Another question on - PADI COURSES.

[David74]

Just another question to add to my last thread.
1)-Is there a risk of paying good money for the PADI courses and failing the certificate at the end of each course, and if so, would i have to foot the expense all over again.

2)-What are the pass percentages on each PADI course, and is each PADI course passable with good common sense.

[Sakara Drinker]

The course is performance based not time based so an instructor will keep at it until you pass. The only ones I know of that have failed a course are the ones who just decided it wasn´t for them and bailed out. If you are reasonably confident in the water then you will have no problems at all.

[air-guzzler]

Your only likely to fail if your a complete danger to others the worst that you could get is a referal i only know of a few instructors who have done that, Generally you will acquire your skills as you progress.

i would however choose the cousres so you get out of them what you require. some are a money maker for the LDS's IMHO

[ianicky]

I done my OW in April and i recon as long as you have common sense and your able to read then you will be fine, the practical side of things as far as im aware, your dive instructer just keeps going until you can do all the tasks needed, there was an old chap that joined me on my second pool session and he was struggling with the mask clearing, but the instructer just kept going until he final mastered it.

Im no expert and im sure more experienced divers will clarify this further.

Ian

[coldhands]

S-D is right. You don't fail, you just keep on doing it until you pass (speaking as one who lost count of the number of times she had to remove a weightbelt underwater to her instructor's satisfaction).

[Narcissus]

Basicallyyou have certain minimal performance requirements of which you have to meet to gain certification, and even in the unlikely event of this requirement failing to be met, you are always presented with another go till you pass the course.
Not sure if this is a good thing or not really, and im a PADI Instructor!

[kc86sting]

You can fail the exam but if you have done the knowledge reviews listened to the classroom sessions and then done the exam it would be hard to fail. If you did fail the exam your instructor would explain where you went wrong and then you get to sit another one. The instructors I had want you to pass so they make sure you have understood what you have learnt that you have mastered the skills in the pool before you moved to the open water. Not because they get paid but because they have a real love of diving and want to make you a safe diver. I personally wouldn't fancy doing my open water now its cold. So last year after talking to the instructors who eventually taught me I delayed until June when the water was warmer, i struggled with mask clearing skills in the open water but did it. Had my mask dislodge at the weekend my own fault but it wasn't a problem just readjusted it and cleared it. Ask the Q's that you have asked here of your potential instructors and if you dont get satisfactory answers then look for another instructor.

[Jenkins]

You don't buy the qualification but the training needed to meet the standards to gain the qualification.

Yes if you learn abroad you may "run out" of time if you are struggling with a skill but in the UK most instructors will simply give you extra sessions (possibly for a small extra charge) untill you reach the standard.

The Open Water qualification really is very simple and there is no reason why you shouldn't pass. As others have said if you fail the written exam (multiple guess questions) your instructor will go over things with you and let you sit it again.

The pool sessions will teach you all the skills that you will have to demonstrate in open water, none of these skills are difficult per se infact IMO the fear/aprehension of doing the skill (such as removing your mask underwater) is far worse than the skill itsself. That is not to say that people find underwater skills easy, but with practice and a patient instructor you will learn them.

In open water your qualifiying dives just repeat what you did in the pool, so in thoery will be easy. Add cold water and poor vis and yes people may find it scary but a mature approach will get you through. One girl on my OW course "failed" as she positively refused to do mask skills in in open water - note wouldn't not couldn't.

[Dougalsdad01]

I've not known anyone to fail (I'm just a humble DM though) but I have known one student who had to return to Stoney Cove to do an open water skill which she hadn't mastered and another student who did the classwork 3 times. Both of them were teenagers and neither of them were charged for the extra tuition other than the admission fee for Stoney Cove in the first case, the second student decided not to complete the course as he did not like diving.

The instructors all want you to pass and put a lot of effort into getting you through the course and turning you into safe divers. If you pass the course and subsequently have an accident then the HSE would question your qualifications so it's in the interest of the instructor to ensure that when you pass that you are of the required standard.

The difficulty with winter learning is not just the cold water but having to wear gloves, gloves make performing some skills harder.

[Sakara Drinker]

(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.