PADI necessary hidden skills

[Edward3c]

A high-visibility course dive actually makes sense for lots of experienced high-horse cold water divers.

I've seen enough of them panicking during a free descent in the blue without reference.

A specific environment doesn't make you a better diver.

Don't disagree, many who learn in cold water think warm water diving is a piece of cake - then get into trouble by exceeding the depth limits or carry too much lead.

 

[TMHeimer]

What I take from reading the OP and many of the replies is that there are things that aren't taught in PADI's (and others for sure) OW course. I agree that to include some of those listed would be costly and in some cases logistically difficult. Some "skills", as the OP pointed out, such as shore diving, should not need any specific instruction other than common sense.
It is also possible that a diver will only dive on one locale always-- maybe where he/she was trained-- or like only in the tropics or in cold water. I've always said I'd rather be trained by an instructor who had 1,000 dives where I would be taking the course rather than one with 100 in varying locations/situations. If one looks hard enough one could probably dig up quite a few other situations where training or good advice would be a big plus. Can't fit in the OW course.
So, I guess I'm not sure what the point of the thread is.

 

[Esprise Me]

As a BSAC club member you don't pay for instruction, its part of the membership fee, whether you receive training or not.

What's the cost of membership?

 

[BoltSnap]

@Edward3c

So next time I am in the UK, I can look you up to set up training/orientation program for me to dive in the UK properly and safely? (I have no issues with paying for your time at all).

 

[BoltSnap]

What's the cost of membership?

It isn't just the cost of the membership, you have to actively participate in the club's activities including filling tanks, cleaning the club's boat, etc. It is a major commitment of your time and effort and not simply paying a yearly fee and get training for free, there is a lot more involved in terms of time and efforts. Your diving day doesn't end when you arrive at the dock and get off the boat!

 

[Storker]

As a BSAC club member you don't pay for instruction, its part of the membership fee, whether you receive training or not.

Interesting. Up here, if you attend a formal club class, you pay for it. On a non-profit basis, but the instructors are compensated for their time. And when you've graduated you go diving with your clubmates.

On a strictly personal note, I probably wouldn't appreciate if my membership dues went to pay for a n00b's 1* class. I'd happily dive with them, but I'm not particularly motivated for paying for their training to be able to dive with me. I guess that just shows how things are different around the world.

 

[Storker]

Your diving day doesn't end when you arrive at the dock and get off the boat!

Which basically is how it is unless you pay a bunch to hire some minions to do the work for you.

If I go diving back home, I have to:

1. Set up my gear
2. Assemble my gear at the site
3. Dive.
4. Break down my gear
   
5. If diving from a boat, schlep my gear from the boat into my car. If diving from shore, schlep my gear from the shore to my car
6. Rinse down and dry my gear at home
7. Hang up my gear for storage

 

[BoltSnap]

Which basically is how it is unless you pay a bunch to hire some minions to do the work for you.

If I go diving back home, I have to:

1. Set up my gear
2. Assemble my gear at the site
3. Dive.
4. Break down my gear
   
5. If diving from a boat, schlep my gear from the boat into my car. If diving from shore, schlep my gear from the shore to my car
6. Rinse down and dry my gear at home
7. Hang up my gear for storage

You have to do a lot more than that for the club. I didn't get home from the dive until very late in the day after the dive even when we got off the boat in early afternoon. If you are diving from shore and no equipment or boats from the club is involved, then you get to go home directly. I was a BSAC member for few years and it just got to be too much. You also have to show up once a week for tank fills and worry about compressor maintenance, boat issues, etc. even if you aren't diving. My point is that it is a "club" where you are expected to do a lot of work for the club in addition to the membership fees. The membership fees aren't that much per year but the time and effort required may be too much for many especially those that don't have much free time.

 

[Edward3c]

@Edward3c

So next time I am in the UK, I can look you up to set up training/orientation program for me to dive in the UK properly and safely? (I have no issues with paying for your time at all).

If you pay for my time, I would have to charge you enough to cover commercial liability insurance, HSE medical, and a whole host of other costs as providing diver training commercially in the U.K. is classed as work. My charge out rate is £2,500 per day, the same as when I get asked to ‘help’ when on holiday.

However, if you joined my BSAC Branch (£7.00 per year), BSAC fee (£70.50 per year) then your training is free.

 

[Storker]

You have to do a lot more than that for the club

If I'm on the roster, I'll do a little bit more. If not, I won't. But since all my clubmates are qualified divers, i won't be cleaning up after them. They do - or are supposed to do - that themself.

And when I'm filling my tanks, I'm of course pulling my weight.