Differences between training companies

[Flatliner]

Good point,

Both taking the AOW students into a cave AND leaving his class unattended is CRAZY dumb!

[chicken]

I did report it. I don't use that dive shop anymore either. But I think my point was made on how to tell a good instructor from a bad one.

[Zenagirl]

I think the analogy about comparing cola products and dive agengies is excellent.

[LovinPowell]

I have only taken the OW course and it was basically a one on one session. So I will assume that she was a good instructor. She is currently instructing three more family members, I will be tagging along on their first OW dive this afternoon.

[chicken]

Originally Posted by cummings66

If you know for a fact the instructor took AOW students into a cave, you owe the diving community a service. Turn that instructor into their agency. You must put a stop to that before somebody dies.

Padi does take action, I know of one former padi instructor who done similar things and got turned in, he's a former instructor now. They took action.

I know it for a fact because I was in the class. Our boat out of Panama City Beach didn't sail because of weather and the instructor wanted to finish us up.

I did call NAUI when I got back. Then it took almost two months to get my "C" card because somebody had reported the instructor.

[tfd86]

Maybe someday they will merge like the airlines and just about every other industry and this age old battle will be over.

[CalBearister99]

Originally Posted by chicken

The same instructor would not give a OW student more weights because she only paid for 10 pounds. So she struggled all day trying to stay under. Good instructor or bad?

I'm not sure if that's the funniest or the most horrifying thing I've ever read. Seeing how the instructor should be the one deciding how much weight you need as an OW student, AND that it's by definition variable, AND that an OW diver often needs more weight (I did), that's about the most ridonkulous thing I could even imagine!

[DevilDiver]

Originally Posted by CalBearister99

I'm not sure if that's the funniest or the most horrifying thing I've ever read. Seeing how the instructor should be the one deciding how much weight you need as an OW student, AND that it's by definition variable, AND that an OW diver often needs more weight (I did), that's about the most ridonkulous thing I could even imagine!

Can't believe they made a OW student rent weights, they are usually included in the price of the course. Or are they???

What a cheap a$$.

[inventor]

I really liked my instructor, he was very patient with everyone, and seem very knowledgeable. I couldn't finish my OW, couldn't do the last dive. The next weekend he finished the class with me alone, so I could get my card. He also took a couple from our classes kid through a OW lite class gratis, while we were all diving our AOW class.

He seemed really cool compared to some of the ones you guys have posted about.

[chinacat46]

I've never heard of a shop charging an OW student for weights but some how it doesn't surprise me. I mean airlines charge you if you want to bring luggage on your vacation. I wonder when Hotels are gonna catch on and start charging for luggage.