PADI Equip. Spec.?

I just bought a new piece of equipment so one of my LDS's offered me the PADI equipment specialist at half price. It sounded interesting and I know he's a great instructor so I took it.

While generally useful (if pricey for necessary but basic information) I was surprised at the number of topics in this "speciality" that had been included in my SSI OW course, such as how to check the hydro dates on a tank, and how the regulator and BC work. Also, a good LDS will go over a lot this when you buy stuff (although I know this often doesn't happen).

Now if it's true that PADI forbids instructors to teach anything that can be sold in a speciality, does this mean that PADI OWs, AOW's, Rescue Divers etc. might never be taught these basics by PADI???

Inquiring minds want to know.

Now if it's true that PADI forbids instructors to teach anything that can be sold in a speciality, does this mean that PADI OWs, AOW's, Rescue Divers etc. might never be taught these basics by PADI???

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I don't know where you got this information, but it's incorrect. Much of what you describe (learning how equipment works, how to read the stamping on a tank, etc.) is covered in the OW Course. However, the Equipment Course is goes into a bit more depth:

This course is intended to familiarize divers with the operation and maintenance of equipment. It is not an equipment-repair course. Training relative to the repairing and overhauling of equipment, except for very minor servicing, is not to be part of the curriculum.

To conduct an Equipment Specialist course,the following is to be included:

1.the theory,principles and operation of diving equipment
2.routine,recommended care and maintenance procedures,and
equipment storage
3.common problems with equipment and recommended professional maintenance procedures (May include a demonstration of repair procedures.)
4.simple suggestions for comfortable equipment configurations and an introduction to new equipment (Optional trying of new or unfamiliar equipment in confined water may be included.)

To my knowledge, NO certifying agency offers a Technician's Course. What they offer is an OVERVIEW of equipment, how it works, maintenance and minor repairs.

~SubMariner~

As usual, it all depends on the instructor. SOme PADI equipment courses ( as I have been told) last three hours on a Sat afternoon....

I was lucky (insane?) enough to get on Seahunter's course.... As you are no doubt aware - he is an expert on vintage gear. His course is 4 nights each advertised as 2 hours (but it worked out to three and four hours each night) and afterwards I think I could build a complete scuba set with two tin cans, three elastics, four straws and a swiss army knife (oh and duct tape too!)

Ontario Diver once bubbled...
(oh and duct tape too!)

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And duct tape?!?

now you are just getting greedy =-)

It's basically the INSTRUCTOR who makes or breaks a course. Obviously, in the tale from lead carrier, it was the latter and not the former.

~SubMariner~

I didn't say anything about an equipment repair course. I don't know how that became the topic.

The course does cover some equipment that is very basic and is old stuff for most divers. There is enough to go over in the class that we just skim over the no-brainer stuff if nobody has any questions. it has to be included though because you would be suprised at what some don't know. I teach the course over three nights (3+ hours each session) or two Saturdays. I save one night for a hands on workshop. We glue wetsuits, patch drysuits, look at visual instpection and tear a reg down. I also cover the fill station and gas mixing equipment and procedures. We look in some tanks and usually tear a valve apart. I spend the most time on the topics students are most interested in. We also get into many aspects of equipment as they relate to ones configuration.

As others have said the class doesn't qualify you to service equipment but that's because the only ones who can do that are the equipment manufacturers. Most finish the class with a much better idea of what to have in their "save a dive" kit and what to do with it and find the class more than worthwhile.

There is some good info in the equipment specialist course but most of it is extremely basic that should be covered in the basic scuba course .however some shops/instructors use that course as a foundation for an equipment repair course . they cant actually teach a repair course in most cases.the course I took lasted a whole day and we never even looked in the book.
Joens

joens once bubbled...
There is some good info in the equipment specialist course but most of it is extremely basic that should be covered in the basic scuba course .however some shops/instructors use that course as a foundation for an equipment repair course . they cant actually teach a repair course in most cases.the course I took lasted a whole day and we never even looked in the book.
Joens

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I couldn't really add all of what is in my equipment class into the OW class. Well I guess I could bu it wouldn't be very practical.

If the material covered in your course was that basic you may have taken the wrong class. There isn't a text book for the PADI class. I provide students with a list of recommended reading though.