PADI vs BSAC? More than the usual debate!

[tom]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (spike jackson @ Sep. 05 2003,16:32)]the only boat I've found so far with a schedule on a website is Dive eclipse in Selsey.

Spike,

Wittering Divers (just along the coast from Selsey) have their rib charter schedule online as well -

www.witteringdivers.co.uk

Cheers,
Tom

[budgy]

In terms of training I think basically they all teach the same thing.  Bsac Padi Saa it doesn't matter their all pretty good.  In Scotland, Scotsac is also there for you.  In the short term pro teaching is always quicker and more convenient.  I learnt through a club.  Club training can seem like never ending hurry up and wait.  If you train through the club and remain active, four years later the speed or lack of training opportunites won't matter, as by that time you could be the chief branch instructor.  Whatever certificate you go for, your not going to remember much or be particularly proficient unless you keep water fit and get out and dive regularly. The problem for many newly qualified diver is places to dive and people to dive with.  Dive clubs are social centres that organise regular diving outings and have expert knowledge of many suitable dive sites. they can lower the cost of participation, lending equipment, providing low cost fills and even get you discount at local dive shops. So your more likely to have the opportunity to develop your basic diving ability as a member of a local club.  Club branches whilst good for some ways also have problems.  2/3 of members are usually unseen. Your not always diving with friends and life is to short to spend leisure time in unpleasant company.  Club annual turnover of around +-25% seems to be about normal.  Maybe its lack of variety, sense of purpose or the inability of people to get along with one another or a mixture or all of it, dive clubs only survive by continually recruiting new members.

[Mary]

read somwhere last year about a group of PADI divers who opened thier own new BSAC branch to take advantage of insurance etc, don't know where that fits in.

[Phil Ennis]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mary @ Sep. 06 2003,14:06)]read somwhere last year about a group of PADI divers who opened thier own new BSAC branch to take advantage of insurance etc, don't know where that fits in.

<font color='#810541'>Sorry Mary but that doesn't make sense, but could be proved wrong. They probably set up a PADI club or just an independent one. &nbsp;

[Paul Oliver]

Hi Phil / Mary

I read an article about a PADI club, can't remember where though, probably in Diver.

To set up a BSAC Branch don't take much, 12 Members i think, fees would only need to be the BSAC membership if you have no need for branch subs, although branch ones would make a good kitty for boat hire etc.

Once you are a branch/member you have third party cover plus discounts on a lot of other cover etc.

If people want to know i'll extract it from the BSAC Branch Officers Handbook. (A well recomended read for Insomniacs), which is actually very useful.

Regards

Paul

[Paul Oliver]

Dominic

How about doing a crossover table or add a link to Andy Wade's Crossover page on his Dive instruct site.

Dive Instruct - Crossovers

may help

No doubt any help would be welcome

As you can see from the BSAC bit, the lack of rescue Training seems to be the big issue there.

Good Luck

Paul &nbsp;

[Jules]

Dominic

Are you sure of your facts when you say . &quot;PADI OW students are almost always taught in wetsuits&quot; . We did our OW in dry suits and did the OW and dry suit qualifications in one at seadog in Huddersfield and every other place in yorkshire offered us training in dry suits. Just an observation and I think the article sounds liek a good idea.

Jules.

[Dominic]

It isn't unheard of for PADI students to be in drysuits from day one - but it IS unusual. When I get around to doing the second draft, I'll add in a &quot;You may be able to demand a drysuit if it's cold enough&quot; comment

[Bantam]

Nice to see some familiar (and unfamiliar faces) on here!

Anyways, PADI vs BSAC - seems to be the old chestnut. Always guaranteed to silt up uk.rec.scuba and any other board you imagine, apart from here seemingly where everyone's sensible enough to keep it down and look at the facts, which is admirable folks.

I think the long and the short of it is;

If you want to dive quite regularly with the same bunch of people and join a diving community who will also train you, and you don't mind putting up with the occasional stoppy DO or a bit of politics/clique, then join BSAC.

If you want to get your qualification quickly, but with similar standards (PADI and BSAC syllabuses are virtually idential - just look at the OHP Slides (MLG's)) albeit more geared towards american diving (so the UK instructors tend to bend the syllabus to suit UK diving situations) then go with PADI.

If you like the BSAC idea but don't like the politics, go with SAA!

Mark.
(PADI DM &nbsp;/ BSAC DL)

[my_evil_twin]

SAA! now theres a thought...recently retreated from a crossover to BSAC as couldnt stand interminable monthly business meetings (perhaps hard to avoid, but some people do love the sound of their own voice), macho blokiness, cliqueyness, (very avoidable) in that particular club. Maybe I just had a bad experience. So what are the pros and cons of SAA? Anyone here with experience of being in SAA?