Mermaids or Aquanauts?

[lord khram]

for the ill-informed, Soi 6 is also home to 3 British pubs/inn, travel agencies, certified massage schools, a (soon to be) city run health clinic, hotel, gem store and restaurants. Funny Harry didn't characterize it that way.

And of course not to mention the dozens of short time bars and hundreds of screaming prostitutes and of course not forgetting your favourite katoeys.

As LK has proved again and again, it's easy to be an anonymous keyboard warrior saying what you want without regard to its actual truth.

Not true, everything I say on here is a true account of my experiences and/or my opinions. But unfortunately some are unable to deal with opinions that differ to their own, and some are unable to deal with the truth.

Pattaya Dive Centre, Seafari, Mermaids, Seaduction, and Mask & Finns are either directly next to stragiht or gay bars or within a stone's throw of one.

Simply not true.

How a shop is run has nothing to do with who's doing business the next shop over. I'd have assumed even LK was smart enough to realize that.

Yes agreed, but quite often first impressions count for a lot. And quite often they are true impressions.

 

[Ex-Aquanaut]

And most people's first impressions of you I'm sure are quite correct as well. (putting LK back on "ignore")

 

[h90]

I am so glad it is not only me that has made such observations.
Just one point I have made before about the Zero to hero instructors that have dived only in Pattaya, (and some other places) one diving skill that comes to mind that we use frequently in the UK is a shore entry/exit in quite often rough seas, how are they qualified to teach this skill when chances are they have only ever entered the water using a giant stride from a boat platform. I could continue with other points.
In my mind this system of training has so many limitations and I would not recommend this as the best way of becoming an instructor.

Or another example a DM on his way to be Instructor who has never used DIN first stages and tries to screw mine in a tank (INT) for several minutes.
I can't explain how it is possible to even try to screw something in a place where is no hole. Another from Zero to Hero and every night drunk.....

 

[lord khram]

And most people's first impressions of you I'm sure are quite correct as well. (putting LK back on "ignore")

And now they have to resort to making it personal again because they are unable to deal with concise true facts.

Fact: Aquanauts is probably situated in the most scummy street in Pattaya. I dont need to enlarge on that, anyone who knows the area will be fully familliar with what I am saying.

Fact: There are currently numerous people expressing dissatisfaction of one form or another on this forum with Pattaya diving.
But then again I suppose they all got it wrong? They really had a wonderfull experience, just ask Aquanauts!!

 

[lord khram]

Or another example a DM on his way to be Instructor who has never used DIN first stages and tries to screw mine in a tank (INT) for several minutes.
I can't explain how it is possible to even try to screw something in a place where is no hole. Another from Zero to Hero and every night drunk.....

You could go on for ever about the failings of this system of training.
Personally I think it should not be allowed, in my mind anyone who does their entire diver training with one shop at the same location has very limited experience and are really not an instructor of any worth untill they have been around a bit and gained a wider variety of experience.
And you are right h90 many such candidates are people on gap years etc, and are only interested in having their own good time.
Anyone who is happy to be trained/escorted on dives by such people then fine we all have our own requirements. But I am afraid it is not for me.

 

[lord khram]

Or another example a DM on his way to be Instructor who has never used DIN first stages and tries to screw mine in a tank (INT) for several minutes.
I can't explain how it is possible to even try to screw something in a place where is no hole. Another from Zero to Hero and every night drunk.....

Yes h90 that just says it all.
I was tought about all the different varieties of equipment during my OWC. But then again my OWC lasted 6 days rather than the 2/3 days taken by some of the highly proffesional Pattaya shops.

 

[scuba Harry]

Really ?? well when i did dive with Mermaids we had a new lady Divemaster who did'nt have a experienced dive leader with her !! we came up 30 mts from the boat which really was not on as we had a long surface swim back to the boat .The young lady informed us that she had completed a 10 day course and was learning how to use a compass ,i would of thought this part of the training was done in training ??? that has put me off from diving with the large dive shops who seem to rush their students in training .Happy diving

 

[lord khram]

Really ?? well when i did dive with Mermaids we had a new lady Divemaster who did'nt have a experienced dive leader with her !! we came up 30 mts from the boat which really was not on as we had a long surface swim back to the boat .The young lady informed us that she had completed a 10 day course and was learning how to use a compass ,i would of thought this part of the training was done in training ??? that has put me off from diving with the large dive shops who seem to rush their students in training .Happy diving

You are exactly right here training of IDC students should be kept completely seperate from day to day paying customers.
But as you have experienced here these shops just treat customers with total disregard and use them for their IDC students to practice on.
Totally out of order when people are paying good money for a days escorted diving, they should provide a fully qualified experienced and professional guide, or make people aware at the time of booking what is being provided and reduce the prices accordingly.
With regard to them being supervised I must say in my experience I have at times seen what would appear to be a more senior person in charge on the boat telling others what to do, but have never actually witnessed one supervising underwater to ensure things are being conducted satisfactorily.

 

[penguintom]

Really ?? well when i did dive with Mermaids we had a new lady Divemaster who did'nt have a experienced dive leader with her !! we came up 30 mts from the boat which really was not on as we had a long surface swim back to the boat .The young lady informed us that she had completed a 10 day course and was learning how to use a compass ,i would of thought this part of the training was done in training ??? that has put me off from diving with the large dive shops who seem to rush their students in training .Happy diving

Yes my experience entirely, in one recent incident, staff were already entering the water and untill I stopped one to ask who am I diving with today I had been completely forgotten or ignored. Had I not have asked I think I would simply have been left on board.
Quite clearly any supervision that may have been present from senior staff was inadequate.

 

[penguintom]

And I guess UK is not that warm as Pat....
The problem are the DM and Instructor who make the "from zero to hero" courses. They have all the exams and the minimum amount of dives PADI wants, but all dives at the same 3-4 sites in Pattaya.
They are true believer of the Pattaya books (over 40 m you immediately die, deco dives are terrible dangerous, etc etc)

I agree here, couple all this with disinterested and / or inept staff, and the general lack of good marine life it all adds up to not a very enjoyable days diving.