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I'm Al Mottram and new to the list. Only been diving a bit less than 2 years. Cents to date are PADI OW and NAUI Advanced. I don't believe I am a "stroke" in the scence that I am very focussed on safe diving and am in a continuous learning mode. I am presently in the process of converting to the DIR gear configuration as the budget permits. I know I have a lot to learn and this is a prime place for such learning. In any event and for what its worth here is my perspective/experience on the "Standard Agency" OW certifications. It was emphasised in my OW classes that this certification basically PREPARES you to LEARN to dive. The materials covered are the most basic dive skills and very basic concepts in dive physiology and the effects of pressure (depth) on the air mix. At the end of the certification process, in many cases you still have not made your first "Dive". You have however spent some time breathing underwater, and demonstrated the basic skills. You are also then "qualified" to purchase "Life Support Equipment and Air". These classes do little if anything to guide you in the selection and rigging of gear. These important aspects are learned by experience and observation and discussion with experienced divers, such as on this list. My definition of frustration is the difference between "What you expect" and "What you get". If your expectations for the OW Certification are consistent with the above it will not likely be a frustrating experience. The OW Certification plus application of "the dirty harry principle" ( A man has got to know his limitations) will prepare you to begin to learn diving. Regards,Al --- �ystein Mehus <omehus@hi*.no*> wrote: > "Bengt J�nsson" wrote: > > > > The general consensus on this list seems to be > that PADI and NAU are > > substandard agencies and I should stay clear of > them. The onnly on averybody > > seems to think is any good is GUE. I have been > looing at their site but > > can't find any info about beginner courses. All > courses seems to resuire me > > to have several logged dive before starting. I > don't really see how I can > > acomplish this on my own. > > > > GUE is (for now) an agency for technical (read > experienced) divers. You are not going down that > road > for some time yet. What you need to do, is go to an > agency like PADI, NAUI, CMAS and get Open Water > instruction. > > > The other recomendation I think everybody agrees > on is that the agency is > > unimportant and I should get the best instructor. > (There seems to be a > > slight contradiction here...) How do I know if the > instructor is any good > > since I don't know very much about diving, only > what I have picked up from > > the lists. > > Talk to someone you know, ask them about their > experieces with different shops, agencies and > instructors. If you don't know anyone who dives, ask > for > advice on the swedish newsgroup. That would be the > right > place to get some information about > divecenters/instructors close to you. > > After you have completed you open water course, and > logged enough dives, you should be in a position to > decide whether tecnical diving is a direction you > want > to pursue. Then go get a GUE course if that's what > you > think you need. (BTW. have a look at the web page of > "Dykutbilderna i V�stervik" > http://www.dykutbildarna-vvik.se/home.asp). Their > instructors are trained with IANTD and GUE, and they > conduct PADI OW classes. > > Hope this helps! > > Oystein > -- > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to > `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. > Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to > `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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