learning in low vis, cold water, strong currents, big tides prepares you for them. Experiencing all of the above at the same time having not come across it before is a shock.

As for BSAC v PADI its an age old debate and a thread about it recently was here:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=170059&highlight=bsac+padi

If you intend to dive local and have a local bsac club its well worth checking them out. Clubs can provide much cheaper diving and training than a commercial outfit but it can take longer to train. I posted in the above thread giving some comparisons.

The training is similar, especially at entry level between the agencies. You may also want to check for an SAA club nearby as thats another agency here.

All the agencies are equally as recognised world wide and you'll have no problems diving with a bsac or saa qualification. Its a myth/sales garbage that claims otherwise. A padi qualification is not more "universally recognised" than any other - they're all equal.

Have a look on http://www.bsac.com to see if there is a club near you, if there is, email them (or a few if several nearby) and see what they offer, costs and so on then you can decide whether to go down the club or commercial centre route.

If you want any queries off board, feel free to PM me (im bsac and padi so can be fairly impartial if needed!).

 

[krazykate]

Wow, thanks for those responses, there's a lot of info there! I'll digest that all and have a look to see what is local to me. I'm London, UK based.