PADI elearning courses VS buying on Ebay.

[jbop65]

Hi everyone hope someone out here can lead me in the right direction.
There is 3 speciality courses I'm interested in taking in the next few months.
Underwater Photography,Nitrox,and Wreck diver,
I've done a Wreck dive during my Advance open water course but I would like the speciality card for each one of these courses.

Here is where I am confused
If I go onto the PADI The Way the World Learns to Dive (http://www.Padi.com) website I can purchase these course and take them online,I believe the Photgraphy course is $120.00 Nitrox is $195.00 each require you to do course online then do a 2 tank dive to receive your card.

Now if I go on ebay I can purchase each one of these courses new unopen with manual and dvd for much less ie:Padi underwater photography $49.95

So what is the difference between the 2 options I would think its easier to buy the course off ebay finish the paperwork then go do a few dives and save a hundred bucks.Can someone please lead me down the right path.

Thanks
John

[ktomlinson]

What's the link for the eBay posting? I searched eBay and the only padi eanx course I could find was $195. They were basically selling a gift cert. to padi's online course. Around here dive shops usually do eanx courses for $100 if my memory is correct. To save half I'm gonna go get a local person that will teach it to me and then dive the 2 dives with me. Latent benefits include things like meeting new divers and developing a relationship with a shop.

[Crush]

A nitrox cert card (NAUI, not PADI) is one of the lamest things that I have ever paid for. Don't get me wrong - diving nitrox rocks. And I did learn a lot. But it was not worth the price IMHO. Nitrox cert is an example of a purely academic exercise that should be relegated to e-learning and an online quiz and they should charge no more than $50 for it... I know, not realistic, but that is my opinion.

[jbop65]

Scuba Night & Limited Visibility SSI Course Materials | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Scuba-Night-Limited-Visibility-SSI-Course-Materials-/120753554944?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1d790600)

PADI Item 70885 Underwater Navigation Specialty DVD | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/PADI-Item-70885-Underwater-Navigation-Specialty-DVD-/380200037548?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5885b02cac)

[squid509]

i would be weary of buying those off ebay most of the E-learning packs come with a onetime use only registration key that may have been used

im not saying that you cannot buy a kit like that legitimately on e-bay or that a particular seller is scamming you but i know a few ppl that will resell stuff on ebay after they got their use out of it

[DevonDiver]

So what is the difference between the 2 options I would think its easier to buy the course off ebay finish the paperwork then go do a few dives and save a hundred bucks.Can someone please lead me down the right path.

Elearning is a complete theory development package, with assessments, that provides you with a certificate of completion, relevant to the course of study. The dive shop/instructor doesn't have to provide you with that theory training... they can cut straight to the practical in-water stuff.

The EBay DVD/Manual is just that...materials. You still need to take those to an instructor/school and get the theory training...for which they will want payment.

Most dive shops buy their materials combined with certifications (PICs). The PICs (bought alone) cost nearly as much as the manual/pic combined. Take your manual/DVD to a dive shop and they will still have to charge you for the PIC/certification cost. Basically, you'll pay almost the same amount again.

If a PADI course manual doesn't have a PIC credit/envelope included with it on Ebay, then it'll cost you more​than if you just go to the dive centre and they give you the manual as part of the course.

[Carolina_Mike]

jbop - here is another example of where cost goes, why you may wish to use your local dive shop (LDS) and what is in the book. Most dive shops here in North Carolina (and when I lived and taught in Florida charge about $99.00 for the course (including the certification through PIC Online) + $50 to $60 for the PADI crew pack (book & video). Although the dives are no longer required, many shops still include 2 Nitrox tanks with the course for future dives. That's the entire course for about the fee of the eLearning and your helping to support your local LDS. Plus the LDS instructor will administer the final test and you will have the video & book forever for review.

Warning about buying without seeing first - There are two (2) version of the PADI Enriched Air Crew Pack. One has the Nitrox tables and teaches to those, while the other is for diving with computers only and has a passcode for downloading the diving with Nitrox simulation software. I teach both versions here as many people want the theory, but want to learn computers also. If you buy online, know which version you are getting.

[oly5050user]

what we do is a student signs up online with PADI and pays Padi for nitrox..the student MUST align themselves with our facility.Student then completes course work and schedules meeting with our instructor.Material is reviewed,gas analyzer used,log demonstrated,questions answered.Student is not charged again.Our payment for course comes from PADI..

[DevonDiver]

what we do is a student signs up online with PADI and pays Padi for nitrox.......Student is not charged again.Our payment for course comes from PADI..

Where does the money for PIC payment come from?

[oly5050user]

Where does the money for PIC payment costs come from?
comes from what PADI pays to the facility when student aligns with us.Do not align with facility at elearning sign up then student pays us for the time spent with them and for the PIC .That is our store policy for elearning on nitrox.Other facilities may have different policies. We also offer another agency's nitrox cert at a lower cost than PADI's ($125.) Gives consumer access to same gas.

[Rogersea]

IT also appears that OLY5050user is doing the simulation option vice any water time. Which of course means the Facility does not have any other costs except Instructors time, and PIC. So if your familiar with the rates of revenue sharing and the reduced cost of PICs in PADI Americas the benifit for the facility is that they get another con ed # and the E-learning customer spends time in the store.

I have never done a cert via the simulation method.

Cheers,
Roger

[oly5050user]

ow dives are not required for nitrox cert. Can be offered of course,higher rate then..

[Taiwanate]

IMHO, the online course is not as good of a value and is only open to the student for 12 months. I personally like my library of dive references including all off my course books. While the information is the same weather it's online or in a book, a computer cannot reword something or clarify it if you don't fully understand it.

Also, I like the idea of supporting the local dive shops or independent instructors in your area. It builds good networking and relationships with other divers.

[DevonDiver]

comes from what PADI pays to the facility when student aligns with us.

Ah, I see. That can't leave much left-over for instructor pay/profit then?

I suppose it works if you are an IRRA member - getting cheaper PICs and more share from the Elearning?

[oly5050user]

Ah, I see. That can't leave much left-over for instructor pay/profit then?

I suppose it works if you are an IRRA member - getting cheaper PICs and more share from the Elearning?
Thats how it works..Instructor gets paid from the facility for their time ..Not much time to do this now. Facility hopes student buys a computer if they do not have one already.

[coldwatercanada]

you have to be carefull too as padi changes there materials every2yrs or so make sure its the up to date stuff!