Disolusioned!

[Ian Graham]

How many people have crossed over from other diving agencies? And why did you do it?

[Bren Tierney]

How many people have crossed over from other diving agencies? And why did you do it?

I went from PADI to TDI after my Rescue Diver and half-way through my Dive Master (which I binned as I don't actually want to teach folks to dive) - found TDI suited my diving desires and aspirations and the mentality of the instructors was more 'what are you trying to achieve?' mentality, rather than trying to flog me the next course up.

[Nigel Hewitt]

>How many people have crossed over from other diving agencies? And why did you do it?

I'm not sure I have ever 'crossed over' but...
I originally started with PADI (up to MSD and I will finish DM one day), IANTD and TDI for certain technical training, I am a member of my local BSAC branch and for various trip planning reasons I am an SAA member. My allegiances are to my friends not some organisational label. I look for training in the things that I want to do and often that is a course from another body but I have joined the people I dive with.

nigelH

[terryh]

How many people have crossed over from other diving agencies? And why did you do it?

I was a perfectly happy PADI warm(ish) water diver, who got fed
up with waiting for holidays. UK diving beckoned, but wasnt happy with that one PADI sentence which ends up being a cop out
for specific training. You know, the one that says
"acclimatise with local conditions etc".

Much rather join an outfit who's whole ethos is UK diving,
hence BSAC.

Still did all the PADI grades in tandem with BSAC's though.
Practice makes etc.etc.

I think the main point here is that it really makes no odds who
you train/dive with and what agency. The best way is to look at
the syllabus/type of each level and cherry-pick what suits your
sort of diving.

TerryH

[Nick McV]

Me? well, Started BSAC, didn't complete, did PADI OW, crossed to Novice/Sports, did PADI AOW (to keep PADI Buddy company), did Dive Leader, TDI Nitrox, PADI Medic/First Aid, RYA/BSAC Boat Handler/Diver Cox, etc....

Training is all pretty much to the same standard, the variations come in those who deliver it.

You don't specify why you are disillusioned, but consider that there are differences between those organisations that give of their spare time to deliver training and organise dives and look after equipment, and those organisations that ask you to pay for these services.

There are also 'personalities' wherever you go.

I guess it comes down to two main questions.

Do you want to pay commercial rates for diving?
Yes - Go PADI/SSI/NAUI/local shop/hardboats etc..
No - Join a club, be it BSAC/SAA/SSAC or whatever.

Do you have a problem with an individual / group of individuals?
No - Then what is the issue?
Yes - Either address the problem or move.

Do tell what is really bugging you.

Nick (A happy club member)

[Kevyn Bodman]

I've been a BSAC member since I started diving 11 years ago but have also taken courses with 3 other agencies because the courses they offered suited my diving ambitions at the time.

When I joined people talked about the quality of BSAC training,I think it's good but not universally so.I've done a couple of very disappointing
BSAC courses,and have doubts about the quality of some events I haven't been on but have heard about.
But I've also received some extremely good training within the BSAC.
And I've seen this variation in quality in other agencies too, I don't single out BSAC in this area.

So I don't think that BSAC training is necessarily the best.

Someone in earlier post suggested 'cherry-picking' and I think that can be a good idea for some people.

But where I think BSAC does score is the club-based diving it offers.
A co-operative and happy club is,in my opinion,a great way to dive.And if you can find one I would recommend you join.
Think about what your own diving ambitions are;they might change over time,mine have.Look for a Branch whose activities come closest to matching your goals.
Talk to club members about what they do,but be sceptical about what people say,ask them for a factual account of the diving the Branch has actually carried out in the last season or two rather than a vague expression of wishes or content-free statements like 'we are an active Branch that dives regularly and offers training.'

People can say this kind of thing,and believe it,months after it has ceased to be true.

And if you are already in a Branch that doesn't offer what you want you can change to a different one,or be a member of 2 branches.

Kevyn.

[NeilB]

We have several people in our branch who have crossed over from other agencies. Why? Because if you dive more than once a month (and here in Oman we dive every weekend and twice during the week) we are an extremely cheap way of diving.

We have one keen member who says his 200+ dives have only cost him ?1.40 a dive!

[tony dwyer]

How many people have crossed over from other diving agencies? And why did you do it?

I haven't crossed over, more sort of parallel processed. Started in BSAC, made it to Dive Leader then got introduced to PADI by a friend that happened to be a PADI instructor. Became PADI Rescue Diver,BSAC Advanced, PADI Dive Master, PADI OWSI & BSAC OWI.

Did the courses alongside each other. I learned that diving is diving. Though there are different flavours that include Nitrox & Trimix, as well as rebreathers.

I feel that there are lots of fools out there that think they have a monopoly on 'The Truth' and sadly they can give those with little experience or understanding a poor grip of the real truth. (It must be right, my instructor told me!)

Regretably this behaviour is not restricted to diving. It happens all over the place. Particularly with regard to religion. (er! sacred cow ??)

I have even come across it in one of my other sports, Judo. There you have the BJA (British Judo Association), BJC (British Judo Council) & AJA (Amateur Judo Association). There are quite a few other smaller groups that have sprung up, usually to promote the ego or wallet of the nominal founder. I don't suggest that this is the case with diving, but who knows? (Toungue in cheek mode!)

The club environment is the right place for me. Lots of mates to dive with, have a natter & a pint with & share the memories too! For me that means BSAC.

This is my version of the 'Truth' (c) Tony Dwyer 2004.