Taba Heights? Bsac course/center?

[vidiotdave]

Hi, a couple of friends of mine have booked a diving holiday to Taba Heights.
I reccomended that they try and complete a BSAC course or (some of it) as they are both PADI OW divers, but wanting to do the AOW. but also dive in the UK eventually..
Does anyone know a centre or reccomend one that may do BSAC courses in Taba?

Dave

[OneDragons]

When I went there last year there was no BSAC presence. Some nice diving though. Not spectacular from my own perspective (got bored with the pretty fish and corals), but very good.

[Eddie Clamp]

Do not think there is a BSAC centre in Taba but there is some good info on the area here: http://www.bsac.com/divelocations.asp?itemid=1068&itemTitle=Taba&section=1238&sectionTitle=Middle+East&cat=&new=

Includes a link to a 2007 report by Travel Club contributor Darren Astles :)

HTH

[Richard Whitcombe]

No BSAC school there (surprise surprise). The nearest is likely Sharm which is about 200km away.
Taba has some "ok" diving. Nothing spectacular, no big stuff but is ok for macro stuff in particular.

[Eddie Clamp]

Shame! No BSAC centres in Nuweiba or Dahab nowadays then?

[Richard Whitcombe]

Nope. No demand. There are few places with BSAC stickers in the window but that's as far as it goes.

Sharm has 1 MAYBE 2 schools but thats it for Sinai.

[Eddie Clamp]

Taba has some "ok" diving. Nothing spectacular, no big stuff but is ok for macro stuff in particular.

Agreed! Was last there in 1990 and it was as you say even then. :)

Many thanks

[DazzyBee]

Theres a PADI Dive centre at Taba Heights, It is my understanding that PADI & BSAC both recognise each others qualifications so cant they just do the next PADI course ?

[Richard Whitcombe]

There are lots of PADI dive centres at Taba heights and yes they all recognise BSAC qualifications. If anyone wants to do a course though it must be a PADI course.

[ChristianG]

I question the value of wasting precious holiday time sitting around in a classroom. :rolleyes:

I'd much rather be diving. For me, dive courses are what you do at home (if you feel the need).

[Richard Whitcombe]

Not everyone wants to take 6 months learning to dive through a club. Not everyone wants to dive in cold, murky water. Some people just want to dive in warm places and see lots of fish.

Also, no everyone WANTS to learn to dive. A lot want to see if they like it first with a try dive somewhere warm to see some fish and then decide.

You're also forgetting that with e-learning (or even a referral) you dont have to spend your holiday time in a classroom. You can do it online first.

[ChristianG]

You're also forgetting that with e-learning (or even a referral) you dont have to spend your holiday time in a classroom. You can do it online first.
This is turning into a philosophical discussion now.

Call me old-fashioned but I don't believe in e-learning for something that can kill you (yes I know, no-one is supposed to mention the "death" word any more, it just might put all those lovely young things off) but the bald fact remains that every time you do SCUBA you are using a Life Support System. As for a "referral", I don't know what you mean by that, I rather suspect I don't wish to know either for fear that it might create even more angst for me.

Nothing does now, nor I suspect will ever, replace a good human teacher.

[PeteM]

As for a "referral", I don't know what you mean by that, I rather suspect I don't wish to know either for fear that it might create even more angst for me.

Referral: Pool and theory in UK with LDS, open water somewhere hot with pretty fish

[ChristianG]

Referral: Pool and theory in UK with LDS, open water somewhere hot with pretty fish
I thought you'd say that. I've been an advocate of that system for some time now because it gets rid of the classroom in the "somewhere hot" place.

[Richard Whitcombe]

This is turning into a philosophical discussion now.

Call me old-fashioned but I don't believe in e-learning for something that can kill you (yes I know, no-one is supposed to mention the "death" word any more, it just might put all those lovely young things off) but the bald fact remains that every time you do SCUBA you are using a Life Support System. As for a "referral", I don't know what you mean by that, I rather suspect I don't wish to know either for fear that it might create even more angst for me.

Nothing does now, nor I suspect will ever, replace a good human teacher.

Where did anyone ever claim it replaces a teacher? Despite what some people think diving and entry level diving isn't exactly rocket science. Its a few basic physics principles. Its not something you need a full degree level semester to appreciate. Some people seem to enjoy making the theory required sound far more complicated than it actually is.

I fail to see how self study be it online, via a video at home, reading a manual and answering reviews is any worse than sitting for hours at a time listening to some guy with a beard drone on reading a powerpoint slide verbatim.

Transfer of knowledge is still assessed and evaluated to exactly the same standards with exactly the same quizzes and exams. Incorrect/unknown answers and the whole thing is still reviewed by an instructor.
Its not "teach yourself to dive online". It just replaces the more rigid and often not time efficient method. There is still an instructor present.