PADI courses that could save you a lot of money
Diving is an exhilarating activity that offers the chance to explore the wonders of the underwater world. However, like any adventure sport, it carries certain risks that require proper training and certification to mitigate. One of the critical aspects of safe diving is ensuring that you are certified and trained for the dives you plan to undertake. Diving beyond your certification level can not only put you in danger but can also void your insurance coverage in the event of an accident. In this blog, we’ll explore how obtaining the appropriate PADI certifications can safeguard you both in terms of safety and financially. By investing in the right courses, you can potentially save a significant amount of money by ensuring your insurance remains valid and ready to support you should the need arise.
Typical Conversation
Customer: How deep do we go today?
Instructor: What certification do you hold?
Customer: PADI Open Water.
Instructor: 18 meters.
Customer: But I have been to 25 meters before. I will be OK.
This is a very common conversation I’ve heard many times, and in most cases, the customer’s thoughts are true. Most divers could go to 30 meters without a problem.
I have never been involved in or known anyone who has been involved in a scuba diving accident that required Hyperbaric (Recompression) chamber treatment, and I hope I never do.
However, let me give you a scenario. Suppose you are a PADI Open Water certified diver licensed to dive to a max depth of 18 meters. You are on a fun dive, and you venture down to a depth of 20 meters. Remember, this depth is recorded on both your dive computer and the divemaster’s computer.
While scuba diving accidents are rare, they do happen. Imagine that on this day, the unthinkable occurs, and you are involved in an accident requiring hyperbaric chamber treatment.
Hyperbaric Chamber
A trip to the hyperbaric chamber could require treatment lasting anywhere from 10 to 15 hours. Most facilities charge around $2,000 USD per hour, resulting in a bill between $20,000 and $30,000 USD.
However, you might think it’s fine because you have insurance.
One of the first things that will happen when you arrive at the hospital is the removal of your dive computer, as well as your divemaster’s. The dive computer contains crucial information to help set the chamber’s settings and determine the length of your treatment.
After the treatment, as you begin your recovery, you submit the bill to the insurance company. They request a report from the hospital, which is within their rights, especially for a $20,000 payout. The report reveals that you dived to 20 meters, exceeding your certification depth. As we all know, insurance companies will look for any reason not to pay. Your insurance company celebrates because they just saved themselves $30,000, leaving you with the bill.
The same scenario could apply if you engage in wreck or cave penetration without the proper certification.
Protect Yourself with the Right Certification
The PADI Advanced Open Water Course is a two-day program that involves completing five Adventure Dives with different themes. The good news is that there are no exams for this course, only some light reading and five knowledge reviews to complete. The course costs around THB 12,500 and will certify you to 30 meters, allowing you to dive at many more sites.
The course also includes free equipment, manuals, and PADI certification. Two days of diving on a day trip boat, plus equipment, typically costs between THB 8,000 and THB 9,000 baht. So, for an extra THB 3,000, beyond what you would pay for two days of diving, you can earn your PADI Advanced Open Water Certification, qualifying you for 30 meters. That’s a pretty affordable insurance policy.
Liveaboard Courses
An excellent way to complete your PADI Advanced Open Water Course is on a liveaboard boat in the Similan Islands. Contact us, and we can help arrange this for you.
If you want to dive even deeper, the PADI Deep Diver Specialty Course can be completed in one or two days and costs between THB 8,900 and THB 12,500. This course will qualify you to dive to depths of 40 meters, which is the limit for PADI recreational scuba diving. Again, all fees and equipment rental are included, and it’s only slightly more expensive than two days of fun diving.
As mentioned earlier, a similar scenario could occur if you penetrated an underwater wreck without the proper qualifications. A PADI Wreck Specialty Course can be completed in two days at a cost of around THB 11,900. It involves four wreck training dives or three if you completed the wreck adventure dive in your PADI Advanced Open Water Course. Upon completion, you will be qualified to penetrate underwater wrecks, which is both fun and exciting.
Conclusion
Few people would drive a car without proper insurance, and the same should apply to scuba diving.
By taking the time to complete the correct courses that allow you to dive deeper or penetrate wrecks, you’ll ensure that all the boxes are ticked for the insurance companies.
Spending a little extra money upfront could save you a lot in the long run if something goes wrong.
Take care, and happy and safe diving!
