My post apply to the whole tiered membership (stores/instructors/dms/divers) system adapted by all the larger agencies.
J.R.:
... If the issue is to promote diving... (as a pure motive)...
I understand why people that love the sport would love to promote it for the sheer joy it will bring others. I share that sentiment to a large extent. However, I disagree that promoting diving as an industry has ever been a "pure motive" outside of a few individuals.
Let me tell you about a martial art called Shorinji Kempo that I've had the oportunity to train in (
http://www.shorinjikempo.or.jp/wsko/). Instructors are expressively forbidden from making a profit by teaching it. If any fees are collected, they are limited to renting facilities to train in or group activities. Absolutely no money can be earned by the instructor.
After two years of practicing, I have paid a grand total of $25 to get an ID made and sent to me from Japan. I have also purchased a good quality dogi from a third party merchant for about $100. That's it!
It would be
awesome if SCUBA training was that cheap. I'm sure a number of instructors wouldn't mind teaching pro bono. But I'm going to go on a limb here and say that a HUGE number wouldn't. My time is worth something. And I deliver training to make you a good, solid diver. Why shouldn't I get a return on that?
With the same logic, why should any agency develop courses, print materials and sell them at cost? Why are SCUBA training and materials exempt from the rules of free market?
J.R.:
I would think that their educational model would be more inclusive and encouraging... I would think that they would be more supportive of independants who are willing to involve more people in diving...
Let me make one thing clear. Generally, I completely respect independent instructors, regardless of agency. Since they do not have to answer to group constraints, shop schedule logistics, and sales, most tend to dedicate more time and effort towards individual students. This translates as a higher cost for the student, but by and large a student realizes they are getting more attention. That's why they came to a private instructor in the first place! This is the primary advantage of independent vs. store... and it's a biggie! (see below for advantages in the other direction) A custom schedule is also generally a given.
I may go independent one day, but for at least a few years, the rest of my life prevents me from going through the hoops I need to to get started.
While it would be a nice benefit for independent instructors, what you described would be the same as the LA Times giving you a full page for the cost of a small classified ad. Great for you, but unfair to the person that paid full cost for it.
Ok.. great new advertising feature! But as an independent instructor, you can't use it. "Well that sucks. I should be able to"
Why? Agency memberships are tiered (whether you agree with this is irrelevant for this discussion), it follows that benefits should be tiered as well. Ok.. you can get your online listing, but then the stores will get something else that you don't have. It will (and should) be this way as long as one member (store) pays a premium for their kind of membership.
J.R.:
... if PADI is willing to certify instructors without requiring them to show shop affiliation... why would then then not support them in 'furthering the need for more divers"??
PADI's support for all members include discounting PADI merchandise, workshops (hey... SOME are free), and generally (weakly in my opinion) advertising diving to the general public. As you know, shops get better benefits simply because they pay more as members.
J.R.:
From a CUSTOMER point of view... I'll answer your question... it further enhances the perception that there are TWO classes of PADI instructor... and why should I go to a 2nd class instrutor who isn't, obviously, getting the full support of the agency the was willing to certify them?
I empathize with this concern, but don't agree with it. I am of the opinion that a student gets things from the average store that he can't get from the average independent. (see above for how students benefit from independents)
Greater choice of gear, multiple opinions/sources of advice, air (yes yes.. some people have their own compressors), greater access to more divers/community, easier time rescheduling (other instructors can fill in), access to more and more varied trip opportunities - to name the bigger ones.
An independent, as a single person simply cannot match the stores in these strengths unless he has the time to fully dedicate himself to scuba, which is not the case very often.
This is not to say that the education provided by independents is sub par. Because of the extra time spent per student, independents do very well with this. But diving is not just about classes.
J.R.:
On its own, I see some issues with eLearning as relates... specifically, to OW training. I've mentioned them before. Others on this thread have likewise brought up very similar issues. However, that is ONE aspect of the problem... but, e-Learnnig is NOT the whole problem... its a symptom of the problem and it is a mechanism. Trying to keep the focus on the single thread issue of e-Learning *seems* to be a "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" argument... the two issues are wed...
So... how, again... does this make for BETTER divers???
I don't see
anybody arguing that eLearning will make a better diver. I see the "just as good" or "not as good" points being brought up. It sure is convenient for both instructors and students though. And that is the only thing that is almost agreed upon.
I don't like the fact that eLearning takes away greatly from student-student and student-instructor interaction. Yes, there is email, telephone, etc. But I will
not get an eLearning student in the water without doing some meaningful remediation in the classroom - as encouraged by PADI staff that held eLearning workshops.
I hate how it uses a linear approach for each student as I believe that even though the minimum academic knowledge should match between students, they each learn it differently. Revisiting "old" material or putting things into
context with the rest of the course is essential. This is going to be the main thrust in my remedial sessions.
I suppose that would put me in the "not as good" camp. But after a remedial session prior to any in water training, my eLearning and traditional students will be prepared in the same way.
