PADI Training vs.. others

"Dan L" wrote

> I am a PADI instructor, but I have certs from a variety of agencies and
> mainly keep the PADI rating as it is useful for work (I am a marine
> biologist and I occasionally train scientific divers, and the PADI courses
> are useful for getting the basic certs up to the point that non-PADI
> scientific training can begin).

In other words, it's a quick and certain way to put a card in the hands of a
diver. That's a useful tool for you. It's a problem for the recreational
diving industry.


Lee

"Dan L" wrote

> I am a PADI instructor, but I have certs from a variety of agencies and
> mainly keep the PADI rating as it is useful for work (I am a marine
> biologist and I occasionally train scientific divers, and the PADI courses
> are useful for getting the basic certs up to the point that non-PADI
> scientific training can begin).

In other words, it's a quick and certain way to put a card in the hands of a
diver. That's a useful tool for you. It's a problem for the recreational
diving industry.


Lee

"zippthorne" wrote

> The whole point of a training certification is to provide a framework
> under which *new* divers can confidently learn to be safe.

No, it's a certification that they have the skills to be safe. There's a
significant difference.

Lee

"zippthorne" wrote

> The whole point of a training certification is to provide a framework
> under which *new* divers can confidently learn to be safe.

No, it's a certification that they have the skills to be safe. There's a
significant difference.

Lee

"Reef Fish" wrote

A bunch of stuff that proves that even his experience was not a sure way to
learn.

"Reef Fish" wrote

A bunch of stuff that proves that even his experience was not a sure way to
learn.

In article <060320062135551447%sytech@yahoo.com>,
<sytech@yahoo.com> writes:
...
>I have to say that I was really put off by the PADI Training Manual. The
>text was adequate but the questions at the end of the chapters could
>have been answered by children. ...

It was apparent to me when I took the PADI courses that the questions
at the end of each chapter were taken [mostly?] word-for-word from the
text in the chapter. Students are required to complete the questions
and instructors are required to collect them. (Or at least this was
the situation back then.)

My belief is that this is intended as a means to help ensure that the
students actually read the book. Sad to say, my experience is that not
all students actually do read the book. {sigh}

Most of the required knowledge can be absorbed from classroom lecture
and videos. Without the requirement to "turn in" the completed questions,
some instructors would probably not make any attempt to ensure that
students had read the book.

This is not a indicment of either PADI or any/all of its instructors.
Much of the USA population is just damned lazy when it comes to
education. {sigh, again}

Just in case it is NOT obvious, I do believe that SCBUA students should
thoroughly read and study the course manual!

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

In article <060320062135551447%sytech@yahoo.com>,
<sytech@yahoo.com> writes:
...
>I have to say that I was really put off by the PADI Training Manual. The
>text was adequate but the questions at the end of the chapters could
>have been answered by children. ...

It was apparent to me when I took the PADI courses that the questions
at the end of each chapter were taken [mostly?] word-for-word from the
text in the chapter. Students are required to complete the questions
and instructors are required to collect them. (Or at least this was
the situation back then.)

My belief is that this is intended as a means to help ensure that the
students actually read the book. Sad to say, my experience is that not
all students actually do read the book. {sigh}

Most of the required knowledge can be absorbed from classroom lecture
and videos. Without the requirement to "turn in" the completed questions,
some instructors would probably not make any attempt to ensure that
students had read the book.

This is not a indicment of either PADI or any/all of its instructors.
Much of the USA population is just damned lazy when it comes to
education. {sigh, again}

Just in case it is NOT obvious, I do believe that SCBUA students should
thoroughly read and study the course manual!

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Thus spake mike gray <omgray@worldnet.att.net> :

>sytech@yahoo.com wrote:
>> I received my YMCA Open Water Cert. about 6 years ago and recently
>> received my Advanced Open Water Cert. through PADI.
>>
>> The latter dive instructor was very knowledgeable and skilled but I
>> have to say that I was really put off by the PADI Training Manual. The
>> text was adequate but the questions at the end of the chapters could
>> have been answered by children. The questions were very simple
>> multiple choice or "yes" or "no" answers.
>>
>> Something like this:
>>
>> "Lung expansion injuries are good for you" (yes) (no)
>>
>> I'm really not exaggerating much at all.
>>
>>
>> I can really see now that PADI wants to virtually assure that you pass
>> the course. As a result as I continue my training I will do all that I
>> can to avoid PADI. I realize that the expertise of the diving
>> instructor is what's most important but I have no faith in an
>> organization which allows such dumb and self evident questions in their
>> training manual. My initial YMCA Certification (written part) was a
>> hundred times more demanding than the PADI Advanced Cert..
>>
>> Any comments will be appreciated.
>>
>> Sy
>>
>
>There is some very basic "book" knowledge important to entry
>level courses, but not much. Mostly, it's skill development.
>
>As you get further into diving, you may find an interest in
>algorithm development, history, archeology, diving physics and
>physiology, gas blending, equipment design, cave mapping or any
>of the other hundreds of subjects we love to argue about here
>(or used to, anyway) and which require the kind of knowledge
>that can be assessed with a written exam.
>
>Meanwhile, work on developing yer in-water skills - that's how
>other, experienced divers will rank you as a good or bad diver.
>
>Leave the essays to those that don't dive much.
>
>m

In point of fact, skills development is what AOW is about. You should
already have the basic knowledge, it's about stepping up a notch.
--
dillon

Could have been is in the past
Could be is in the future
There is only the now

Thus spake mike gray <omgray@worldnet.att.net> :

>sytech@yahoo.com wrote:
>> I received my YMCA Open Water Cert. about 6 years ago and recently
>> received my Advanced Open Water Cert. through PADI.
>>
>> The latter dive instructor was very knowledgeable and skilled but I
>> have to say that I was really put off by the PADI Training Manual. The
>> text was adequate but the questions at the end of the chapters could
>> have been answered by children. The questions were very simple
>> multiple choice or "yes" or "no" answers.
>>
>> Something like this:
>>
>> "Lung expansion injuries are good for you" (yes) (no)
>>
>> I'm really not exaggerating much at all.
>>
>>
>> I can really see now that PADI wants to virtually assure that you pass
>> the course. As a result as I continue my training I will do all that I
>> can to avoid PADI. I realize that the expertise of the diving
>> instructor is what's most important but I have no faith in an
>> organization which allows such dumb and self evident questions in their
>> training manual. My initial YMCA Certification (written part) was a
>> hundred times more demanding than the PADI Advanced Cert..
>>
>> Any comments will be appreciated.
>>
>> Sy
>>
>
>There is some very basic "book" knowledge important to entry
>level courses, but not much. Mostly, it's skill development.
>
>As you get further into diving, you may find an interest in
>algorithm development, history, archeology, diving physics and
>physiology, gas blending, equipment design, cave mapping or any
>of the other hundreds of subjects we love to argue about here
>(or used to, anyway) and which require the kind of knowledge
>that can be assessed with a written exam.
>
>Meanwhile, work on developing yer in-water skills - that's how
>other, experienced divers will rank you as a good or bad diver.
>
>Leave the essays to those that don't dive much.
>
>m

In point of fact, skills development is what AOW is about. You should
already have the basic knowledge, it's about stepping up a notch.
--
dillon

Could have been is in the past
Could be is in the future
There is only the now