I wanna get certified this year

[tgreene]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127383#post15127383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
Could be the case. We did shop around and the best we could find in Atlanta was $400x2 for the 3-day classes, $75x2 for the student book & DVD (yes they were going to make us buy two), and $200x2 for a store credit towards gear (yes they were going to make us buy two even though we told them we planned to rent gear in Hawaii). That all came out to $675 per person, not including the OW certification on our Hawaii trip ($200x2) plus $59x2 "transfer fee" for the local dive shop to call the Hawaii dive shop and tell them we've been through the classes already in Atlanta.

For us, knowing this is a hobby we will VERY rarely get to enjoy, we chose to spend $200x2 for the resort dive rather than fork out much more up front to get certified.

Besides, even if you are certified, if you go to Australia or Hawaii or wherever you're still likely going to be paying for tanks of air and a boat ride anyway. It's not like once you're certified you dive for free. I know you know this, I'm just further reinforcing our decision to "resort dive" for $200 per person rather than jump through all the hoops to get certified and still have to pay $100 or whatever it costs to ride a dive boat out to a reef for a day.

Ok I'm done rambling. To each his own.

-Dustin

Yikes, those fees are crazy!!!

My LDS charged something like $45 for the book, but loaned me a store copy of the DVD. The transfer of files is actually far more involved than a simple phone call since it involves a physical transfer of your student records folder, but that too should only have been a few bucks that would be more along the lines of a "courtesy fee". The $400 that you mention sounds more like a complete OW class, even though you were choosing to do your checkout dives elsewhere. I have seen that being charged that way, but fortunately our LDS breaks it all down.

It definately sounds as if you made the right choice for now, but you may still want to consider looking around for a more reputable LDS, getting the starter gear, and then you'll be that much further ahead next time you 2 choose to dive.

-Tim

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127385#post15127385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgreene
blah blah blah... I own and operate an AQUACULTURE FACILITY, so not only do I tend to be well versed in how these programs work, but I also contribute $$$ to many of them when I can.

....you wouldn't talk to a stranger/brief acquaintance like that if you were face-to-face with them. At least, you wouldn't talk to me like that, face-to-face. Or, well, I guess I should say you wouldn't do it twice.

That's the most annoying part about internet forums....they provide such a wide array of information and opinions, however the anonymity of it all forces the reader into a position where he, at one point or another, finds himself having to deal with arrogance and disrespect on an astronomical scale. Not that your "blah blah blah" response is on the astronomical scale of disrespect...but you get what I'm saying. It can be really annoying. And lets be honest, all it does it waste time (both yours and mine).

-Dustin

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127383#post15127383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
That all came out to $675 per person, not including the OW certification on our Hawaii trip ($200x2) plus $59x2 "transfer fee" for the local dive shop to call the Hawaii dive shop and tell them we've been through the classes already in Atlanta.

Yeowch!

The LDS's are getting worse! :eek1:

Aw, don't take offense, Red... Tim's just messin' around with ya. He doesn't mean any harm. The "blah, blah, blah" wasn't directed at you.

...And yeah, that's the problem with internet forums - something that someone says can be taken differently than the way it's intended. In fact, this whole thread's a perfect example of it.

What'd you think of diving?

 

[tgreene]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127420#post15127420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeaJayInSC
Did you follow up on that? Since it's been established that the AAUS really exists and that the "lady" really exists (although not the same one, according to 'rogue), that the high school really exists, that coralsicles really exist, that you exist and that I exist, certainly you've followed up on what the program really is all about... What did you find?

Hey, since I obviously don't exist, I couldn't have made a 60' solo dive for my 2nd post-cert dive. That also means that YOU couldn't have yelled at me either because I'm not... If I don't exist, I couldn't have done those things, and if I didn't do that, they you didn't yell at me, and my ears were never blown, and life would be good if I were around to enjoy it but I don...........................

Damn, come to think of it, it's not even possible for someone to write this under the guise of being an aberation of what isn't.

 

[laud]

SeaJay,

I am more the bedwetter type, thanks for asking.


I also find it comical that when more than one person disagrees with an opinion the author knows is perfect and couldn't possibly be wrong, the other people are classified as "cronies", or even "minions", instead of listened to with any ounce of respect.

I really do laugh out loud.

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127522#post15127522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by laud
SeaJay,

I am more the bedwetter type, thanks for asking.

Hahahaaaaa... Man, that's funny.

Okay, 'rouge already said he's got the first beer - I'll get the second.

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127499#post15127499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgreene
Hey, since I obviously don't exist, I couldn't have made a 60' solo dive for my 2nd post-cert dive. That also means that YOU couldn't have yelled at me either because I'm not... If I don't exist, I couldn't have done those things, and if I didn't do that, they you didn't yell at me, and my ears were never blown, and life would be good if I were around to enjoy it but I don...........................

Damn, come to think of it, it's not even possible for someone to write this under the guise of being an aberation of what isn't.

Shhhh... Everybody be quiet and pretend that Tim doesn't exist.

 

[tgreene]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127466#post15127466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
....you wouldn't talk to a stranger/brief acquaintance like that if you were face-to-face with them. At least, you wouldn't talk to me like that, face-to-face. Or, well, I guess I should say you wouldn't do it twice.

That's the most annoying part about internet forums....they provide such a wide array of information and opinions, however the anonymity of it all forces the reader into a position where he, at one point or another, finds himself having to deal with arrogance and disrespect on an astronomical scale. Not that your "blah blah blah" response is on the astronomical scale of disrespect...but you get what I'm saying. It can be really annoying. And lets be honest, all it does it waste time (both yours and mine).

-Dustin

Seriously, you need to re-read the entire context of my post... It was about as tongue-in-cheek as it could be, including the smilie at the end.

However, YES, I do own an aquaculture facility and I do support many programs. My premise for aquaculturing is to greatly reduce the RAPING of our oceans for corals which can just as easily be cultivated domestically.

As SeaJay knows, I personally got certified because I needed to do so in order to clean a 1000g reef tank that I designed and maintain (my main business). My concern was if anything were to ever happen to me while I was under water, there could have been issues regarding either my medical or life insurance since I wasn't "licesned" to be doing what I'm doing. I took the classes, and now I'm covered should GOD forbid, anything were to ever go wrong.

Furthermore, as to the "blah, blah, blah" part of what I said, yep, I do it all the time in actual face to face conversations, but it also depends greatly upon the converwsation at hand... As I menyion ed above, it was said very tongue-in-cheek. Your response however was of a violent nature, and could be misconstrued that you wish to do me harm (you don't do you??). Have you considered either Anger Management or Sensitivity Training..? :lol:

-Tim

 

[tgreene]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127569#post15127569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeaJayInSC
Shhhh... Everybody be quiet and pretend that Tim doesn't exist.

Who is the 'Tim' person you speak of..?

-miT

 

[RedEDGE2k1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127581#post15127581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgreene
As I menyion ed above, it was said very tongue-in-cheek. Your response however was of a violent nature, and could be misconstrued that you wish to do me harm (you don't do you??). Have you considered either Anger Management or Sensitivity Training..? :lol:

-Tim

I am an adult, I do not start physical fights. That's silly.

Have you ever been in a comedy club when an audience member starts heckling the comedian stage? That idiot always thinks he's sooo funny and that he can hold his own 1-on-1 with a professional comic among a group of peers. You know how the story ends....the comedian, with years and years of experience and comic knowledge, quickly hands the heckler a verbal beatdown in front of everyone. That typically shuts a mouth.

I'd take a similar approach.

 

[tgreene]

Oh, so now you think you're a comedian huh..? :wildone:

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127522#post15127522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by laud

I also find it comical that when more than one person disagrees with an opinion the author knows is perfect and couldn't possibly be wrong, the other people are classified as "cronies", or even "minions", instead of listened to with any ounce of respect.

I really do laugh out loud.

Oh, puhleeze.

What Blackthunda said simply isn't correct. I honestly have no idea if he was simply given misinformation or if he made it up, or even if he simply misunderstood or miscommunicated the information. I have no idea - but when I said, "something's seriously not right" and followed it up with an attempt at humor - "spidey senses tingling," and, "run away," he got all defensive and in-my-face about it. That's standard response for someone who's guilty of saying something that they know is false (notice I avoided the mention of "B.S." to appease the bedwetters again).

When I called him on it, he whined a bit, and I said, "Whatever. Call the AAUS and find out what's really going on," and dropped it. Four months later I'm jumped from behind by someone not even involved in the thread, who obviously has no clue that we've already buried this topic... Then you and 'rouge jump in with a ton of insults aimed at me, accusing me of all the things you're actually doing.

Look, now that it's been four months, I want to know about Blackthunda's dive "license" experience... After all, that's what this thread was supposed to be about. I also want to know what he actually found to be the truth about the coral frag project.

I, too, find it comical that when more than one person AGREES with what simply isn't so, the person who pointed out the truth is slung up and crucified and asked to give an apology. Get over yourself - this isn't about you, and it's not about me or who can invent the biggest insults. I apologized, now get over it.

Blackthunda, did you call the AAUS? Did you actually talk to the scientist and find out what is really going on with the project?

Is the AAUS offering free scientific diver licenses for $300 to the nondiving public if they'll promise to remove coral polyups from the ocean?

 

[blackthunda77]

dang, thought this thread was put to rest last night. guess not. i guess loyal rouge jumped the gun last night saying he has respect for you. not that the apology meant anything anyway, i didnt ask for one in the first place. we are each entitled to our opinions, but i have to agree with rededge....i GUARANTEE that most if not all this rude dialog and huffing and puffing would be non exsistant if the dialog would be face to face.

you keep saying that we ganged up on you and i brought my gang here yet from the beginning you and tgreene have been cackling back and forth about my comments,, yet the minute someone from my "area" which to all their defense i know none of them, come and agree with me, not because they are my "freinds" but because the have first hand experience you start whinning that we came here ganging up on you. haha, funny stuff. oh well such is life......god bless you though....i have nothing against you guys, just thought the comments were initially rude and out of line, call me a ^%$^%#^% or wuss or whatever you like, havent called any of you guys names yet and not gonna start now. my mentality is that i first give respect until i get disrespected, and even then i try my hardest to keep the dialog civilized. anyways...........

this thread went to crap long ago, and the info i came here for initially i figured out on my own anyways. been certified for a couple months now with my OW cert, did my 4 boat dives, even went down to a wreck at 70' with the instructor and been diving almost every weekend since then. aside from this thread ive had a very good diving experience.

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127581#post15127581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> THE UNKNOWN

My premise for aquaculturing is to greatly reduce the RAPING of our oceans...

My concern was if anything were to ever happen to me while I was under water, there could have been issues regarding either my medical or life insurance since I wasn't "licesned" to be doing what I'm doing...

Such The Antagonist.

The Unknown Antagonist. Like The Unknown Comic. Damn, I think my age is showing.

 

[tgreene]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127698#post15127698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blackthunda77
i GUARANTEE that most if not all this rude dialog and huffing and puffing would be non exsistant if the dialog would be face to face.

I do believe that your 'GUARANTEE' would fall under the 'huffing and puffing' that you seem to not care too much for. Sorry, but it's just a little too 'pot & kettle' for me...

The fact of the matter is that the information which you initially presented was flawed. Whether it was flawed by your own misconstruing of the information which you were provided, or you were provided flawed information from the onset, IT WAS FLAWED. The very fact that you've just stated that you now have an OW Cert rather than a "license" as initially worded bears that both my take and that of SeaJay's would be correct... FLAWED!

We still love you though.

-Tim

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127698#post15127698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blackthunda77
i GUARANTEE that most if not all this rude dialog and huffing and puffing would be non exsistant if the dialog would be face to face.

Yeah, but it's not, so you whine and complain and insult while telling everyone but yourself that they're being rude.

god bless you though....i have nothing against you guys, just thought the comments were initially rude and out of line, call me a ^%$^%#^% or wuss or whatever you like, havent called any of you guys names yet and not gonna start now.

...And we haven't called you any names either. In fact, I didn't see anyone calling anyone else any names until loyalrogue showed up and hurled a couple at me.

...But then again, I already said that.

...And now I'll say for the third time: Nothing personal... I have no idea who you are or what your're accustomed to, but if I said something that was rude or curt, then I apologize. None of this has been directed towards you... But what you initially said was incorrect. YOU were the one that assumed that I was calling you a liar... Which pretty much told me that yeah, you were lying.

If you weren't, then someone was lying to you... Or at least incorrect. Maybe someone misunderstood... I have no idea.

But the info you said was wrong.

So here... I'll ask you a third time in the past day... Did you actually find out what the real deal was? Was what you told us correct information?

this thread went to crap long ago,

I agree. That's why we dropped it four months ago.

and the info i came here for initially i figured out on my own

I don't know why... I know that both Speckled Grouper and I gave you the recommendations that you were looking for right on the first page. One instructor was in your same town, in fact. Later, when you complained about it, I gave you an alternative recommendation.

Then you said that you were offered a free scientific diver license, which didn't sound right, and I told you so. YOU are the one that got all hot under the collar after that, and I finally said, "Okay, forget it... SeaJay out," which means, "Whatever, bye."

...Then three or four months later I'm ambushed by someone who plainly puts someone else's face as their avatar.

anyways. been certified for a couple months now with my OW cert, did my 4 boat dives, even went down to a wreck at 70' with the instructor and been diving almost every weekend since then. aside from this thread ive had a very good diving experience.

That's great... I wanna know more about your first few dives. Did you freak?

 

[blackthunda77]

ok

 

[blackthunda77]

nope, been accustomed to the water for years now. on the wreck was a 4-5' atlantic ray cam right up to my hand to see if i had food, then a 6' green moray did a figure 8 around me as my back was toward the wreck during one of the exercises.

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127808#post15127808 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgreene
I do believe that your 'GUARANTEE' would fall under the 'huffing and puffing' that you seem to not care too much for. Sorry, but it's just a little too 'pot & kettle' for me...

The fact of the matter is that the information which you initially presented was flawed. Whether it was flawed by your own misconstruing of the information which you were provided, or you were provided flawed information from the onset, IT WAS FLAWED. The very fact that you've just stated that you now have an OW Cert rather than a "license" as initially worded bears that both my take and that of SeaJay's would be correct... FLAWED!

We still love you though.

-Tim

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Hey, where did that voice come from?

 

[SeaJayInSC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127870#post15127870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blackthunda77
ok

LOL Funny.

Sounds like a cool dive. Where'd you do your cert dive? Who'd you end up picking as your instructor? Did anything we said in the beginning help?