DM - almost desided where to go...

[glamourpuss]

have narrowed it down to a couple of places to do my DM and i was hoping some of you might have some experience with one or more of these companies/places.

i plan on spending about 2 months getting my dive masters so i'm looking for a combination of things.. reputable company (PADI 5star)... good dive spots... good weather july-september.... location you wouldn't mind spending 2 months in... (ie. things to do other than just dive... grocery stores... nice cafe's/restaurants, good accomodation... easy to meet people... easy internet access... a place you could make home for 2+ months).

the three places i am currently considering are:

Koh Tao - with Buddah View (www.buddhaview-diving.com/)

Koh Phangan - with Phangan Divers (http://www.phangandivers.com)

Vietnam - with Rainbow Divers (http://www.divevietnam.com)

thanks!

 

[Walter]

I'm sure these are all fine establishments, but don't think for a minute that 5 star is a rating. It has nothing to do with quality, don't eliminate prospects because they haven't paid the extra fee to call themselves a 5 star facility.

 

[glamourpuss]

if you feel i have regected a reputable company in one of these areas because it is not 5 star please feel free to suggest it.

 

[Walter]

That wasn't my point. I don't know any companies in the area, including those you mentioned. My point is the 5 stars is virtually meaningless and should be ignored.

 

[glamourpuss]

i realise you have your issues with the padi 5 star rating and may not agree with it... you are entitled to your opinions, however please don't turn this into a debate about the merrits of padi's rating system.

like i said before, if you feel i have rejected a reputable company just because they aren't a 5 star feel free to suggest it but please don't critisize my preference of a 5 star company because you feel it's all a marketing ploy. it may well be but it still makes me feel more comfortable.

i don't want to debate this, i'm really just looking for sugestions on where to go.

thanks.

 

[Walter]

I don't have issues with the rating system, because they don't have a rating system. The concept of 5 star facilities is not a rating system. Read up on it and come to your own conclusions or ask PADI if they actually rate facilities. What warrents 1 star? 2? 3? 4? Your other option is to remain uninformed, it doesn't matter to me either way. If you are more comfortable with a 5 star facility, by all means go to a 5 star facility and be happy. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[MikeFerrara]

glamourpuss once bubbled...
if you feel i have regected a reputable company in one of these areas because it is not 5 star please feel free to suggest it.

Do you know what being a "PADI 5 star facility" means?

 

[glamourpuss]

walter look i really just want info on where i should go.. thats all ok.. if you can't help me out with that fine, but as i said i don't want to turn this into a debate over padi's 5 star rating. (i know that it's not a 1 star 2 star 3, 4 or 5 star system) i have have read up about it, including the other posts on this board. if i wanted to join the debate about it i would have joined the other threads! i'm not being ignorant about it we just have differing opinions.

I JUST WANT ADVICE ON WHERE I SHOULD DIVE. if you can't help me with that can you please just leave this post to those who can.

 

[glamourpuss]

would it make you all happy if i just took the padi 5 star part out of my original post?

in case i havn't made it clear enough all i want is help on where i should go.

 

[MikeFerrara]

IMO, You would be best served by doing your DM training in an environment similar to where you expect to DM. I am not saying that this should be The only consideration but one of many.

What you need is a good instructor not good weather, convenient shoping or good dive sites. Your opening post seems to suggest that being a "5 star"inducates a shop is reputably or more so than one who is not "reputable company (PADI 5star)... "
Good luck.