Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
There's nothing wrong with PADI as long as the instructor does everything they're supposed to and you make sure you get all the info and continue to practice the skills.
All the skills are there as good as any other standard open water agency like SSI or SDI or NAUI.
PADI gets bashed because they are considered big diving similar to big oil or big banks. People think they are corrupt somehow because they are the biggest
About the uncertified diver. There is no law the says you cannot dive without a cert. If someone has all the knowledge and understands the physiology, etc. and basically has gone (unofficially) through a dive course, lets say through a friend, or read a book like 'The new science of skin and scuba diving' and did all the excercises and didn't cheat, then I see no difference other than not being able to get fills or get on a charter.
I've known hard core commercial urchin divers that have been diving urchins for 30 years and don't have any certification of any kind.
In my town you do not need a cert to get a fill because hobbyists, paint ballers, and friends filling tanks for certified friends can get fills without a cert card.
All the skills are there as good as any other standard open water agency like SSI or SDI or NAUI.
PADI gets bashed because they are considered big diving similar to big oil or big banks. People think they are corrupt somehow because they are the biggest
About the uncertified diver. There is no law the says you cannot dive without a cert. If someone has all the knowledge and understands the physiology, etc. and basically has gone (unofficially) through a dive course, lets say through a friend, or read a book like 'The new science of skin and scuba diving' and did all the excercises and didn't cheat, then I see no difference other than not being able to get fills or get on a charter.
I've known hard core commercial urchin divers that have been diving urchins for 30 years and don't have any certification of any kind.
In my town you do not need a cert to get a fill because hobbyists, paint ballers, and friends filling tanks for certified friends can get fills without a cert card.