'PADI certification + Dives' Package Deals...worth it?

[Patwa]

anyone got an opinion on those tours that offer package deals which include PADI open water certification plus X number of dives on a liveaboard ship......i've seem some package deals in Cairns (heading there in late April 08) that run about 5 days...sorta perfect for what i need.

they say you get 2 days classroom work, plus 3 days liveaboard, including room, shelter, etc....some promise up to 11 dives, from what i see.

anyone have an opinion, either way?

Zach.

 

[divemonster]

Hey Zach,
You should consider a PADI Open Water Referral. With the OW Referral you do the classroom and confined water dives (pool sessions) in the area where you live. That frees you up to finish the course during your trip by doing the 4 open water training dives. So rather than spend 2 of your 5 days in the classroom on the boat, you can begin diving right away. You should call a local PADI dive shop and the tour company to get all of the details.

Alot of my customers like doing the OW Referral program because it gets the "tedious" book work out of the way and lets them have more vacation time!

 

[edr42]

The longer trip with the open water course included is the way to go.
Man, now you can tell everyone that you learnt to dive on the GBR!

check you PM for more details.

Ed

 

[spike78]

Coming from experience, I would recommend that you complete your Open Water and Advanced Open Water training there in Toronto before you leave on your trip. Do you really want to spend your limited vacation time doing classroom work and executing training dives? I certainly wouldn't.

As a PADI instructor here in the Northwest US, I can tell you that learning in a challenging cold water environment, although difficult, will make your vacation experience WAY better. Getting the extra experience of the advanced training will open up much more of the reef to you as well as allow you to actually get comfortable in the water. This way, when you're on your vacation, you can actually enjoy the experience rather than sitting in a classroom, worrying about your technique, and struggling with diving mechanics. As well, if you are already certified, you can find live aboards offering between 3 and 5 dives per day depending on profile.

 

[kar93]

Was going to do it when i went to the red sea, But i thought 2 days in a classrooms (youll know how hot it is if youve Been). I only go away once a year. Didnt want to waste my holiday time.
Snorkelings cheaper (therefore more money to my tank).
Obviously you dont get the thrills snorkeling that you would scuba diving but its good enough for me. I tried it in the pool was going to book it but then all these reasons not too came to me.

 

[ezcompany]

when you scuba dive you will ask why you spent all that time snorkeling

 

[rmougey]

What ^^^^^ said!

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Take the course before you go & get some dives under your belt
When I was Certified I then dove the summer
Then in November I went to Cozumel w/my Instructor & Recd advanced Cert. We did the paperwork before we left