Yes, the type with the tanks on your back!
I need some advice about getting my PADI qualification. I'm going to Egypt in December and I was wondering whether to do some of the course here and complete whilst on holiday or just do all of the course in one go. I don't want to spend most of the week in a swimming pool when I have some of the world's finest diving sites on my doorstep. Can anyone suggest the best way to achieve my PADI and get the most out of my 1 week holiday.
Many thanks in advance ! xxx
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Hi Velvet,
I am a PADI instructor, and I tend to agree that people shouldn't spend a part of their holiday training - it's much more fun to get the training out of the way first before you go on holiday.
Now, you can do part of the training here so that you'd only have to do 2 days training in open water when you get to Egypt (this is called 'a referral', where you do the classroom-work and pool-work here, then do the rest out in Egypt), or you can do all of the training here so that you can just get on and go diving when you get out there!
BUT if you decidde to do all of the training here, the question you have to ask yourself is this - at the moment, sea temperatures here are about 15 degrees Celsius and falling - you have to do 4 dives over 2 days in open water to qualify - so, as long as you think you can cope with these sort of temperatures (you'll have a fairly big wet-suit on, I'm sure) you should be OK.
The choice is yours!
I am a PADI instructor, and I tend to agree that people shouldn't spend a part of their holiday training - it's much more fun to get the training out of the way first before you go on holiday.
Now, you can do part of the training here so that you'd only have to do 2 days training in open water when you get to Egypt (this is called 'a referral', where you do the classroom-work and pool-work here, then do the rest out in Egypt), or you can do all of the training here so that you can just get on and go diving when you get out there!
BUT if you decidde to do all of the training here, the question you have to ask yourself is this - at the moment, sea temperatures here are about 15 degrees Celsius and falling - you have to do 4 dives over 2 days in open water to qualify - so, as long as you think you can cope with these sort of temperatures (you'll have a fairly big wet-suit on, I'm sure) you should be OK.
The choice is yours!
Quote by phil_osopher
Hi Velvet,
I am a PADI instructor, and I tend to agree that people shouldn't spend a part of their holiday training - it's much more fun to get the training out of the way first before you go on holiday.
Now, you can do part of the training here so that you'd only have to do 2 days training in open water when you get to Egypt (this is called 'a referral', where you do the classroom-work and pool-work here, then do the rest out in Egypt), or you can do all of the training here so that you can just get on and go diving when you get out there!
BUT if you decidde to do all of the training here, the question you have to ask yourself is this - at the moment, sea temperatures here are about 15 degrees Celsius and falling - you have to do 4 dives over 2 days in open water to qualify - so, as long as you think you can cope with these sort of temperatures (you'll have a fairly big wet-suit on, I'm sure) you should be OK.
The choice is yours!
Thank you Phil, this is just the type of advice I was looking for, you're a darling !
personally i would do it all over there. Its not exactly difficult. When i did it it was an hour a day in classroom.....and they didn'y bother with the swimming pool...all training was in open water. believe me makes your holiday much more fun. I did my PADI last year in Thailand and going back to do my advanced this year. You will find it about half the cost as well to do it over there, rather than here.
So enjoy and have a good trip.
So enjoy and have a good trip.
Quote by burnie
I was told by a diving instructor in the NE that if you can dive off the coast of England, you will be very well introduced to being able to dive safely anywhere. I'd do it here and get the basics down really well in difficult waters.
I would go down the referal route (if you have decided that the PADI route is what you want to do), there are other training organisations, all pretty much equally good, but each with different methodologies and ethos'.
I trained (PADI) in the UK, doing all of the theory and poolwork in the uk, then did the open water in Cyprus, then after that I continued training for the rest of the time after my initial qualification, spent a good few days in the classroom though.
Doing the whole thing in the UK is all well and good, I dive in uk waters generally year round and it does get cold, but I remember my first couple of dives in the UK after qualifying, I had some considerable anxiety when the bottom suddenly appeared a couple of feet below my fins. Diving in the UK is rewarding and fun, but it could be offputting and why add the challenges of cold water when you don't have to?
Continuing training in the UK will certainly add to peoples belief in your diving skills, and will probably hone your skills much quicker than if you only dived abroad.
Enjoy and let us know how you got on. I'll be off to Sharm in November
I'll try not to stir it up too much for you 
Chris
Just a quick note on this - personally I am both BSAC and PADI qualified and as I did the PADI first understand what training I needed. I qualified in the Maldives at the tender age of 16 - 2 sessions in the pool, 2 open dives and I was wreck diving!!! madness looking back at it. After coming home I did my BSAC Open Water and Advanced and realised that I knew nothing about diving even though I passed a course that let me dive any where in the world.
Personally I would do the BSAC over here as it will keep you safe.
Oh and just a little joke we used to have:
P - Pay
A - And
D - Die
I - Immediately!
What ever you do make sure you stay safe!
Personally I would do the BSAC over here as it will keep you safe.
Oh and just a little joke we used to have:
P - Pay
A - And
D - Die
I - Immediately!
What ever you do make sure you stay safe!
Quote by dan_8_wyorks
Oh and just a little joke we used to have:
P - Pay
A - And
D - Die
I - Immediately!
What ever you do make sure you stay safe!
Sometimes I wonder why BSAC has a reputation of being up their own arse with superiority, that's a stupid, petty and small minded attitude and I think it should be retracted.
Chris
(PADI qualified, SAA Instructor)
Chirs,
This is just my opinion of PADI training courses when you go on holiday. I think that everyone has the right to their own opinion!
PADI is good as long as you do it over here and not when you go to a nice little hliday island where they want to get your money out of you as quick as possible.
This is just my opinion of PADI training courses when you go on holiday. I think that everyone has the right to their own opinion!
PADI is good as long as you do it over here and not when you go to a nice little hliday island where they want to get your money out of you as quick as possible.
Quote by dan_8_wyorks
Chirs,
This is just my opinion of PADI training courses when you go on holiday. I think that everyone has the right to their own opinion!
PADI is good as long as you do it over here and not when you go to a nice little hliday island where they want to get your money out of you as quick as possible.
Agreed that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but are seriously telling me that enrolling on a PADI course is tantamount to asking to be put to death?
What about this opinion;
dan_8_wyorks is a stupid, small minded cunt and next time he goes to the zoo he should fall over the railings and be ravaged by a rhinoceros.
Mod
Play nicely children or I'll send you out of the playground for a few days!
Mal
Mal
Quote by dan_8_wyorks
Thanks for your detailed description of me Marmalaid. Didn't realise you knew me so well!
As I said it was my opinion and the PADI joke was just that a Joke!!!
Take it as you wish.
I wouldn't call it a joke, I would call it more of a way for members of one organisation to belittle and feel superior to those of another.
If I said that my comments were a joke would that make them more acceptable? I don't think so.
I'll repeat, I am not afiliated with PADI.
Chris
Quote by Velvet Lips
I started this thread for HELPFUL advice on diving, not for smart arse comments on dying whilst starting a new hobby or for it to turn into a slanging match !!!
Thanks Mal, not only for your very informative PM but also for ringing the bell after the first round !!!
xxx
I hope you got what you needed from this thread. Enjoy your diving.
Chris.
Bit of a Martini diver me, any time, any place, any buddy
Good luck Velvet - I hope you enjoy the diving there - it should be spectacular!
I never did understand the 'rivalry' between different training organisations - I think it's something people do without thinking, for some reason. I guess every group likes the idea that it's the best group there is.
My opinion is that we're all divers, and we all dive the same way as recreational divers.
I never did understand the 'rivalry' between different training organisations - I think it's something people do without thinking, for some reason. I guess every group likes the idea that it's the best group there is.
My opinion is that we're all divers, and we all dive the same way as recreational divers.
Warming the Bed
If you are taking it up diving, get as much training as u can (bsac or padi),the more confident you are the more u see and enjoy.
plenty of clubs around to join which also organise holidays abroad and in the water might be colder but there is still lots to see,some of the best dives i have been on have been the west coast of scotland 80ft visibility compared with 6ft on the east coast.
have fun
plenty of clubs around to join which also organise holidays abroad and in the water might be colder but there is still lots to see,some of the best dives i have been on have been the west coast of scotland 80ft visibility compared with 6ft on the east coast.
have fun
