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In a recent posting Alan Wright wrote: > > If it is not inappropriate can I ask how much you are paying for your course, > who taught it and what you thought of the value for money... > These issues are surfacing on this side of the Atlantic too. Many courses appear to be grossly overpriced compared with offerings from other instructors. I've found that you have to consider what's included. Is the diving gas and decompression tables included in the cost? If it's a TRIMIX course and the diving gas is included ask how much helium you'll be getting (I've seen variations from 17% to 50%, depending on the instructor) What about the cost of the dive charters? Are pool sessions included? Also, consider the experience and ability of the instructor. Some instructors offer much less academic training - they invest less of their time in the course, so they can offer it at a cheaper price (I'm not condoning this practice, merely reporting it). > > It was expressed that there was not enough in the technical nitrox or deep > air courses to justify them as separate courses, and that they could be > rolled into the trimix course. The combined length could be shortened by > about a day. Hmmmm. I think you need to qualify that remark. Perhaps what you are saying is "there was not enough NEW INFORMATION FOR ME in the technical nitrox or deep air courses to justify them as separate course"? If you are diver without previous staged decompression diving experience, then deep air is a good course to begin with. I suspect that the IANTD courses are setup so that they can be taken progressively by less experienced divers AND can be taken here-and-there by more experienced divers who have a defined need. From your posting it sounds as if you fit into the second category. I took my tech-nitrox and Trimix courses bundled together. IANTD standards allow credits to be given for previous courses and experience. This can be used, at the instructor's discretion, to reduce the number of training dives required. Also, there is a fair amount of overlap in the planning and physiology sections of the tech-nitrox and trimix courses, which allows the academic sections to be compacted a bit. However, I think it's prudent not encourage everyone to take courses - particularly TRIMIX - in a bundled fashion unless they have a certain amount of experience and need. > There was also a question over the pricing policy: > > (good comments removed for brevity) > > 2. As a customer you would prefer cheap courses ... > > 3. As an instructor (and discounting those instructors who run shops as well) > you obviously want to earn a good living, but you have the problem of > balancing what you charge against what people are prepared to pay ... I see your point. It's no fun if both the training and the gear are very expensive. However, consider the risks. Instructors must reduce the class size for safety and good training. Instructors must also invest in quality support personnel, and hire the better-equipped dive boats. All of this can add to the cost of a course.
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