PADI vs CMAS - Newbie seeks advice!
Camilla Hahn
Hi!
I've just tried diving and am really anxious to get started for real. Now
I'm not sure what certificate to get. Basically, I have two options;
PADI: I'll have to travel 100km for each lesson/dive. The course will be
about $500.
CMAS: No travelling, the course is about $150. (This price is
rather uncertain)
I'm under the impression that PADI is more accepted worldwide, but I really
don't have much facts. What is your opinion on PADI vs CMAS considering;
A: How good is the acceptance where you live/in other countries you know of?
B: How good is the education?
Please reply by mail, or follow up and cc me a copy, as my news server is
dropping loads of articles.
Thanks in advance,
/Camilla Hahn
Robert Wood
CMAS is widely accepted through its affiliates throughout
the world. PADI is the most widespread.
However, it't the quality of the individual courses/people/
instructors that is important.
You should be expecting 9-12 hours of class, 9-12 hours of
pool training and then a weekend of training dives for
certification. Talk to the instructors about what is
given as a course.
I don't know about cost in Sweden but make sure you know
what gear is included in the base price.
For example, there is a local outfit which advertises
certification for $40. But then you have to rent all your
gear for each pool and dive session.
My advice is take the most rigorous and if both places
offer about the same level of training, then take the
most convenient.
[\] Robert Wood
robert...@mitel.com
The St. Lawrence river - fresh, warm, visible diving.
Egil A. Naesguthe
Let me be one of the first ones to get this agency thing started again (IT'S SO MUCH FUN!).
Anyway, it does depend a bit on where you want to do most of your diving. You probably
haven't made up your mind about that just yet, as you are only getting into the game, but
all indications that I have suggest that it is VERY unlikely that you will be refused to go
diving anywhere, as long as you are properly certified. What varies is the number of "funny"
comments you must tolerate before you can jump in.
In your case, I would go with the CMAS Nordic SCUBA diver program. If you dive at
home, you're all set, and if you go off on a holiday to the Red Sea and people ask what a Nordic
diver is all about, you tell them all the horror stories about cold water, thick hoods and gloves,
bad visibility etc., and after that they will leave you alone for the rest of the time, knowing
that you are most definitely qualified. Of course the PADI course will have to take you through
most of the same stuff, but the card is not as exclusive :-)
Egil.
Robert Wood
Egil A. Naesguthe wrote:
>
> Let me be one of the first ones to get this agency thing started again (IT'S SO MUCH FUN!).
> In your case, I would go with the CMAS Nordic SCUBA diver program. If you dive at
> home, you're all set, and if you go off on a holiday to the Red Sea and people ask what a Nordic
> diver is all about, you tell them all the horror stories about cold water, thick hoods and gloves,
> bad visibility etc., and after that they will leave you alone for the rest of the time, knowing
> that you are most definitely qualified. Of course the PADI course will have to take you through
> most of the same stuff, but the card is not as exclusive :-)
I took PADI up here in Canada.
...We have fantastic water...
...and thick hoods and gloves...
...and good instructors...
just thought I'd help stoke the fires :)
Mike Wallace
On 27 Sep 1996 13:44:48 GMT, d90c...@ida.liu.se (Camilla Hahn) wrote:
>Hi!
>I've just tried diving and am really anxious to get started for real. Now
>I'm not sure what certificate to get. Basically, I have two options;
Hi Camilla! Welcome to the wonderful world of diving!
>PADI: I'll have to travel 100km for each lesson/dive. The course will be
>about $500.
>CMAS: No travelling, the course is about $150. (This price is
>rather uncertain)
The single most important thing to consider when getting dive
certifications is the instructor. Talk to as many in your area as you
can, and learn from the one that you feel most comfortable with.
PADI and CMAS are both well known organizations and their cards should
be accepted anywhere you might travel.
Good luck in your training!
========================================
Mike Wallace [\]
Huntsville, Alabama
Just another wonderful day in paradise....
34 deg 42' N 86 deg 35' W
========================================
Jean Senoner
Hi Camilla.
Don't choose a scuba organisation, choose a scuba instructor. Find out
who is going to be the teacher with PADI or CMAS, talk to the people,
and choose the one your instinct trust more.
BTW: if you start CMAS, you will be able to go on PADI, SSI, NAUI or
whatever you want. I'm not sure that if you start PADI you will be
allowed to take a 2nd course from CMAS.
Have Fun
Jean
Kuty
d90c...@ida.liu.se (Camilla Hahn) wrote:
(CUT)
>PADI: I'll have to travel 100km for each lesson/dive. The course will be
>about $500.
>CMAS: No travelling, the course is about $150. (This price is
>rather uncertain)
>I'm under the impression that PADI is more accepted worldwide, but I really
>don't have much facts. What is your opinion on PADI vs CMAS considering;
>A: How good is the acceptance where you live/in other countries you know of?
CMAS is accepted anywhere in the world.
Padi is accepted almost anywhere but in some places in Europe (France,
Denmark) you can have problems with the PADI cert.
>B: How good is the education?
That depends on the instructor only and not the agency.
In your case, being a European, I think that if both instructors are
O.K., you'd better take CMAS.
Bye Kuty
Drexler Michael J
On 27 Sep 1996, Camilla Hahn wrote:
> I've just tried diving and am really anxious to get started for real. Now
> I'm not sure what certificate to get. Basically, I have two options;
> about $500.
$500 for the basic open water? Yikes, unless you get some gear in that
package that's pricy! We will teach the PADI Open Water for between $200
and $300 depending upon pool rental costs.
> CMAS: No travelling, the course is about $150. (This price is
> rather uncertain)
Definitely better for the pocket book...
> I'm under the impression that PADI is more accepted worldwide, but I really
> don't have much facts. What is your opinion on PADI vs CMAS considering;
> A: How good is the acceptance where you live/in other countries you know of?
I live in an area which is mainly PADI certs, but there are also some
CMAS, YMCA and SSI divers around. The rule with my instructor and myself
is that if the cert if from a recognized agency, they're just as good in
my book. I've heard rumours of shops all over the world saying
"I've never seen that card before" but will not refuse to sell you air,
equipment or charters.
> B: How good is the education?
Now this has been debated for years! Each certification agency is
different, but they all contain the basic skills but their procedures for
different situations may be different. Regardless of the agency you
choose, you will be a diver none the less. This just re-inforces the
importance of pre-dive planning with your buddy to be sure that you
understand each other underwater should a situation arise.
If you're still unsure ask the instructors to see a copy of the course
outline and/or manual and decide then.
Hope this helps you make an informed decision.
Have a great SAFE dive! [\]
Mike Drexler, Public Relations Coordinator, Windsor Skin & Scuba Club,
U of Windsor Scuba Club, Save Ontario Shipwrecks(Windsor Chapter Member),
COMPUTING CONSULTANT, COMPUTING SERVICES, U of W,
P.A.D.I. DIVEMASTER and IANTD DIVER
Windsor Ontario, Canada.
E-mail at dre...@server.uwindsor.ca
WWW at http://www2.uwindsor.ca/~drexle2/
[\]
|
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^(_)^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
____ o o
(_/\_)o O<
----(o) O< >O
peigne francois
Camilla Hahn wrote:
>
> Hi!
>
> I've just tried diving and am really anxious to get started for real. Now
> I'm not sure what certificate to get. Basically, I have two options;
>
> PADI: I'll have to travel 100km for each lesson/dive. The course will be
> about $500.
>
> rather uncertain)
>
> don't have much facts. What is your opinion on PADI vs CMAS considering;
>
> A: How good is the acceptance where you live/in other countries you know of?
>
>
> dropping loads of articles.
>
> Thanks in advance,
If the instructors are equivalent, I would better choose the CMAS
course.
As a matter of fact, some countries don't accept PADI certifications
(France
for instance). Furthermore, most european federations belong to the
CMAS.
So if you want to dive in Europe, it will be easier for you if you are
also
CMAS. But if you just want your certification to dive in the Red Sea,
Asia
or America, CMAS or PADI are equivalent.
Hope this helps...
Robert O. Martin
Kuty <ku...@nite.org.il> wrote in article
<52md5o$e...@news.NetVision.net.il>...
> d90c...@ida.liu.se (Camilla Hahn) wrote:
> (CUT)
> >PADI: I'll have to travel 100km for each lesson/dive. The course will be
> >about $500.
>
> >CMAS: No travelling, the course is about $150. (This price is
> >rather uncertain)
>
> >I'm under the impression that PADI is more accepted worldwide, but I
really
> >don't have much facts. What is your opinion on PADI vs CMAS considering;
>
> >A: How good is the acceptance where you live/in other countries you know
of?
>
> CMAS is accepted anywhere in the world.
> Padi is accepted almost anywhere but in some places in Europe (France,
> Denmark) you can have problems with the PADI cert.
>
> >B: How good is the education?
>