PADI Equipment Specialist - does this sound like a good course?

[oreocookie]

Hey guys,
I'm looking for something dive related to do over the winter and was considering doing the equipment specialist course. It was suggested somewhere that this might be useful knowledge if I intend to become a DM (in the fall hopefully), provided the class is a good one. One of the local LDS has a course starting soon and I'm curious what you guys think. here's the outline from their website: Montreal Diving Action Scuba PADI Equipment Specialist Specialty Course Price seems a tad steep to me, but it seems to be the going rate around here. Any advice would be helpful.

[akscubainst]

If you are a new diver and want to get the basic hands on information on equipment and basic care and maintenance this is a good course. It's not a repair course but you will learn more about the inner workings of your equipment.

As far as price, this course can take some time, looks like they are running it over 3 nights so $50 a night isn't horrible. Remember that between books and certifications, they have $40 per student in overhead, plus salary's, rent, lights, etc.

[XS-NRG]

I had an instructor tell me he'd teach me the course but he didn't feel it was worth it and that I wasn't going to learn much more than I probably already did. For the $120 I saved I sure ended up with a nice new dive computer ;-)

[DevonDiver]

The basic content of the course isn't much to shout about. However, if the instructor concerned has more in-depth knowledge of equipment servicing and maintenance... and is prepared to share that as a bonus to the basic course content.... then it can make for a very interesting and beneficial training experience.

Realistically, the course should enable you to conduct all basic maintenance and simple fixes on the kit you use. If you are of an 'engineering' persuasion, then I don't see why the course shouldn't move forwards into self-servicing territory.

A well run course might also include a whole bunch of knowledge about equipment configuration options. How to make a bungee necklace, best/worst options of AAS stowage, how to tie a bolt-snap, how to attach wet/dry suit pockets, putting a bungee loop into your BCD pockets, how to rig a DSMB/Reel for stowage... etc etc etc... all stuff that gets asked about a lot here on SB.... and isn't covered directly/formally in any other course syllabus.

[ajduplessis]

Knowledge is never been a bad thing. That said the course is very simple and the real benefit is going to be in how your instructor is going to relay the information and the additional value he is going to add.

I would rather do some research of my own and speak to other knowledgeable divers and use the cash on something you really need.

[herman]

This is one of those courses that can run the gambit from very useful to pretty much worthless. Without actually taking it from a particular instructor it's impossible to say which it is but if I had to bet, I would bet against it. Here is an instructor evaluation test for you, ask the instructor if they teach you how to check the IP on a regulator and how to do a simple cracking pressure test. It the answer is yes, then the course may offer you some good information, otherwise its pretty much useless fluff. These 2 test are basic to reg maintenance, are very simple to do and in the case of cracking pressure, can be done with no special equipment (rudimentary go/no go test but useful none the less). IMO, instead of spending the $150 on the course, you would be much better off buying copies of "Regulator Savvy" and "Maintenance and Repair of Scuba Regulators", reading both cover to cover then buying some junkers off eBay to tinker with. Spending time reading the threads on the DIY section of this board is also a great resource, we have some very good techs on the board.

[oreocookie]

in the end, I decided to pass on the class. I'll save the money for more diving when the water warms up a bit.

[XS-NRG]

Hey Andy,

Can I take the course from you? Yours sounds great :-)

[silver02ca]

I took the action scuba equipement specialty course and they not only taught us how to check the ip of our own regs as well as how to do a simple cracking pressure test but they also had us disassemble and re-assemble both a 1st and 2nd stage.

[RMAdventure]

One of my local dive shops includes the equipment specialty with some of their equipment packages. To me that seems like a little better deal.