SCUBA Lesson Costs

This topic was created by trebble (trebble@bigfoot.com)
[Sat 22 May, 4:13 Tasmanian Standard Time]

Howdy,
I am heading on a trip around the world very soon. I am debating if I should get certified for dives before I leave (US$225) or get certified on the road in south east Asian Islands. Any cost information for dive certification (PADI preferred) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Trebble

[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Tue 25 May, 9:26]

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  1. about $300 Added by: alan whicker
    [Timestamp: Sat 22 May, 14:31 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    it's a generalisation and you can probably haggle in the
    rainy season.



  2. Same same but different Added by: Desdemona
    [Timestamp: Sun 23 May, 12:28 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I was in Thailand during the high season and the lowest I
    saw it was $250, but that is learning in amazing islands
    with great coral.



  3. Perhentian Islands Added by: Sander
    [Timestamp: Mon 24 May, 14:22 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    The cheapest PADI open water diver course I ran into, was
    on the Perhentian Islands, N-E Malaysia, (Pulau Perhentian
    Kecil). The Dive school was called Coral Sky Divers, and I
    found them really good. All European divemasters and
    Instructors, really great diving and cheap (Open water
    diver RM 550 = +/- $130, advanced RM 450 = +/- $110, 2
    dives RM 140)



  4. do it in Asia Added by: jennifer
    [Timestamp: Mon 24 May, 15:34 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Definitely go somewhere nice and warm to do the course! Spice Dive on Lovina Beach in Bali is good too but I
    reckon Malaysia might be a better choice.



  5. Thailand is cheap... Added by: peter peripatetic
    [Timestamp: Tue 25 May, 9:26 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    We learnt in Koh Tao: US$200 for PADI o/w at Planet Scuba
    (aka Samui Divers). This was pre Asian crisis and given the
    subsequent explosion in dive shops and visitors, prices
    will likely be no higher. Shop around - meet the people who
    would be training you; see if you can get discounts on
    recreational dives or further courses; look at their
    equipment; what insurance, emergency evacuation
    contingencies are available, is the dive shop well managed,
    tidy, clean, staffed by competants, do they look like a
    training facility (some dive shops focus on this; others on
    the recreational side), what are class sizes etc..?
    After certification it is worth doing a few recreational
    dives to hone your skills and increase confidence under
    comfortable and familiar surroundings... And then plan your
    frontier diving trip to Papua New Guinea...
    Enjoy




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