Hi all
I am a Padi IDCS and DDI (disabled divers international) instructor living in the London/kent area, recently moved back to UK after working in Asia for a few years and looking to form some kind of community/club with like minded divers.
DSD, OW or AOW, RESCUE, DM looking for your next certiification at COST and not profit
or even looking to get a speciality
regular diving at holbrough lakes near Rochester in Kent.
contact
lee
07875545032
Guys with little experience or lack of funds and want to improve and experience more diving but just feel a bit intimidated sometimes by all the all the diving guru. These guys are divers just need a little encouragement in a non profitable environment.
i have no minimum numbers set,, 121 im ok with as i understand being in some larger groups can be daunting.
Guys with little experience or lack of funds and want to improve and experience more diving but just feel a bit intimidated sometimes by all the all the diving guru. These guys are divers just need a little encouragement in a non profitable environment.
Colin i totally agree i may upset the balance and prove to be unpopular within the local dive centres but its all about diving ,, meeting up on a Sunday morning and enjoy the days diving and share experiences and knowledge.
Just so you are aware , there is a site in Kent that will get the hump with you if you train one of there existing students, even if they approach you and you didn't know.
But I am interested in what overhead vs margin is. After all - a weekend at a quarry or on a boat for the instructor, plus safety cover, fuel, pool hire, kit hire....all going to add up and an ad hoc instructor will have a less amortisable cost-base than a large shop.
I've read the conversation with interest, but being a relative sprog to the wider world of diving I'd like to pick some brains..
-where does the actual cost come from for these courses? Using Padi as an example, I understand the materials for the books etc cost around £50? (correct me if I'm wrong). Dive site entrance fees are'nt generally that shocking either so it would be equipment hire and the instructors time?
- What are the legalities behind a not very experienced but qualified OW diver owning their own kit, going to a sheltered site off the the coast with an instructor and smashing out some AOW dives? Would owning their own kit and already being a qualified diver negate the need for any Sealth and Hafety rubbish or any sort of public liability insurance? I can't seem to see where the £300 plus price tag comes from for these courses, if anyone wants to take the time to educate me I'd appreciate it
Don't forget all fees need to be paid for instructors and DMs. Twelve quid to get in a quarry? That'll be £36 then, then, four dives? That'll be 12 airfills please. Etc etc, add in a hundred quid for a pool for 6 hours and maybe even three boat places (£60-70) to, you know, actually go diving in the sea and do a CESA. Everything else is about £150 a pop - insurance, PADI fees, medicals.
There is nothing wrong with going out with an instructor and bashing out a AOW course of a coast as long as no payment for gain is made
or even better go out with an instructor as your buddy for a few dives, he or she will certainly keep an eye on you and assist and correct when needed, get to know your instructor as a diver not just as a instructor.
Isnt that a bit fuzzy? If you know the instructor personally, and there is nothing in writing to say he is teaching you in exchange for a cheese and ham sandwich and a brew who's to say whats payment and what isnt? I'd guess most instructors dive for pleasure as well as instructing so unless their full time job is instructing kit maintenance costs would be pretty essential anyway?
What i'm trying to understand is can an instructor take his mates down to a sheltered bit of coast and qualify them for AOW without someone sucking in air and shaking their head as to the legitimacy of the training? Can training be done concurrently to just diving or is it strictly controlled?
I'm trying to stay separate from the commercial side of things, I'd love to (and have) go down to NDAC and pay full whack for a days training (simply because the instructor is a top bloke). I, and I know a lot like me, often don't spend enough time in the same place to be able to go to the commercial sites and need to get what I can!
PADI training and HSE compliance are two different things. Breaking PADI standards will get you a smack on the wrist and drummed out of the Brownies. Killing someone whilst ignoring the HSE will get you in court.
What I should of said is, I agree with the above post. If I'm a qualified diver and just want to do the next course and a friend happens to be an instructor.. That cant be a bad thing surely? After all I'm more likely to go out and cause myself damage if I was on my own, as opposed to with an instructor.
OK, so now it is a friend, and not just a random off the internet?
Whilst there appears no issue with it, the reason it is an issue is that they may not be complying with HSE requirements. You have to ask yourself why, and see if you are happy with that. After all, being taught the next level often means being taken outside your comfort zone, and some of the things they may be avoiding are there for your good and protection.
And seeing as no names, no examples where made, I don't see how 'meaning' it can actually mean anything, last time I spoke to a dead bloke, he sure as hell didn't reply.
Like the idea, we have been doing this for the last 45 yrs in the area at Swanley.
I am the club training officer and a MI we have been solely teaching PADI for free/cost for the last 4 yrs its very popular (without looking at my records I would suggest I have taught 25 new OW divers in the past 12 months).
Did lots of research re HSE & the ACOP, in short if nobody associated with the dive project is making money they are not interested, I however do everything as if it was a business so have insurance, risk assessments & project plans along with the medical. This way I am well beyond my requirements.
If interested in some advice please PM me, or you can join us and given time will let you loose with some of my students.
Karl thanks for the reply
Be good to have a chat some time
If you can drop me a line that be cool
07875545032
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