I went and signed up for the course and just finished it. So, I will be posting my experinces with the card. THere is no point in going into how the course was since all that matters is if stores will give me a fill, so I will let everyone know.
Online Nitrox and SDA??
- Thread starter n2ooz
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It may be that I simply have a different perspective, given my NAUI background, but isn't the *entire* point how the course was. Sure, you usually need to show a card to get fills, but the whole reason places require a card is to have at least some evidence that you should have learned something.
Playing to the card is like teaching only what's needed to get your students high marks on standardized tests. It gets you measurable results, but if it's at the expense of actual education, it's a grave disservice.
Of course, I work in education and I'm a NAUI (motto: "Dive Safety Through Education") Divemaster. Perhaps that explains the difference in perspective. Still, to hear a divemaster (even of another agency) spouting such a comment disturbs me verily.
Boxcar Overkill
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I consider the material covered in the recreational nitrox course simple enough that most people of moderate intelligence could learn it by reading the book or taking an online class.
The c-card requirement, I think, is more about liability management than it is about the difficulty of the material. And of course, it's about a required course and putting another dollar in.
But I don't see diving with nitrox as being significantly more dangerous than other types of diving that don't require any certification at all.
The c-card requirement, I think, is more about liability management than it is about the difficulty of the material. And of course, it's about a required course and putting another dollar in.
But I don't see diving with nitrox as being significantly more dangerous than other types of diving that don't require any certification at all.
on_two_wheels
Contributor
Recognized agency or not, able to get fills or not....yada, yada, yada. One thing that is being overlooked is the fact that this agency clearly LIES to it's customers. When it lists dive shops that accept their cert and the shop has never even heard of them, it's a LIE. It's not misleading, it's not accidental....it's a lie. Furthermore, someone stated they made several attempts to contact them via email and phone with no success. If that's not enough, they don't even use a secure website for billing, apparently. The course might be fine but the company is still garbage based on what I've read. For a few extra bucks you can get a cert that you KNOW will be accepted everywhere and has customer service available, if needed.
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Thanks OTW - forgot all that from the last time we looked at this thread and didn't go back over the earlier postings. Yeah, Microsoft may have started as a garage business, but this one does seem to be a joke. Some fill shack employee with 6 years of learning from others thinks he can rewrite ideas stolen from others better than he can.
just to clear something up regarding my post. I didn't mean to say that the course doesn't matter as long as you get the card, what I meant by that is, there is no point into me posting how I felt about the course or going into a review of the site here on Scubaboard.
I absolutly feel it is way more important to have the experience and knowledge then a card. What I posted was meant to be taken as I will take one for the team and try this place out.
The Work book that everyone else is quoting, I don't remember seeing on their website, nor do I remember any link to a workbook. I don't think that "workbook" has anything to do with online nitrox lessons.
I hope this clears up my position on the course and what my post meant...it was written in a hurry I was being called out to a medical emergency at the time.
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Someone want to try to get the six year fill shack veteran online here to explain things, like him listing affiliates shops who never heard of him...?
Thanks for the clarification. Trying something out for the team sounds just like what I'd expect of a DM. :biggrin: It's almost as much a part as the "How in Neptune's blue ocean did he do *that*?!?" thoughts that occasionally grace my mind (if not my face) when working with students.
(And I certainly will never begrudge someone of a clarification of a quick post. Been there, made that, and all.
)
Going through my PADI and other materials it looks as if this class SDA, is much more conservative.
As where PADI MOD for nitrox 1 is 110 ish, SDA teaches not to use 32% deeper then 99ft for 1.2 exposer. And the tables that you can print out from the website are very conservative. Even with 21%.
The course does cover math and all the calculations that you need, it doesn't go into the CNS clock very deeply but does cover it.
Its very surprising how many people feel badly towards an online nitrox course. Yes, I feel that the knowledge of an instructor or experinced diver is worth a million bucks, but as one poster said almost everything you need to know about nitrox can be found in a book. As a teacher myself, I know how "I" learn, and I took this course with my learning habits in mind. I feel that I got a lot out of the online course. Just remember with most courses online even in college, you get what you put into it.
I will be going to Puerto rico in about a week, hopefully I will be able to get some EAN dives in also. Hopefully if I do get some trouble for the card my PADI sponsored DM card will help move things along. Resorts have no issue throwing new divers my way even though the never saw me dive hopefully they should have no issue filling my tank with my desired O2 content.
As where PADI MOD for nitrox 1 is 110 ish, SDA teaches not to use 32% deeper then 99ft for 1.2 exposer. And the tables that you can print out from the website are very conservative. Even with 21%.
The course does cover math and all the calculations that you need, it doesn't go into the CNS clock very deeply but does cover it.
Its very surprising how many people feel badly towards an online nitrox course. Yes, I feel that the knowledge of an instructor or experinced diver is worth a million bucks, but as one poster said almost everything you need to know about nitrox can be found in a book. As a teacher myself, I know how "I" learn, and I took this course with my learning habits in mind. I feel that I got a lot out of the online course. Just remember with most courses online even in college, you get what you put into it.
I will be going to Puerto rico in about a week, hopefully I will be able to get some EAN dives in also. Hopefully if I do get some trouble for the card my PADI sponsored DM card will help move things along. Resorts have no issue throwing new divers my way even though the never saw me dive hopefully they should have no issue filling my tank with my desired O2 content.
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