Another question on - PADI COURSES.

[gerald1961]

Do you have to book a course through a ldc or can you to hire an instructor separte from the ldc.

[oceanMonkey]

I think your right dougal, the gloves in winter do make the skills much harder to perform.

But in some ways I think that is the best way to learn. Imagine a student diver did there OW in the summer but then went on there first diving trip in the winter. they could get there mask kicked off and then have an absolute nightmare trying to get it back on, because there not used to doing it with gloves on!!!

I've just completed my OW in november @ Capernwray, and it seemed to take an absolute age to get my mask back on, had to take one of my gloves off at one point!!, I also had a free flow and got vertigo on a descent... certainly got my adrenaline pumping but i'm glad it happened, at least I know what to do if happens again.

I'm glad ive booked my courses for the winter, better to learn in a more diffcult environment... got my AOW booked for december the 13th / 14th.... Brrrrrrr, its going to be cold....but still cant wait to get back in the water.

[g121ff]

(28-11-2008 03:46 PM)Sakara Drinker Wrote:  

(27-11-2008 10:56 PM)Jenkins Wrote:  in the UK most instructors will simply give you extra sessions (possibly for a small extra charge) untill you reach the standard.

There should be NO extra charge for additional training, only for expenses like inland site admission etc.

Unfortunately, a LDS I know, who hold OW courses most weekends, have an Instructor who will tell struggling students to 'get out of the pool, diving is not for you' in no uncertain terms and does not offer any sort of refund/rebooking option. I have often had the students ask 'what happens now, do I have to pay again' and he will charge them course prices to try to complete the course again! He has little time for women or anyone with a skill problem, and in a class of 9 students, they often feel too ashamed to hold up the rest of the class while they master a critical attribute, so unhappily leave the pool sessions, never to return.
What do you think of that?

[furryman]

(28-11-2008 03:46 PM)Sakara Drinker Wrote:  

(27-11-2008 10:56 PM)Jenkins Wrote:  in the UK most instructors will simply give you extra sessions (possibly for a small extra charge) untill you reach the standard.

There should be NO extra charge for additional training, only for expenses like inland site admission etc.

Well in an ideal world maybe. Here is an exerpt from one of our local PADI centres' T&Cs:
"4, Course schedules allow for time to complete the course and remain flexible to a degree. However, the course is performance based. If you do not meet the training performance requirements during the course and additional training is required, this will require an additional payment (£65.00 per session)."

And he enforces it!
Thanks goodness they now have some local competition.

Chris

[andy_richardson]

I have to say my experience has been different. My lds has an excellent group of Instructors and DMs, and the general ethos seems to be keep on attending pool sessions until you've mastered the required skills. I'm doing my rescue course at the moment, and have lost count of the number of times I've practiced "lift, strip, and egress", "panicked diver", etc. No pressure is put on any of the students, as the general idea is that at some point one of the students will be your buddy, and you want to know that they will be able to dive safely with you. So, as far as our lds goes, . And yes, they are PADI, but I think that they're a club first and foremost.

[kc86sting]

(04-12-2008 02:30 AM)g121ff Wrote:  Unfortunately, a LDS I know, who hold OW courses most weekends, have an Instructor who will tell struggling students to 'get out of the pool, diving is not for you' in no uncertain terms and does not offer any sort of refund/rebooking option. I have often had the students ask 'what happens now, do I have to pay again' and he will charge them course prices to try to complete the course again! He has little time for women or anyone with a skill problem, and in a class of 9 students, they often feel too ashamed to hold up the rest of the class while they master a critical attribute, so unhappily leave the pool sessions, never to return.
What do you think of that?

I think you should name them

[Beanie]

I've never heard of anyone failing a PADI course
Like everyone's said they do literally just keep going til you get it

There is a point of training though that shouldn't be crossed

Naming no names or slanderous stuff I actually saw a dive operation once pressure someone into doing a rescue diver course (she was 17 and not really interested but her father was one of those "oh aye another qualification for the CV" types)
This poor girl hadn't dived in 2 years and really couldn't remember all but the most basic skills and she was qualified to rescue diver.

I saw her on a night out and asked her if she was enjoying the course
She said it was good fun BUT didn't feel ready for it and I quote "I don't think I should be learning how to rescue people when I can't even remember how to put my gear together."

This was a really extreme case though
But just a word of warning that some operations will try and push something onto you that you really don't want to do

Specialties are the main ones for that though

[mickwood]

I think these examples just go to show the difference between a good instructor and a poor one - try and book with someone who's been recommended!