Which agency?

[scubatoys]

I also agree with others that it is the instructor (and the dive shop) that makes the difference. As to the comment that PADI is too simplistic, I would answer that if you are only going to remember a percentage of what you were taught, keep it simple enough to remember the important stuff. For example, only a Dr. need be concerned about the difference between pneumothorax vs. mediastinal emphysema. It might be facinating reading to the truly interested, but necessary to be a good diver? Naw.

Dennis

That has been a long debated question. I first ran into it when becoming a pilot. When I was learning to fly, it was mandatory that pilots do spin training. Put the plane in a spin and recover. Spins scared some people, so they started only requiring stall training as you cannot get a plane into a spin unless you stall it first. Is one method better?? Maybe... who knows.

It is interesting - for fun I've asked a lot of Padi divers how deep you have to be to have a "lung overexpansion injury" and the standard response I get is 33 feet. I've even gotten this from instructors. Scary.

By giving information on the seriousness of a lung expansion injury, I do not feel I am over taxing my students. I don't think their scuba brains are "fully saturated" and the additional info will cause other info to off gas...

but maybe that's just my view.

Of course we also do things like work on buoyancy instead of promote a "peak performance buoyancy specialty". We do basic rescue scenarios instead of a "tired diver tow."

The philosophy of Padi and Naui are definitely different, and I think potential students should be informed of the differences and make their own decision.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It looks like the real answer is in the POLL.

For real information, polls are pretty meaningless ... since most people who vote do so based on limited knowledge.

One has only to look at Rodale's "10 Best" polls to see the relevence.

How many of the people who voted for any of the above named agencies have any experience with any of the agencies they didn't vote for? I'd guess that the vast majority voted for the agency through which they got certified, with no knowledge of how the other agencies differ.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[scubatoys]

For real information, polls are pretty meaningless ... since most people who vote do so based on limited knowledge.

One has only to look at Rodale's "10 Best" polls to see the relevence.

How many of the people who voted for any of the above named agencies have any experience with any of the agencies they didn't vote for? I'd guess that the vast majority voted for the agency through which they got certified, with no knowledge of how the other agencies differ.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

The interesting thing about the poll however, is although Padi says they certify 60% of the divers, the number of divers answering the poll that would tell a friend to take a Padi class is almost half that.

 

[texdiveguy]

I think it is almost humorous how many times this topic comes up on this board..... I think alot of semi bashing is done with know defined results for the poster or reader. I prefer PADI for many reasons....but the other certf. groups are also fine! We are all SCUBA divers and were all on the same side---that being to have fun,,,be safe,,,and promote our sport with whomever we can get to sit 5 minutes to hear us carry on and on-lol. So why is it so much effort wasted to these discusses,,,,,if we all redirected our energy to learning and embraccing each others talents and enthus. toward diving we would be much better off. You have to get a C-card from somewhere to get into diving,,,,,so in the end it really does not matter to the certf. group. Some divers are better than others in terms of skills and tech.,,,,our focus as fellow divers should be to help each other. If a new student has to make a decsion and all is equal between a couple of certf. groups in his area and just can't decide---flip a coin and I bet with most schools you will come away with good basic skills and knowledge that if remembered and practiced will be a start to this fun hobby.

 

[jhelmuth]

No, the real answer is in careful examination of facts.

Right on Walter! I can't say that I think in terms of recommendations to an agency, but instead think of recommending a dive instructor. Most programs are similar enough and will likely have some modifications in accordance with the programs flexibility and what your instructor feels is important. Examine the instructor carefully. Find out what is really important, and ask around. CHeck with people you know, as well as a random check of recent students they've taught (not a just list of "good" students from the DI, but a complete one from the shop where you can randomly select them - if the shop/DI will let you).
Finally, if things arn't going the way you need them to while under instruction, then ask the DI for some changes or extra time/consideration - or find a differnet DI.
In my opinion, you want to accomplish the following for OW:
(not in any particular order)
[1] Understand the physics of diving and how that impacts you physically (especially in terms of safety).
[2] Be very comfortable in the water under all circumstances (including being prepared to easily execute all required skills under "normal" conditions)
[3] Be in control of your diving (at least to the degree that you can be as a new diver) - the essence of which is good bouyancy control (not perfect - but at least good).

 

[ste]

Questions:
-OW and 50±70 dives
-AOW with 25 dives

-Stress and Rescue with 26 Dives
or an AOW with 200 dives without Stress and rescue class.

The agencies (PADI, SSI, NAUI, YMCA, CMAS, FIAS) are there for ..................certification card.

I changed 3 different , not one but 3 and I was lucky to find instructors , sorry......good lovers of:
1st) Teach to the people
2nd) Patience
3rd) And DIVE DIVE DIVE DIVE

PADI is everywhere around the globe...but is far away from my house, there is an SSI close to my garage.......but they told me PADI is better.
No are the instructors, my OW it was like a NAVY seal program (1986) and now the certification are fast (took me 7 months , 1 hour pool session half hour theory every thursday and 5 Open water and 1 test in the pool to have my OW).
Remember are the INSTRUCTORS

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Some divers are better than others in terms of skills and tech.,,,,our focus as fellow divers should be to help each other. If a new student has to make a decsion and all is equal between a couple of certf. groups in his area and just can't decide---flip a coin and I bet with most schools you will come away with good basic skills and knowledge that if remembered and practiced will be a start to this fun hobby.

Now this is just downright wrong.

Some divers are better than others ... true. And in the majority of cases, those better divers are better because they had an instructor who took the time to work with them on their skills, rather than simply following a syllabus, covering the minimum required curriculum, and passing out C-cards.

I've had students with AOW training and 50 dives who still didn't have a clue how to descend without 50 lbs of weight ... or even that they weren't supposed to be kneeling on the bottom every time they had to clear their mask. After spending a little time going over technique with them they couldn't believe that their OW and AOW instructor never told them those things.

Don't "flip a coin" ... find out a little bit about the instructor before you sign up for a class. If the LDS won't make the instructor accessible before you lay your money down ... walk out and go find another place to take your lessons.

Find an instructor who's not married to a schedule, who'll work with you based on your goals, who believes that the stuff the agencies provide is just a framework around which to teach the course ... not the course itself. Find an instructor who actually dives outside of teaching classes. Find out how long the instructor has been diving, and where, and how often. Find an instructor who can listen, as well as talk. These give you important clues about the quality of education you will get for your dollars.

The variance in quality and attitude from one instructor to the next is orders of magnitude more important than the variance in course materials from one agency to the next.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[texdiveguy]

There are many folks whom enter diving that have only one pick of LDS......in those cases YES they are stuck with what-ever they get in terms of instr.. We who live in larger areas that have multiple LDS to pick from should by all means check around,,,visit with the instructors and shop owners--I did for sure. The majority of people that get certf. in say the US are not members of this board because they go thru certf. for a vacation trip once a year or in many cases just once do they ever dive......and those folks will not take the in-depth time to investigate before commiting to a class. I hope that most shop and their instructors are above board and teaching to at least min. standards set,,,and in fact most do. I always suggestion pre-study when considering entering this sport,,,,do your homework and make the picks based on how you feel toward the shop/instr. you chosen.

 

[asmith5]

I agree that it is more dependent on the instructor. My wife and I are finishing up our PADI OW certification. Our instructors are very good and went over the do's and don't as well as the reasons why you should or should not do that. They are extremely safety concious. The people in our class even set up a small local board like this one and our instructors have been posting additional questions for us to try to solve. This has been a very enjoyable experience for us.

 

[SoCalAJ]

Padi by far, keeps better records then Naui about certifications. if you loose or forget your card and you go on vacation, it is alot easier to find your cert number through padi...