why is everyone's experience so different? Doesn't PADI or SSI have certain standards to get a c-card? For example, I'm getting certified through SSI but to do so requires 30 hours class/pool work (about 15 hours each) plus 4 OW dives. Sounds like others it's much less to get the same cert. Not complaining, I've actually logged additional pool time to practice, just curious.
All the agencies have minimum standards, but they really are "minimums."
It all depends on whether your instructor/shop is working towards separating the largest possible number of people from as much money as possible in as short a time as possible, or if they're looking to take a hit up front on the instruction, create happy, safe divers and make up the money later in equipment, travel and air sales from repeat business.
Oddly enough, they're both right.
The divers who received inadequate training tend to stop diving almost immediately and don't buy much, but the shop expects this, and the fast classes allow for high volume, so the shop makes their money up front.
The divers who receive sufficient training tend to lose money on training (or just break even), but dive as long as they're physically able, so the shop (theoretically) makes up any training losses in equipment, air fills and travel.
The internet has tossed a huge money wrench into this business model, since people can now easily book their own trips and buy equipment online, so at some point, I expect to see the actual cost of the class reflected in it's price; ie. competition will drive the price of the fast classes down, while the longer classes will need to charge more to cover their actual costs.
flots.
