There were quite a few diving PADI certification courses being run for around the $150 mark but they seem to have dried up… can anyone recommend a cheap way to get PADI trained/certified, or maybe you bought some coupons at a previous deal and haven't bothered use them and want to sell?
PADI diving
Lnick zzz on 14/03/2012 - 16:14
Comments
Option 1: call up the companies that had the previous deals and say you want to do the course for watever price it was advertised (e.g$149) most likely they will let you if you explain you didn't want to buy it from a coupon site from previous bad experience or you know that coupon sites take 50% commission and thus wanted to give all the money to the company.
Option 2: search gumtree as people sell their vouchers on there that they can't use e.g http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-sydney/padi/k0l3003435
OP: if going for the above, do a search on the net for reviews of the diving companies offering those cheap deals.
They never have this in WA >.< …… always the eastern state, it costs like $450-$600 here.
You have too many sharks over there !!
The voucher companies offering the cheap "PADI Certification" are so dodgy and just cram people in to justify the cheap price. Watch out for True Blue Dive they claimed they were PADI certified when I bought the voucher for $150 but thenI found out they were not actually PADI certified and they lied http://www.padi.com/scuba/about-padi/quality-management/cons…. So my advice would be to pay the extra as I wasted 3 days of my life trying to get certified with this company.The training was really poor as well cause I was going for my Advanced course to be certified to dive 30 metres. The max dive I did was probably 12 metres and I would have been a certified advanced diver without even diving that kind of distance. So I woul find a decent company to get certified with. This has just been my experience anyway.
I second this, I was also stung the same way through TBD, but got a refund.
You can't really get a Padi certification for $150, I just paid $400 when I did it in Thailand, and that was a good price.
Thanks for the warning. Had no idea.. it looks like all the Scoopon/Groupon/etc diving deals are dodgy :(
I did a course with Pro Dive at Cronulla (PADI) via an online deal voucher for $149 and found nothing but the highest standards of instruction, equipment, organisation and enjoyment.
I felt very confident in my instructors at every point in the course and would not hesitate to do further courses with them and recommend them to relatives, friends, and any other customer keen to do such a course.
I have no relationship with them other than as a customer.
They occassionally have these deals - keep and eye on www.buyii.com.au to see which sites they pop up on and give it a go.
Ive done courses with several different companies, as i always like my friends/girlfriends to have PADI open Water. I go along so they feel safer. I am a Dive master, and I wont use cheap vouchers again. The courses seem rushed, overpopulated and the instructors dont pay enough attention. Do yourselves a favour, pay for a full course with a reputable dive company. Just because they are certified with PADI seems to mean nothing anymore…
Whatever you choose, make sure your course involves 4 days, 4 full (minimum 40 mins each) ocean dives, at least 4 hours in a pool and plenty of theory. Ive seen too much sh!t go down underwater, and you can pinpoint most of it to either poor training, or poorly maintained gear.
Think smart before you dive! Please!
"my friends/girlfriends"
Note the plural on the latter… :)A man can never be satisfied…
Remember most 3 day options are really 4 days since you can do the theory in your own time online through PADI (and you can't really cheat and pretend you have done it).
PADI deals (of the good and dodgy kind) don't usually start appearing until after Easter and generally only valid over the winter months when they get less walk in business.
Also alot of people don't read the fine print very well.
Just because it says Certified Advanced Open Water doesn't always mean it's PADI (although that's what they want you to believe!).
Some of the cheap deals you also have to add on all the extras…
Training in a group of 6 or less is worth paying more for than with a group of up to 20. In really large groups it takes forever to even get into the water!
Look this is a deal which makes you think you get a PADI certification… but ya don't!
http://www.groupon.com.au/deals/sydney/dive-trek/716011079?
"Upon completion of the course, newly-anointed divers receive an internationally recognised and AUSI certified qualification, plus a wall certificate and certification card for bragging rights."
I wonder what it is!
If your in Sydney - you maybe able to get a deal from Cronulla diving shop,
I"m getting my PADI for $200 including 3 classes,
Although this is a special deal because i joined one of their living social deals prior.
and my ear still hurts from the pressure :)
I'd be keen on deals like this too.. especially for the Melbourne area :)