PADI Shark Diver Awareness ?

[Steve L.]

Well, they`ve done it again. has anyone read the article in the latest edition of `Diver` on the PADI Shark Diver Awarness Course ?

You`ve really got to admire some of these enterprising PADI Instructors, they was they find every way possible to screw a buck or two out of the average punter.

For those of you who hav`nt read the article, Chris Boardman attended a one day Shark Awarness Speciality Course. It comprises of 6 hours of theory and 30 minutes walking, underwater, around the shark tank at the Blue Planet Aquarium in London. And the price, a bargain at £175 per person. They can take a max. of 12 people a time.

So lets have a look at the breakdown in costs. 12 people at £175 each is £2100. £250 each for the two lecturing `experts`, £100 for the grub, £100 for the classroom and £500 for the Aquarium people. That makes around £900 profit for the organiser. Not bad for a days work.

If this was the Red Sea, Galapagos, Barrier Reef, S.Africa or any other shark infested waters, I could go along with it. But this course ranks along with the Wreck Diver Speciality on the Stanegarth or the previously mentioned Spiegel Grove Diver Speciality in Florida.

Anyway, whilst I have your attention, anyone interested in my Crab Diver Speciality. It will be going for approval to PADI soon, and I hope to offer this once in a lifetime oppertunity to appreciate the humble crab early next year. That it unless someone gets in first with another ridiculous PADI Speciality

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by Steve L.

If this was the Red Sea, Galapagos, Barrier Reef, S.Africa or any other shark infested waters, I could go along with it.

Actually, several PADI resorts I know do a "shark speciality" in places such as the Maldives. Why do they do it? Because people are facinated by these amazing creatures and want to learn about them and spend some time observing them. Is this a bad thing? I wouldn't say so. Lets face it, sharks get enough bad press from people who are poorly informed so anything which goes some way to addressing this should be welcomed by any diver who cares about their environment.

[Adrian Kelland]

PADI Shark - The shop owner?

[Cheaperhols]

How about the Padi getting kitted up on a rolling dive boat, we could call it the No vomit speciality (and if you Puke you fail), or the Padi dive planer course (if you actualy use your table you fail again)

To be honest and come on all you novices and experianced divers when was the last time you pulled out your tables before a dive to make a plan, or is just our club who rely on computers....


Kevin

[daz]

Oh come on Steve you are just out to make it all look like a money making exercise

Incidently can I interest in my new PADI wheel house in a quarry speciality. It involves a brief description of the intended site and then 3 visits to the aforementioned wheel house which according to course standards can all be conducted on the same dive

Daz

[Mark Davies]

Perhaps I shouldn't comment because I haven't read the article yet. I took one look at it, split my sides laughing and decided that it would be the last thing I read in the magazine.

I've been to The Blue Planet recently, along with Kate, and did the dive in the shark tank. That cost us £75 each, which I thought was a bit steep (Kate was doing a sponsored dive, being shit-scared of sharks, which was the only reason we did it). I'd love to know what is in the Speciality that justifies the extra £100. Let's face it, £100 notes is not a trivial sum. I'll read the article then make my mind up, but I very much doubt that I'll be signing up for the course.

[Fiona]

I first heard about this when I phoned the Diver Training college to enquire about the Hard Hat and Chamber dive, he was telling me someone had recently paid over £200 for this shark dive at Blue Planet. Like Kate some of our club did the shark dive there a few years ago, I think it was only about £50, I don't see how much more you can learn in a couple more hours.

Makes the £40 for the Hard Hat and Chamber dive very good value, especially since it hasn't gone up in price for at least 5 years.

[Bantam]

Didn't they mention a PADI enclosed water walker specialty or something like that too?

(Says he, a PADI DM and paid up too).

Mark.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Bantam

Didn't they mention a PADI enclosed water walker specialty or something like that too?

(Says he, a PADI DM and paid up too).

Mark.

I am sure I could devise one for £200 , sign up here

(says she, a PADI DM BUT not paid up)

I don't know what is most worrying about things like this. The fact that someone obviously thinks they will get away with it or the fact that there are mugs out there that will cough up for it.
The crazy thing is that will most of these specialities once accepted is that the guy teaching it generally doesn't know anything about it either having just done a short course or read the course material themselves.
Still, they say a fool and his/her money are easily parted.....