Training agency?

[zepp]

Firstly, This is NOT, repeat NOT a PADI v's Other thread, so NO slagging off please.
I was originally trained with a SAA club, and went through pool training, lectures, open water etc. All takes time; going to the club each week, and is a good way to learn IMO if the club scene is for you.
Yesterday I had a phone call from a customer of mine who, 8 mths ago showed an interest in diving when he saw my dive kit in the back of my pick-up. He will be going to Cuba in September and wants to be able to dive there. The thing is, is that his wife has showed no interest (Oh dear!!), so he doesn't want to spend a large chunk of his holiday been trained by the PADI organisation out there.
I believe that he would be the sort of diver only to dive abroad maybe once or twice a year.
Would you agree that a PADI course, say done at Stoney is a good route for him?
What time scale to reach the minimum qualification?(OW/AOW ?)
What cost for the training?
What kit would he need?
Which instuctor to use?
I have little knowledge of the PADI system, so please enlghten me.

[big kev]

Hello Mate,
Your friend won't be doing any training with PADI in Cuba as they are an American company and the US has a trade embargo with Uncle Fidel :bandit: because he has all the best cigars and offers his people a better standard of living then most dumb yanks have! Oh, and the yanks are scared of them!
Having said that, PADI quals are recognised in Cuba.
OW course in the UK before he goes is a good idea, most often done in 4 days over 2 weekends average cost is around £325 and the only kit he needs is a towel and some trunks. Find a dive centre through the net or mags or on here.
Hope this helps and that your friend has a good time.
Kev.

[zepp]

Cheers Kev

[OctopusAli]

The best route would be either the PADI Open Water or Open Water Referral.
The Open Water Course should only take him 4 days (2 days Pool/Theory & 2 Days OW Dives) He would be qualified to 18m. He could opt for the OW Referral, where he does the Pool & Theory here & his Qualifying OW Dives on holiday. He would need to check for a PADI centre at his holiday destination. The Full OW should cost no more than £350 ! The Referral is somewhere in the region of £250 plus whatever his holiday centre charges. These prices should include kit hire, air fills, entrance fees, books etc but it would be a good idea for him to have a mask & snorkel. Be wary of those charging much less as sometimes all the other stuff is added on as extras!! If he does the full course he can go straight on to AOW (2 Days/5 Dives) approx £240 qualified to 30m.
Tell him to have a good chat with the dive school he picks & make sure all his books etc are included & that he is happy with the instructor. I've heard some real horror stories....

[Mark Davies]

My recommendation for anyone learning to dive is to go and do the PADI OW course first (to get yourself into the water) and then go and join a BSAC club. This combination gets you around the sometimes ridiculous length of time it can take a BSAC branch to train you but then lets you go on to progress in your diving.

So, for your friend I'd say definitely go and train with PADI before he goes. Some schools will do a one week course (much as he would get away on holiday) though charge a little extra for it. Some of the BSAC stalwarts will argue that you can't possibly learn to dive safely in so short a time - I'll agree partly, he won't be the finished article, but he'll be safe and well on the way. It's a perfectly good start.

[zepp]

Originally Posted by Mark Davies

Some of the BSAC stalwarts will argue that you can't possibly learn to dive safely in so short a time - I'll agree partly, he won't be the finished article, but he'll be safe and well on the way. It's a perfectly good start.[/color][/font]

That's my view, but BSAC is much the same as our SAA program in that it's a good choice for someone who wants to be a part of club and the social side that goes with it. The guy is going to come to our club tommorrow night for a try dive in the pool. He has never even tried snorkeling other than a play in a pool about 20yrs ago!

[J.D.]

If he's thinking of joining your club why not look for a BSAC school near you. Theres a list of schools here. He could do Ocean Diver with the school, so would be similarly qualified to an OW diver and wouldn't have to cross over when joining the club. The only problem may be finding a centre that recognises BSAC quals in Cuba so he should check with the centres out there before deciding which course to do.

Edit: Sorry just realised your clubs SAA, still it could be an option

[Billy the Kangaroo]

Re the Referral route,
It may seem to be a great idea for those peole who want to hoiday dive only, you do all the pool work, theory, exams etc in the UK, then can go into Open Water on day-one of your holiday. This beats the UK for many novices and doesnt waste time on your holiday.
HOWEVER, you WONT be able to complete the PADI course in Cuba.
Many companies in Cuba use the Canadian version of PADI. You should check before you go that they will accept a PADI referral and complete their version of Open Water after a simple check-out.
Make sure you have ALL the prerequisites/ documentation - get an instructor to show or give you the instructions to make sure you dont turn up with something missing.

[JamesW]

Ref Saa
If you go the Saa route that will take longer than Bsac, You start of Snorkeller, Advance Snorkeller, Elementary Diver, Then Openwater Diver. Do Padi over here then join a club and do a simple crossover. Our club is Saa and we will only accept divers with Padi Scuba Diver or higher qualifications, It takes too long through a club system.

Thanks

[JamesW]

Just found this link

http://www.cuba-plus.com/padi_scuba_diving_courses.htm

Thanks