PADI vs BSAC? More than the usual debate!

[Dominic]

Right. This is NOT an agency bashing. It is NOT a troll. It is NOT a newbie looking for advice.
We all know I'm a qualified diver already and don't need to do a crossover
However, as a quick glance at Dnet right now will show, it's a common enough innocent question from beginners that almost inevitably descends into flames.
So, as I did with topics like the Hub & the suicide bottle et al, I'd like to put together a comprehensive web page with all the pros & cons laid out in full, so if the question gets asked, a full answer is readily available that might help to forestall the inevitable long, drawn-out arguments we so often see.
So, what I'm asking for here is for posts about what I ought to include - what advice you usually give a newbie who asks this question. What you liked about the agency that trained you, and what you didn't like. Etc etc.
Oh, and I'm happy to include ScotSAC and the SAA etc if anybody wants to post some things about them.
I'd appreciate it if this could be limited to just things for consideration in an article, and not a slagging match REASONED debate about an article's contents. That's all.
See the pig! See it fly!

[Jay]

PADI

Pros:

Largest diving training agency in the world
Most widely recognised dive certification
Well constructed training materials
Gets you in the water from day one
Caters for pretty much all recreational diving needs
Excellent safety record

Cons:

Not cheap
Very 'American' in its philosophy
Remote administration of dive centres can allow for differing training standards


That should start you off - can't comment about BSAC as I know little about them

[Dominic]

In this country - do PADI centers teach metric or imperial? ie the local system or the US?

[Kev Martin]

Dominic

Metric is taught in this country.  (I had a hell of a time trying to make conversions when I took my IDC/IE in the US!!)

Regards.

[tom]

Metric

[Lou]

What about the difference between BSAC clubs & BSAC schools?  It is something that is rarely considered in these debates but I think that there are some interesting points to be made there.

[Finless]

Dom,

I'm PADI trained and very happy with the training I received.

My only concern is that OW or AOW qualification does not necessarily mean that person has the right experience to go out diving without a more experienced diver as a buddy straight away - especially if they learned (as I did) abroad and start diving in more challenging conditions like the UK.

I am not explaining this very well but a reasonable analogy would be having passed your driving test does not mean you are a good driver - you need road time and to build up experience.

Mind you, I did my AOW 20 years ago so maybe it has changed now.

Oh well, I tried - feel free to ignore this.

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Finless @ Sep. 05 2003,11:01)]Dom,

I'm PADI trained and very happy with the training I received.

My only concern is that OW or AOW qualification does not necessarily mean that person has the right experience to go out diving without a more experienced diver as a buddy straight away - especially if they learned (as I did) abroad and start diving in more challenging conditions like the UK.

I am not explaining this very well but a reasonable analogy would be having passed your driving test does not mean you are a good driver - you need road time and to build up experience.

Mind you, I did my AOW 20 years ago so maybe it has changed now.

Oh well, I tried - feel free to ignore this.

Would not neccessarily disagree but not sure that it is really that relevent as PADI's great caveat is "Trains you to dive in conditions similar or better than the environment you were trained in"

I think it is more a question of setting expectations correctly,  

BSAC Pro's

Training more focussed on UK environment,
Club environment
Can be cheaper.
Can give access to kit to borrow.

BSAC Con's

Club environment
Takes longer to get in the water.


The training materials is also quite a good one to look at from a different agencies perspective.  There was a review in one of the dive magazines some months back listing the merits of each agency.

Daz

[kinetic]

Hi,

I did my initial training with BSAC when I lived in the UK and I was very pleased with it.

I did a cross over to PADI for AOW and all other levels after that (and specialities). I did this simply because I'm an ex-pat and BSAC courses are difficult to do abroad. I was happy with my PADI training that I've done around the world.

For me, the important thing is being able to do a course wherever and whenever I am...which is easier with PADI. I think that access to training would be a big consideration for someone deciding between agencies.

Hope this helps.

Kinetic

[John Gulliver]

I agree that there is a risk that training standards may vary between different PADI scools and instructors but doesn't that apply equally to BSAC clubs and instructors or do you think BSAC's quality control is better than PADI's? I've no personal experience of BSAC so have no axe to grind, just asking.