View Full Version : Absolute beginner. Where do I start? And why BSAC?
SamuelIngram
02-06-2010, 21:14
Hey.
Sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum, was unsure whether it should go here or 'Just started diving.'
I am an absolute beginner diver who hasn't even set foot in the water yet. I'll be coming out of uni in a year with the intention of ultimately becoming a wildlife and photographer, including underwater. I know I've left it late, and I know it's going to take quite a while to get to that level however I'm hoping to be in the water and have a basic idea of what I'm doing by the end of 2010.
My uni has the obligatory sub-aqua society which is affiliated to the BSAC and promises "Each year in early October we take on a brand new batch of complete beginners and offer training up to the internationally recognised BSAC Sports diver standard!"
Which sounds great to me, not least because it probably means there's some kind of student discount involved.
Ultimately my dream is to be out in the ocean, photographing the Oceanic White Tip and the Mola Mola, my favourite animals. I know I have a long way to go but I was wondering if I could be given any tips from you guys on what to do to get there. And also, why choose BSAC.
I've had a read around the forums and it does seem that here there is more emphasis on it being a club rather than a business, which something like PADI is. Although I had been looking at PADI before BSAC, and it was extremely well advertised, extremely enticing and actually gave the impression that there was only one diving association going and they were it. If they have one thing going for them it is that they look appealing.
Basically what I am asking is how would I go about going from where I am now, on my couch, to being in the ocean and photographing. Don't get me wrong, I know it will be difficult, time consuming and costly but I'm looking for a basic set of steps from people who have actually done it, to get myself started. Should I do it through Uni, or should I go along and sign myself up? And what advantages does the BSAC have over PADI or any other organisations.
Extremely sorry if this is a regularly posted topic, or if I have put it in the wrong place. I couldn't see a sticky, but knowing me it was right under my nose.
Any advice would be really helpful. The more comprehensive the better.
Thanks.
Sam.
Ron MacRae
02-06-2010, 21:51
Sam,
This is a fairly common question.
PADI are a business and for the right money they will push you through as much training as you want.
BSAC is a club. There are few professional instructors so all the training has to be done at a time convenient to both you and the instructor.
Training with BSAC will be cheaper but also slower paced but perhaps more thorough because of this. (Last bit is a personal opinion, you get good & bad instructors in both organisations.) Most clubs will take a couple of months to put you through Ocean Diver. Some clubs take longer.
Uni branches are a special case with a rigid timetable to get the students through at least one and possibly two levels of training in an academic year.
I'd ask your Uni how long your training will take and how much it will cost you then ask PADI the same questions and decide.
Remember you will also need to hire kit.
Don't buy anything as a) you don't know what you need yet and b) you may decide to give up.
N.B. to be able to dive outside a club the Ocean Diver or Padi Open water are not enough. You probably need to be BSAC Sports Diver or Padi Advanced Open Water before most dive boats will take you without a more experienced buddy.
I suspect that if you're at a Uni with a good BSAC club they will be subsidised and therefore much cheaper. Depends how much of a hurry you are in and how much cash you have to spend.
Regardless of which route you take, PADI or BSAC, you will be able to join a BSAC club once you are qualified and go diving.
The club will also give you unbiased advice on Kit which the PADI shop probably can't as most PADI outfits are trying to sell kit too.
Ron.
In short if you want to go diving quickly. Get a PADI OW and then join your BSAC club and start on Sports Diver. The Pros of this route is you start out in the club as a diver, that means you get to go diving with the club straightaway, no waiting 3-9 months to actually get out there and dive. The cons are cost, ie it will cost you £250-300 to get the first ticket.
The other route and a bit slower is to join the BSAC club and train with them to achieve OD. The pros are the training will be more indepth, will run fiarly slowly, so you will have time to adjust, it will cost less generally than doing a PADI OW. The cons are time, you wont be able to start diving outside the swimming pool for a while, usually 3-9 months depending on the club.
Some clubs will offer the possibility for a new diver to fast track via the PADI OW route, as it is a hell of a lot easier to train someone who can do the basics already, and then pile all effort into getting them to Sports Diver level.
So in short. If you have the money and want to be a basic diver within 2-3 weeks, and be able to go diving, then do the PADI OW. if you dont care so much about time constraints and would rather take your time, then go down the BSAC route. Either route will probably lead you to BSAC at some point, as Sports Diver is just a lot better (and cheaper) than doing an AOW/RD combo via PADI.
Mola Mola on the Imperial Eagle in Malta the other day.
Doesnt help I know, but just thought I would mention it in passing.
PADI OW then join BSAC and cross over and learn Sports Diver is good advice I think.
if your aim is to get in the water asap, the go with padi.
the thing about padi, is they have a very set system of passing people. as long as u tick the box, you get the card. i have some friends who were padi instructors and they used to tell me this was frustrating sometimes, because they would occassionally have someone who could barely complete a certain skill, but they had no choice but to pass them.
also much depends on where you do it. padi allows up to iirc 8 or 10 divers to 1 instructor ratio.
so in general, im not really a fan of their standards. the other thing about paid is, that for their OW and so called AOW grades, you are still very much dependent on following a dive master.
with BSAC, as others have pointed out, its a club system. so training can take longer. but because its a club, by and large the people training you, will have a greater interest in ensuring that you are trained to a good standard, because you will be the person they will be diving with on a regular basis.
also because its training generally by a club member, who doesnt make anything from it, you generally find that its people who are quite passionate about the sport, who tend to make it to instructor level. if youare in the UK, BSAC is also advantageous because the training is particularly suited to UK conditions.
in terms of content, i honestly believe BSAC has more to offer. if you compare say the BSAC sports diver to a PADI Open water, the bsac sports diver syllabus is far more in depth. you cover rescue, you get a nitrox ticket etc, which an AOW card doesnt give you. you also cover important skills, like DSMB deployment, which AOW doesnt cover. more importantly, the emphasis is getting the skills, to enable you to become an independent diver i.e. you go and do a dive on your own with your buddy, rather than having to follow a DM.
cos wise, further down the line, BSAC courses can be a lot more cost effective, than external courses. e.g for example, im shortly going to do an accelerated deco procedures course. for my club, i only pay for the pack, which is 40 pounds. my instructor is not charging anything for the teaching.
if i did this course outside, it would easily cost around300-400 pounds.
SamuelIngram
03-06-2010, 01:24
Thanks a lot guys.
The friendliness and willingness to help on this forum is a really great advertisement for BSAC, in my eyes.
Time isn't a huge worry for me. I'd love to get things done as quickly as possible. Who wouldn't? But for something that requires a lot of skill and can be so dangerous, I'd prefer to get thorough training. The PADI OW then cross over sounds great. I'll have to look in to that. Perhaps even start on it before the end of summer, so I can pick up from there when I join the club at Uni in September/October.
Thanks again.
Sam.
Just to point out, please do join a BSAC club after you've done the OW. The training you receive when you crossover will fill in the gaps from the PADI course, and in the end you will come out a better diver.
The PADI OW is more of a springboard into getting on the diver ladder. Yes instructors may be frustrated at having to pass people and i can understand that, but it is just a very basic ticket. It is (as someone described it recently) the equivalent to getting your learner plates when driving. Once you join a club though, you can do the catchup bits pretty quickly.
Also you can go diving on a PADI OW ticket (i did a fair few times), if you can find a buddy. Id keep it simple initially, like 6m max stuff in quarries, for 10-20 dives and just get used to it, try and nail down your buoyancy, ready for when you join the Uni club. At least you then would go into the club with a little bit of experience, which you can start to build on. Buddies can be found fairly easily, either here or at YD.
Basically if you can afford to do it, anytime now would be best as the water is warming up. The sooner you start on it, the sooner you can start putting some dives in your log book. And in turn checking out some marine wildlife.
Good luck with it.
Thanks a lot guys.
The friendliness and willingness to help on this forum is a really great advertisement for BSAC, in my eyes.
Time isn't a huge worry for me. I'd love to get things done as quickly as possible. Who wouldn't? But for something that requires a lot of skill and can be so dangerous, I'd prefer to get thorough training. The PADI OW then cross over sounds great. I'll have to look in to that. Perhaps even start on it before the end of summer, so I can pick up from there when I join the club at Uni in September/October.
Thanks again.
Sam.
Hi Sam,
This will sound like blasphemy to some, but you can join a BSAC Branch AND train with another organisation at the same time. It isn't a case of one or the other you can do both.
Regards
Edward
Time isn't a huge worry for me. I'd love to get things done as quickly as possible. Who wouldn't? But for something that requires a lot of skill and can be so dangerous, I'd prefer to get thorough training. The PADI OW then cross over sounds great. I'll have to look in to that. Perhaps even start on it before the end of summer, so I can pick up from there when I join the club at Uni in September/October.
One thing I would say is that someone training from scratch in the club system, quite often makes long lasting bonds with the other (peer) trainees such that they do a lot of training and diving together and this appears to carry through to SD and DL.
Gary
One thing I would say is that someone training from scratch in the club system, quite often makes long lasting bonds with the other (peer) trainees such that they do a lot of training and diving together and this appears to carry through to SD and DL.
Gary
I'd second this - join the club, go to the pub, learn to dive, go on some trips.
Uni clubs tend to be ace for meeting loads of people and, in my experience, it gives you someone to live with in third year, when you've realised you don't want to live with the guys from first year again!
It will almost certainly take longer with a uni branch, but it will certainly be cheaper and will mean that you know some people when you start going on the weekends away.
Just out of curiousity, where are you going to uni?
G
Paul Burgess
03-06-2010, 10:44
Some good advice has been given so far about getting started in diving.
My additional tips would be
Keep the diving and photography separate for a while. Build up your diving skills and comfort through a lot of time in water without the task loading of a camera - enjoy being under water. The camera can come later. Meanwhile improve your skill as a photographer topside.
Subscribe to some of the u/w photographer groups such as BSOUP and the Young Underwater Photographers group. Even if you are not actually shooting yourself, you will start the learning process and develop some useful contacts.
Start saving for your gear! This is one of the more expensive diving disciplines!
Start saving for your gear! This is one of the more expensive diving disciplines!
Just in case diving wasn't expensive enough!
May I suggest that we should be recommending people do an Ocean Diver course at a BSAC school instead of a PADI OW course.
It does not look too good when somebody comes to a BSAC website and we tell him to go off to another organisation. Do people have something against comercial OD courses?
Richard Whitcombe
07-06-2010, 10:42
Do people have something against comercial OD courses?
They are few and far between. At entry level the training is near enough identical. Don't see why we should restrict where he does his initial training.
They are few and far between. At entry level the training is near enough identical. Don't see why we should restrict where he does his initial training.
True, but it is a shame that there is little recognition that there are BSAC schools where you can get qualified in a similar time scale to a PADI course (a general observation not just related to this forum)
The original poster asked "And why BSAC?". It seems that for initial training we are increasingly running out of positive answers. I find it a little depressing that when somebody comes to the BSAC forum asking for advice, one of the main recomendations is to go off and do another agency's course.
ChristianG
09-06-2010, 09:06
Keep the diving and photography separate for a while. Build up your diving skills and comfort through a lot of time in water without the task loading of a camera - enjoy being under water. The camera can come later. Meanwhile improve your skill as a photographer topside.
Subscribe to some of the u/w photographer groups such as BSOUP and the Young Underwater Photographers group. Even if you are not actually shooting yourself, you will start the learning process and develop some useful contacts.
Start saving for your gear! This is one of the more expensive diving disciplines!
May I emphasise what Paul said there?
I am a long time (some might say too long ;)) underwater photographer, you might want to have a look at what I said here under
DIVING A CAMERA
(http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=19809)
in that regard, amongst not a few other things.
garethwoodruff
09-06-2010, 09:39
Its a shame you had not joined in your first year :D
You will get up to sports diver level (incidently that much training is worth approx £1000 in a commercial environment) and really start to enjoy it and then leave !
Also slightly frustrating for the uni club as they go through all the work of teaching you, getting you competent and then you leave. The club is really aiming to provide buddys for toher divers to go on trips with. You can always stay involved once you graduate.
Its a no brainer to join, enjoy the club environment :)
Gareth.
Richard Whitcombe
09-06-2010, 10:23
I find it a little depressing that when somebody comes to the BSAC forum asking for advice, one of the main recomendations is to go off and do another agency's course.
Its a BSAC problem though, there arent many schools around and it does restrict choice for people as a result. As the initial training with most agencies is very similar its often best to recommend elsewhere.
Ditto the "i want to learn in a few weeks before a holiday" people, often that isnt practical with BSAC due to location of schools and/or the glacial speed of clubs.
I have to ask Why. What are the benefits of doing OD at a BSAC School. They are few and far between these days. Those people going down the PADI_OW line then doing the X over end up with qualifications from 2 agencies which is generally a benefit. I don't think there are any costs benefits to OD at a school.
I have just checked the nearest BSAC school to where I live (35 miles away) and all that I can find on their website are there PADI courses. Incidentally the nearest PADI school is 2 miles away. With another 5 being closer than the BSAC school.
When HQ allowed the PADI_OW course to be taken as direct entry to Sports then they signed the death warrant of the School OD course in my mind.
Gary
PS it is also my understanding that a BSAC School should promote BSAC rather than any other agency. Looking at a couple of Joint schools, they only promote PADI. Usually their BSAC line is, "call us if you want more info". Should they not really be removed as BSAC schools. In reality this is not going to happen is it?
Richard Whitcombe
09-06-2010, 10:54
I think the agreement is promoted equally.
In reality nobody is going to promote BSAC and not PADI. Mainly because abroad everyone has heard of and wants to do PADI. They'd be dramatically cutting down on potential customers.
There simply is no demand for a BSAC course compared to say something like PADI (or even SSI in some places).
As far as "just getting people diving" it makes no sense to alter travel plans, go out of your way or alter a schedule just to do OD when OW will get you the same thing and more likely in any place of your choosing.
May I suggest that we should be recommending people do an Ocean Diver course at a BSAC school instead of a PADI OW course.
It does not look too good when somebody comes to a BSAC website and we tell him to go off to another organisation.Completely agree.
It so rarely gets pointed out that the BSAC Ocean Diver course covers more than the PADI OW course. Specifically;
1. Air requirements and planning.
2. Recovery of an incapacitated buddy to the surface.
3. Introduction to Nitrox diving.
4. Dry suit (when relevant).
Do people have something against comercial OD courses?A number of BSAC members/instructors are (or were) also PADI DMs/instructors.
I am in a similar situation which way do i go.
I have a Bsac club on my doorstep and many padi companies all with 30 mins drive for me
If i go padi all the places will loan me the equipment as part of the course.
if i go BSAC they have limited equipment and may have to buy equipment to do my open water part of the course.
I work shifts so it will be sods law im free to do more of the course but loan equipment is not
I would have bought my own mask and fins in either case.
I go on holiday a couple of times a year so if i go bsac only my UK dives will go toward highter quals and if i go PADI only my holiday Dives will go towards quals.In either case i will get more experiance and practice and pick up tips and knowledge from other divers. that what i presume
Im meeting up next week wiht a PADI school to face to face chat and hoping to arrange to meet face to face with the Local Bsac group for a chat as well to get as much info as poss
oh decisions decisions
The BSAC OD course is great. You do more, learn more and can take it at a pace to suit you generally.
PADI will get you in the water quicker and qualified for that holiday you may have booked.
BSAC route is more thorough imho and the extra info/skills from the vets is good.
If time is on your side I would go BSAC, if time isnt, I would go PADI. If diving is for you after either route and UK diving is on the agenda (even if its just to keep skills fresh for that next holiday) then joining a BSAC club is the best thing you could do.
The BSAC Sports Diver course (basically PADI Advanced plus PADI Rescue diver is a close comparison) is one of the best diving courses out there.
Money is always an issue for us all but you will find that comparing the two at the entry level they are always pretty close.
BSAC also has discounts on travel, your club may have access to a boat/rib, you may get "free" air fills if your club has a compressor as part of the membership fee, you will probably have access to a wide range of diver types (instructors, boat skiils, techies, camera divers etc) that will offer a ton of other value.
BSAC is more thorough at the entry level.
PADI is comparable and will get you wet quicker but you will end up joining a BSAC branch anyway (if UK diving etc as mentioned above) so PADI is the way to go only if time is against you imho.
hth
Darren
I am in a similar situation which way do i go.
I have a Bsac club on my doorstep and many padi companies all with 30 mins drive for me
If i go padi all the places will loan me the equipment as part of the course.
if i go BSAC they have limited equipment and may have to buy equipment to do my open water part of the course.
I work shifts so it will be sods law im free to do more of the course but loan equipment is not
I would have bought my own mask and fins in either case.
I go on holiday a couple of times a year so if i go bsac only my UK dives will go toward highter quals and if i go PADI only my holiday Dives will go towards quals.In either case i will get more experiance and practice and pick up tips and knowledge from other divers. that what i presume
Im meeting up next week wiht a PADI school to face to face chat and hoping to arrange to meet face to face with the Local Bsac group for a chat as well to get as much info as poss
oh decisions decisions
It depends where you go on holiday.
If you frequent either Malta or Egypt, then you will find BSAC schools in both places. If you were after doing say a SD, then i would say personally it would be much preferable to do it somewhere nice and warm where it can be enjoyed. Then come back after and sort out diving in the murk and cold via a local club. ;)
Of course you could also dive PADI at both those places, if that was your preference. But the possibility to do both does routes does exist.
As for OD and OW being essentially the same. At a base level they are. Sure, the OD adds some extra stuff, but it also as i remember takes longer than the OW. Is it not easier to just get a basic diver (qualified from whatever agency) that you can assimilate into a club and mould to the ways of BSAC?
Completely agree.
It so rarely gets pointed out that the BSAC Ocean Diver course covers more than the PADI OW course. Specifically;
1. Air requirements and planning.
2. Recovery of an incapacitated buddy to the surface.
3. Introduction to Nitrox diving.
4. Dry suit (when relevant).
A number of BSAC members/instructors are (or were) also PADI DMs/instructors.
Also a good lead in to BSAC training rather than having to pick up the bits PADI dont cover as part of OW training. Dont you also get BSAC membership (and hence the insurance cover) doing a OD course through a BSAC school?
Which Uni are you? I'm DO of Nottingham Uni and they're well set up for training divers.
Richard Whitcombe
09-06-2010, 16:45
Completely agree.
It so rarely gets pointed out that the BSAC Ocean Diver course covers more than the PADI OW course. Specifically;
1. Air requirements and planning.
A few line mention of "rule of 3rds" isnt really much!
2. Recovery of an incapacitated buddy to the surface.
Yes thats one of the good things of OD. Core rescue skills.
3. Introduction to Nitrox diving.
"pointless" nitrox. Air tables only which combined with the 20m max depth isnt really any use at all. EAN can be combined with PADI OW if you want.
4. Dry suit (when relevant). Can do PADI OW with one if required so no difference there.
PADI does have some in-water skills in confined and OW which ist in the OD course as well so its not a "one has more than the other" thing.
A number of BSAC members/instructors are (or were) also PADI DMs/instructors.[/QUOTE]
Dave Woodward
10-06-2010, 02:44
I have to ask Why. What are the benefits of doing OD at a BSAC School. They are few and far between these days. Those people going down the PADI_OW line then doing the X over end up with qualifications from 2 agencies which is generally a benefit. I don't think there are any costs benefits to OD at a school.
I have just checked the nearest BSAC school to where I live (35 miles away) and all that I can find on their website are there PADI courses. Incidentally the nearest PADI school is 2 miles away. With another 5 being closer than the BSAC school.
When HQ allowed the PADI_OW course to be taken as direct entry to Sports then they signed the death warrant of the School OD course in my mind.
Gary
PS it is also my understanding that a BSAC School should promote BSAC rather than any other agency. Looking at a couple of Joint schools, they only promote PADI. Usually their BSAC line is, "call us if you want more info". Should they not really be removed as BSAC schools. In reality this is not going to happen is it?
I think you make a good point. If a School has been recognised to be a BSAC Centre, and to run BSAC training, then we should have a requirement for that Centre to advertise the courses at least to a minimum standard. I am sure PADI etc. have standards that they expect with advertising and so on.
There are quite a few around, but they don't advertise themseloves as such
Personally i like places that dont just advertise it, but also put a price on their website/in their shop, for whatever ticket you want to do.
Follow the maltaqua route and it would be a good thing.
ChristianG
10-06-2010, 11:19
SCUBA is a life threatening activity, something that is often carefully glossed over. You are carrying a life support system around with you in an environment where, without it, you are likely to die or, at best, do yourself a significant injury.
Personally, if I was learning today, I would want the best Instructor that is available and I wouldn't care less about the ticket which that may ultimately entitle me to, that can be "adjusted" as and when I desire. As to whether there is an equivalent school at the holiday destination is also entirely immaterial, unless you are intending to do some training on your holiday, something that is never on my personal list of options because it eats into my holiday time. Ultimately all tickets are recognised by everyone else - although some are more equal than others and I would think that a BSAC ticket well and truly qualifies in that regard.
It certainly does here in Oz anyway, and we couldn't be further away from things BSAC if we tried.
A few line mention of "rule of 3rds" isnt really much!The consequence of not understanding those few lines, can be dire. Some students understand with little additional assistance from the instructor. Some students need considerable help. The students have no clue either way until someone presents the material to them.
The notion of scuba diving without knowing how much breathing gas you need to take along has always seemed a bit looney to me.
Yes thats one of the good things of OD. Core rescue skills.I would say an essential skill for anyone that dives with a buddy.
"pointless" nitrox. Air tables only which combined with the 20m max depth isnt really any use at all. EAN can be combined with PADI OW if you want.See my use of the word 'introduction.' Of course EAN can be combined with OW, but it can prove more costly to do so.
Can do PADI OW with one if required so no difference there.Once again, it may prove more costly as an additional course is being tagged on at the discretion of the instructor. Dry suit is integral to the OD lesson plans. If you have access to a suitable drysuit you will be taught how to use it on the second OD open water dive.
PADI does have some in-water skills in confined and OW which ist in the OD course as well so its not a "one has more than the other" thing.I know of CESA, which is taught in OD but the students are not required to demonstrate since the RN advised it was a bad idea. I also seem to recall a de-cramping exercise. Anything else?
Richard Whitcombe
10-06-2010, 16:10
The consequence of not understanding those few lines, can be dire. Some students understand with little additional assistance from the instructor. Some students need considerable help. The students have no clue either way until someone presents the material to them.
I takes an instructor 30 seconds to add that in. "out with 50 bar" isnt that different at this level. None of it is exactly planning.
See my use of the word 'introduction.' Of course EAN can be combined with OW, but it can prove more costly to do so.
Could do but doesnt have to. Its also the option of a real nitrox course not the crippled version so can argue they're actually getting more value for money.
Dry suit is integral to the OD lesson plans. If you have access to a suitable drysuit you will be taught how to use it on the second OD open water dive.
And can be exactly the case with PADI. It doesnt have to be the full speciality and doesnt have to cost any more.
I know of CESA, which is taught in OD but the students are not required to demonstrate since the RN advised it was a bad idea. I also seem to recall a de-cramping exercise. Anything else?
Some differences from memory in confined PADI there's CESA, weightbelt and scuba remove/replace on surface and underwater, cramp release (self and buddy). Open water has CESA,cramp releases, weight/scuba remove and replace on the surface, compass surface swim (in addition to underwater) and a few others.
BSAC has the CBL and a few other things.
ChristianG
10-06-2010, 16:47
The consequence of not understanding those few lines, can be dire.
I takes an instructor 30 seconds to add that in.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, the consequences of nit-picking can also be dire.
This thread is about a person asking a particular question, arguing about who is best as an Instruction Agency serves no purpose for the intent of the question.
Now, anyone want to have a go at the post written by me immediately previous to the two in question here? ;) :D
Personally, if I was learning today, I would want the best Instructor that is available and I wouldn't care less about the ticket which that may ultimately entitle me to, that can be "adjusted" as and when I desire.
I agree. When starting out though there isnt a "league" of instructors out there (or is there?). You begin to develop this as the experience comes and you do more courses with different people. After all, if you do everything with one agency/instructor, how can you compare?
In principal though I totally agree. Pick the instructor not the agency. But for OW/OD its either a direct recommendation on an instructor or you pick the agency?
ChristianG
10-06-2010, 17:23
But for OW/OD its either a direct recommendation on an instructor or you pick the agency?
Aye, there's the rub. :rolleyes: :D
What came first, the chicken or the egg? ;)
It will almost certainly take longer with a uni branch,
Depends on the branch :D
Depends on the branch :D
Hence the almost :p
Alan Prior
22-08-2010, 00:20
I think no matter what the agency is (BSAC or PADI) take a try dive with them. If the equipment looks old and battered, the regulators "groan" as you breath them or the instructor is dismissive, doesn't care or treats you like crap / is unprofessional (eg turns up drunk) or you feel like there is too much "hard sell" involved then you probably won't be diving with them again.
If the equipment looks OK, breaths OK, the instructors act professionally, take care of your you and don't try to rip you off then you're probably onto a winner.
Sam please talk to your Uni club before you accept the Logic of starting PADI to get going quickly
My Uni club will be signing people up for Ocean Diver training next Month (freshers) If I can get weekend pool time they will train over two weekends
and most will qualify as Ocean Diver some I admit will take longer, I don’t sign qualifications if I am not happy
If I cannot get the weekend pool time It will be Saturday all day for theory and about four club nights for pool
Then Open water October/November (usually takes two full days)
I would like to think we can compete with PADI on a time scale and deliver the more comprehensive BSAC training including Nitrox and dry suit training and at a better price
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