“It’s obvious you take your job seriously”.....Mark, Montana

Questions To Ask Before Getting Certified

Almost every year it seems, we hear stories from divers who certified with “Brand X”, and were dismayed at the substandard quality of the course, and the unprofessional attitude and lack of experience of the instructor. Sadly, a dive company that can provide a quality certification experience is sometimes hard to find. To illustrate a point, we’ve compiled a list of questions every potential certification student needs to ask before getting certified.

1. How long does the course last?

As explained elsewhere on this web site, 3 days for scuba certification is not enough time, and, advertised as such, is nothing more than a clever marketing campaign designed for tourist appeal. If you missed it Click Here The Scuba Gods way: Our version of the PADI “Open Water Diver” certification course lasts 4 days. 

2. How much does the course cost, and is everything included?

As explained elsewhere on this web site, PADI has little control over how an affiliated dive business markets the certification course to the general public. If you missed it Click Here Lowball prices are designed for only one purpose: To get you in the door. The Scuba Gods way: Our version of the PADI “Open Water Diver” certification course is an all inclusive experience. There are no hidden charges.

3. Are references available from former students?

References from former students who have completed the certification course should always be available. A quality dive operation has nothing to hide. The Scuba Gods way: Phone and E-mail references are available at anytime from our former students.

4. Who is the instructor, and how much experience do they have?

On Maui, you have 3 ways to book a certification course: Dive shop.....Hotel concierge.....Activity agent. Unfortunately, not all dive shop employees are instructors, and hotel concierges and activity agents are not even certified divers. All employ people who’s primary income is based on selling Maui activities. The only thing they know about your certification course, is how much commission it pays them to sell it to you.

To further complicate matters, good instructors with an extensive resume of teaching experience, are extremely hard to find on Maui. Due to the transient nature of island life, dive shops have a notoriously high turnover of employees during the course of a year. Many of them are recent hires, and can reflect back upon life on Maui in terms of weeks and months, not years. Their income is derived from a standard base rate paid on certification courses, plus the number of students in the class. With a pay structure such as this, instructors need to load certification courses with the maximum number of students possible, to make things profitable. And, being paid by the activity, not by the hour, they need to get students in and out of the water as quickly as possible. The Scuba Gods way: Over the past 20 + years, Scuba Gods has issued more than 700 certifications. You won’t find any first time instructors, and our certification course is limited to 4 students max.

5. Will the course be taught using multiple instructors?

Since all PADI instructors are required to conduct certification courses in the same standardized manner, some dive operations use multiple instructors to teach the course, rotating them in and out on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this will do nothing but confuse you, as every PADI instructor has their own variations in how they teach. The Scuba Gods way: Only one instructor teaches our certification course.

6. Will students use the same equipment setup as the instructor?

FYI: Some dive operations are notorious for outfitting instructors with top of the line scuba gear, and supplying students with World War II leftovers, hoping to up-sell the quality gear to students for purchase after they are officially certified. The Scuba Gods way: Both student and instructor use the same high quality gear during our certification course.

7. Will an enlarged version of the RDP dive table be available?

Learning how to use the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) is an essential part of any PADI “Open Water Diver” certification course. Unfortunately, for some students, the standard sized dive table is too small to read. A quality dive operation always has an enlarged version on hand, for those students who require it. The Scuba Gods way: You will always have the option of using the enlarged version of the RDP in our certification course.

8. Can I get a student discount after getting certified?

A quality dive operation gives certification students generous discounts on dives, merchandise, and equipment purchases. The Scuba Gods way: Trust us, we’ll take care of you.