Diving - BSAC or PADI

Jono Garton · 01 October 2005, 20:37

Is the best route to get in to Diving PADI or BSAC?

Whats the advantages / disadvantages of either?

Nos4r2 · 02 October 2005, 10:01

From what I've seen of the training manuals so far (I was asking the question myself a few weeks ago as I intend to start training this winter) then I'm going to go with BSAC.From what I can see you have to do a lot more training to get the equivalent BSAC grades compared with PADI-and I'm really not into the idea of screwing up 25m underwater and getting decompression sickness-or worse.

My girlfriend is BSAC trained and thinks they are the mutts nuts....so it's not exactly an unbiased decision though.

Chris C · 02 October 2005, 10:12

PADI will make you a Qualified diver in a week at a cost of £250 to £300 without the cost of buying equipment.BSAC will take up to six months and you will have to buy equipment.

Rene · 02 October 2005, 11:07

PADI is world wide recognised. You will not have problems going diving anywhere in the world with this certificate.

It's true that you will not learn the same with 7 days off Padi training as you will with 6 month BSAC, but I guess that makes sense.

You will however after the 7 days off Padi training be a qualified diver ready to take care off your self. And you will learn all the skills needed for diving within the limits of this certificate. (max 18 meters OWD).

Regards
Rene (IDCS 503368)

PeterR · 02 October 2005, 11:48

Its has been my experience having dived in four countries (with paddi)You will only be as good as the training your given to be a competant diver you will have put that little bit extra in yourself .But most of it is common sense and know your limitations.You sea experience will hold you in good stead.It is true Paddi will qualify you far quicker just sign your disclaimer Ha Ha.We are both qualified advanced divers under paddy but the day we pasted i was very pleased but i dont think their is any way you could compare that to an advanced BSAC diver

Jono · 02 October 2005, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Is the best route to get in to Diving PADI or BSAC?

Whats the advantages / disadvantages of either?

I started with BSAC... moved to a local SAA club then converted to PADI quals purely because of their universal recognition. It's the quality of the training and instructors that matters, not the name on your ticket...

PeterR · 02 October 2005, 13:59

I have heard That to be BSAC diver the most important dive equipment is set of spanners crowbar wrench gas cutting torch club hammor for those wreck dives

DGR · 02 October 2005, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by no fear

I have heard That to be BSAC diver the most important dive equipment is set of spanners crowbar wrench gas cutting torch club hammor for those wreck dives

That's down to the club/individuals doing the diving. A BSAC muppet looks pretty much the same as a PADI muppet.

I did my BSAC sports diver a while ago (10 years?) - it took a long time to do it and the training was very good and thorough. On honeymoon we did the PADI/SSSI course - 4 days to get to an open water diver qualification. No way you can compare the two in terms of the preparedness (is that a real word) of the divers.

However - the instructor (and I) were impressed that I could remember almost everything from my BSAC course - that's how thorough it was!!

IMHO - I depends on how quickly you want the ticket. When I go to renew all my dive qualifications it will be with BSAC.

D...

Andy · 02 October 2005, 15:33

As I type we are steaming up the sound of Mull in a dive boat full of 12 people will all kinds of qualifications ..... they are all very capable as they have experience. That's what counts, recognise it takes hundreds of dives and in varied conditions to become experienced, you never stop learning. Recognise your limits and don't push them too hard in too bigger steps and you will be doing the right thing. Just cause it says you are advanced on your qual does not mean you are!! Do any any course PADI, BASC whatever, and then get diving with somebody that knows what they are doing .... that's when you really start to learn ...

And for the divers among you here are some pics from today in the sound of mull. Yesterday we dived the Rondo, and when we surfaced it was blowing a force 8!! All a little wild. For those people who know my boat buddy Ricky, he is the one jumping in, in the pics below: