PADI Scuba Diver Qualification

[ScubaStu]

I have just read this article on Cyber Diver News Network about PADI's new Scuba Diver Qualification and wondered whether you guys think it's a good idea.
http://www.cdnn.info/editorial/padi-...uba-diver.html
sTU

[And]

PADI justifies "dumbing down" entry-level course requirements by comparing diving to skiing/snowboarding and arguing that even three and four-day Open Water courses are an obstacle to potential divers who don't have time to learn to dive. In this sense, the PADI "Scuba Diver" course is a marketing concept designed to increase PADI certifications and expand market share, not to reduce the inherent risk of diving.

I love it. Potential divers who don't have time to learn how to dive? Don't we just call them snorkellers?

LMAO.

Andy

[Andrew H]

PADI will be trying to increase demand for Divemasters and Instructors, by providing lower qualifications. Some people may only ever want to dive with a professional guide and this qualification gets them in quick and cheap. PADI work hard to look after their members (professionals) who pay PADI plenty for this service. You may have noticed that there are an awful lot more instructors these days, more than could possibly be needed. Besides all those numpty tourists need someone looking after them. Might even reduce the accidents. Ever hear of a diveboat leaving the divemaster behind?

It's certainly a far cry from the old BSAC days - or so I'm told.

Andrew

[John N]

Firstly, CDNN isn't known for it's journalistic impartiality...

You won't find many PADI instructors in the UK who would teach this course I don't think.
They will generally recommend either the full course in the UK or a referral to complete the diving at a holiday destination.

There are some holiday divers who do a try dive every time they go away and the Scuba Diver cert is something that they can do and have a card at the end of it. Apart from that it's not really an issue.

[Fathoms Down]

Ok, I'm not an expert on the PADI standards and the layout of the different courses (I'm finishing my DM off at the moment though) but, as far as I am aware, this isn't a new course as such, meerly the existing Discover SCUBA Diving and Discover SCUBA rolled into one course. The old courses have been available for a number of years but aren't common in the Uk (they seem to mainly be used abroad).

Are they old courses and the new course a good idea? Well, bare in mind that many people do see scuba diving as a desirable activity but have problems fitting the study work into their busy lives or don't want to loose four days of their holiday (possibly 20%+ of their annual holiday!) studying the effects of diving physics and physiology. The SCUBA course(s) allows them to get their head under the water and using the kit without having to dedicate them to diving as an activity. If it gets people who possibly would see the book work as a barrier to them diving in the water and subsequently hooked then it can only be a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

[Suzanne]

I feel I need to post my own opinion here for once - that article is the biggest load of nonsense i've ever read, as are some of the replies.

Most of my diving friends are instructors and divemasters and I can confidently say that none of us ignore the depth restrictions associated with the level of certification of a diver in our care - no way, never -its not worth the risk.

I also know many people who learn to dive just don't get as hooked as the likes of us on the forums....and just want to dive on hols. That's OK - it really is.

And another thing!!! Calling people 'numpties' is so patronising! - some of you lot need to quit sneering at people less diving-obsessed than yourselves.

OK, rant over....

[Cheaperhols]

And another thing!!! Calling people 'numpties' is so patronising! - some of you lot need to quit sneering at people less diving-obsessed than yourselves.

Bastards and i thought that numpties were experianced divers , wait till i see that lot on the weekend...



Kevin

[Paul Sharman]

Um!!
This course aint exactly new!!!
Its been around since the late 90s
Firs ever Scuber dIver Cert was issued by an Instructor from Leeds UK.

Whats wrong with a basic entry level cert that requires you to dive with either a DM or Instructor untill you compleat further training???

Cheers,

Paul.

[Phoenix]

On Phuket I haven't known of anyone being sold a Scuba Diver course per se, it is normally just used when someone has had a problem with their scheduling (extra day spent on mask clearing, too bad a hangover to turn up one day) and they can't complete the full OW course.

The qualification is ok if the PADI standards are taken at face value:

"Dive under the direct supervision of a
PADI Divemaster, Assistant Instructor or
Instructor while applying the knowledge
and skills they learn in this course,
within the limits of their training and
experience."

My only concern is how many Tour Guides have the time to devote to a "PADI Scuba Diver" when they may have 6 or 7 fully trained divers going all over the place that they have to watch out for (we generally have a max of 8 but I have picked up strays on several occasions)

Ian

[Mark Chase]

I dived on it for 10 years. I only dived one or two weeks a year in the clear blue warm stuff in hired kit. (Actually I was cool as I had my own mask and fins ). It was good enough for me to enjoy some diving with total ignorance about anything past breathing in and breathing out. I had no computer and no dive plan of any sort. I told my M8 I had been to 60m in St Lucia, which was a slight exaggeration as the depth gauge was in feet so I went to 60 ft. I had no understanding of the difference.

I regularly went to 25 -30m with dive guides but in there defence I was very chilled in the water and often got sent out with proper divers by the end of the first week. I dived in blissful ignorance and it was nothing but fun. I still look back with fond memories. I was never once scared in the water not until I became qualified and took up UK diving. Since then I have binned underwear on a regular basis..

ATB

Mark Chase