A Note about Accelerated Weekend Courses

At Divers Incorporated we feel we offer the most enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere when it comes to learning to scuba dive.  Our PADI Certification courses are the most recognized certifications in the world.  Our courses are scheduled in such a manner as to be enjoyable and fun while allowing you to absorb the material at a relaxed pace.

Because the world is a very "fast-paced-get-it-done-yesterday" arena these days, we get a lot of requests for "One weekend" courses.  While we do offer accelerated programs  and we sometimes offer our courses on Sundays, we do not offer "One weekend" courses.  Since you may be wondering, we feel it is important to give you the reasons why and to offer you a couple of alternatives if you are on a tight schedule.

Everyone learns differently and has different priorities in their lives. When we schedule a course one night per week,  it gives you an opportunity to "have something come up at work" or  to "run-a-little-late."  With our accelerated courses,  two or even three nights a week allows you to budget your time effectively while having an instructor to contact between sessions  for those unexpected snags.   If you miss a day or need extra help on one of the lessons,  we are able to schedule a time for make-ups.   The longer schedule format also allows you the opportunity to understand the knowledge development sections and gives you more time for practice during the pool sessions.  All in all, it allows you to enjoy the learning experience and have fun in the process.

Regardless of the training agency, most Open Water Diver courses are college level courses.  During the course you need to read chapters corresponding to the lessons, participate in diving activities that build on the previous activities,  and demonstrate a level of understanding that will allow you to be safe and have fun in the "real world" outside of the pool.   Each course module builds upon the lessons of the previous modules. There are videos, homework assignments, exercises and activities involved with each of these modules.   When you do one or two modules per week, you have ample opportunity for those unforeseen things to pop up in life as they sometimes do.  This reduces your anxiety and stress level so that the diving experience can be fun and enjoyable.  You have an opportunity to get to know your instructor and the staff of the dive center and ask questions as they come up.

During "One weekend" courses it is an entirely different matter.  Competition among Dive Centers have made the weekend course something that is offered, but during those courses there are a few disadvantages (to you) that you should be aware of.  These are some of the reasons Divers Incorporated does not offer beginner courses that take only one weekend:

1. The weekend courses need to be scheduled and paid for way in advance and are usually non-refundable. There is typically a minimum number of required participants.
2. You rarely get to know your instructor well (there just isn't time) and you rarely get to know the staff at the dive center, so some of your questions or concerns go unanswered.
3. Weekend pool rentals and fees associated with the pool are often more expensive causing the center to charge more or put more people in classes.
4. Once paid for, the schedule is not flexible and cannot be changed without a great deal of hassle.
5. Diving and learning are in accordance to the course director's wishes, not to what is convenient to you.
6. You have to complete ALL of the homework and reading prior to the start of the course (five chapters and nearly 300 pages)
7. You have to watch the entire video program in it's entirety prior to the start of the course,  even though you did not have an opportunity to practice the skills that it shows and talks about. (close to five hours of video) 
8. You have to purchase all of your required equipment prior to seeing  what is recommended by your instructor or dive center guide. If something is not right when you get to the pool, there is no way to make the changes that may be needed during the course even when changes are allowed.
9. Your first day of pool work you have to do your swim tests and then continue with the lessons giving you little time to recover from your exertions.
10. In order to properly be prepared (as per most standards of education) you would need approximately four hours of classroom on Friday night,  Five hours of classroom on Saturday and at least two hours of classroom on Sunday.
11. There are at least eight hours of pool work needed to get through all of the skills and practice until you can feel confident about the skills. This time is usually cut shorter by taking away the extra practice time in the pool.
12. Failure to be prepared for the lesson results in your removal from the class.
13. Difficulty keeping up often results in your removal from the class.
14. The accelerated pace of a program takes away from your overall enjoyment in learning and the excitement of the underwater world.

Even though Divers Incorporated does not offer weekend courses, we have options for getting your courses done at a faster pace.  We can discuss what programs will work best for you and then customize them according to what is important to you.  Most people are able to find some way of completing the course in a way that is best for them, often it is not the shortest way.   By discussing  your concerns with us, we can come up with options for you. 

We know you want to get certified as quickly as possible, but we also know that once your certified you will have only your training to fall back on.  At Divers Incorporated, our mission is to make sure you have fun and learn what it takes to enjoy diving.  We offer customized programs that are designed to accommodate you, and the way you learn best.   If you have questions, please give us a call at (734) 971 7770 and we will be happy to answer them for you.

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Last modified: 06/09/08

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