OW Certification Dives on Vacation - Why?

[Vercingetorix]

Alright, I'm missing something here.

In several threads (here and on ScubaBoard and elsewhere), I've read about divers who do their classroom at their local LDS, then head for distant, exotic locales (i.e., Coz) to do their open water certification dives while on vacation.

I don't get it.

First, there's the expense. The training LDS charges $$ to forward the paperwork to the certifying dive operator in the distant land. The foreign operator charges $$ to process the paperwork; there may be additional fees for the actual dives.

Second, (and this is the biggy), the student pisses-away two days of the vacation working. "Working vacation" is a contradiction in terms. Then, our newly minted diver spends the few remaining days of vacation diving.

Why not do the certification open water dives with the training LDS locally, then, spend the ENTIRE vacation vacationing?

[chinacat46]

Well when I got my OW I did the whole class on vacation. I had been traveling for nearly 4 months and was in NZ at the time in the Bay of Islands area. My next stop was Fiji and I thought it would be neat to learn to dive before going to Fiji. Spent 4 days doing class/pool and open water dives. Since I had been in NZ before and had been there for almost 12 weeks at that point I didn't mind burning 4 days towards something that has become a passion. I guess if I was only going someplace for a week I might have had a different prespective.

[underwaterdan]

I have seen people take the course in the AM at the resort, and not miss much of their day. As for the $$$ maybe that is no object. Some people rather get certified in nice vis water with stuff to see instead of zero vis water near them(if they have water near). As for me I got certified in college, it was a great move, cheaper and counted towards graduation!

[sudnit5]

If money were no object....

Anyways, I got certified through my work, also a great way of doing it.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Why do check out's in Cozumel?? Because you have no desire to get in a Texas Lake or Quarry! Especially in January!

We have a lot of folks do this - and actually - it's cheaper!

Let's look at it this way. You have done your class and pool work, and ready for check outs. 2 choices, go to CSSP or Cozumel.

If you go to CSSP you take out a weekend (now depending on the time of year and temps, etc - it might be a fun weekend - we try to keep it that way), but some folks have kid schedules, work, etc.

But anyway, you pay for 2 days to get in out there... $40. You buy some tank fills $20, you figure your time driving and gas is $15 an hour?? another $30 or $40. So really, it's going to cost you about 100 bucks to do your checkouts on a weekend in a texas lake. That's before you figure food, taking off work if you work on weekends, etc.

Now, if instead you head to Coz... the first day you land, it is typically too late to get on a boat - but instead, we hook you up with an instructor that takes you out for 2 dives and knocks out virtually all the skills. Then the next day you get on the boat - head out for 2 boat dives - have a kick, and maybe do another skill or two along the way. And that cost $175. If you just would have paid for the boat dive - it would have been probably about $75 especially if you needed to rent any gear - so when you add it all up - you get 2 extra dives, personalized guide in Cozumel, and never have to toss on a 7 mil suit - and you are looking at groupers and angel fish instead of rocks and mud... with an occasional bass or catfish. And probably did not cost any more!

I think it's great if people get into local diving - but some just don't want to and in the scheme of things, it really is not any more expensive or hassle to do the checkouts on your trip.

[Hemlon]

Rick, I feel the same way.

Plus...it's a confidence builder. Heck, if you can dive in cold, poor-vis water just imagine how it's going to feel when you dive in gorgeous conditions!

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

Why do check out's in Cozumel?? Because you have no desire to get in a Texas Lake or Quarry! Especially in January!

We have a lot of folks do this - and actually - it's cheaper!

I wish you offered that option to me. I did my OW in January with ST. Let's just say that CSSP water at 47 degrees was "brisk and refreshing".

But anyway, you pay for 2 days to get in out there... $40. You buy some tank fills $20, you figure your time driving and gas is $15 an hour?? another $30 or $40. So really, it's going to cost you about 100 bucks to do your checkouts on a weekend in a texas lake.

Yep. Right on target from me (driving from Irving) I suck air like it's free, so my air-fills were about $32.

Now, if instead you head to Coz... the first day you land, it is typically too late to get on a boat - but instead, we hook you up with an instructor that takes you out for 2 dives and knocks out virtually all the skills. Then the next day you get on the boat - head out for 2 boat dives - have a kick, and maybe do another skill or two along the way. And that cost $175. If you just would have paid for the boat dive - it would have been probably about $75 especially if you needed to rent any gear - so when you add it all up - you get 2 extra dives, personalized guide in Cozumel, and never have to toss on a 7 mil suit - and you are looking at groupers and angel fish instead of rocks and mud... with an occasional bass or catfish. And probably did not cost any more!

I wore a 7mil FJ to CSSP. $ foot viz. Would I have preferred Coz? Oh yeah.

Larry, you an Joe may want to look into this is an option for OW. Sure, it'll cost a lot more than the $250. But, the numbers you cite do work. Just ensure that the new diver has another 3 days or so to enjoy his/her new found skills.

Originally Posted by Hemlon

Rick, I feel the same way.

Plus...it's a confidence builder. Heck, if you can dive in cold, poor-vis water just imagine how it's going to feel when you dive in gorgeous conditions!

Roger that!!!

UnderwaterDan, are you referring to resort course that indeed certify you? I ask,because I know other resort course that do not provide agency certification. They simply clear you to dive for a day with a DM.

chinacat46, you lucky devil!!!

[Divingguy]

Having just helped with an OW class at CSSP last weekend, I would not blame anyone for completing any certification in warm, clear, blue water. At CSSP the vis was only 3 to 5 feet, MAX, and was WORSE than that in many areas. Trying to do the required "tours", where you could literally not keep track of the fins of the person in front of you was a joke, and was very disconcerting to the students. Trying to get the 40 foot dive in meant the students had to descend into very cold and almost totally dark conditions. NOT enjoyable for them at all, and really cranked up the apprehension level. Had one student suffer a panic attack underwater, which was successfully resolved. It is just not "fun" for some of these noobs in conditions like that. For tech divers, and people working on nav skills, fine. But noobs are already anxious enough.

[mwhities]

I wouldn't consider an OW class in Cozumel (or any surrounding areas) a waste. I love knowledge. I love to dive. I'd pay extra for training. (even more so now.) It's something I love and something I enjoy doing.

Would never be a waste in anyway.

Michael

[Vercingetorix]

Tom, I was at CSSP this weekend (acting as a victim for MacPherson's Rescue class). You're right about the viz. Did a fun dive after the class, and ran into locations where the viz was so bad, I could not see my fins. Thermals weren't too bad with a 3mil suit, though.

Originally Posted by mwhities

I wouldn't consider an OW class in Cozumel (or any surrounding areas) a waste. I love knowledge. I love to dive. I'd pay extra for training. (even more so now.) It's something I love and something I enjoy doing.

I wouldn't consider it a waste either. It would certainly be more enjoyable. My query was, excluding the additional costs of the vacation, is it worth the extra money to handle the paperwork and dives for Coz versus CSSP. Larry laid-out the numbers, and I think he's spot-on. It would cost about $100 more, but you're getting guided tour in a warm and beautiful locale.