Quality Management Report

Quality Recognition 

yellow fish bullet

I felt it necessary to contact PADI in regards to a recent experience with a dive center in my area.  I recently attended the first part of my open water dive certification with Float 'n Flag in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and had a fantastic experience!  I was in a group with the lead instructor of the course, another instructor and a divemaster and all three of them were great!  They made it a point to go slow and make sure things were understood and to help touch up on any skills we had problems with.  They were extremely professional as well as very courteous, friendly and kept the course interesting.  Furthermore, attending with another person, who had some minor uncertainty in some of the skills, the instructor was more than willing to work with her and make it an enjoyable experience for her!  The three people that I would like to point out (as I was working with them although the bit of contact I had with the rest of the instructors was positive) are the lead instructor, Mike "Little Mikie" Murray #206 281, Chris (I didn't get his last name but the dive centre would know that) and Dan Smiley.  I look forward to working further with diving and keeping contact with this center for trips and such.  I hope this information gets passed along to the people necessary!

Mike Murray MSDT#206281, Burlington, Ontario Canada

red fish bullet In 1997, I experienced diving for the first time by participating in a PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.  We dove the wreck of the HMS Rhone in the British Virgin Islands .  It had a profound effect on me and I put "Learn to dive" high on my list of things to do!  You could say that it was a life changing experience for me...  In September 2005, Mike Rowe of Sail Caribbean Divers in Tortola, BVI offered an IDC/IE featuring world class dive sites such as the wreck of the Rhone .  At the time, I'd been hunting around for a place to do my IDC so the choice was obvious.  Little did I know that I picked a world class Course Director as well! 

From the first time I emailed him, Mike was helpful, friendly, thorough, funny, approachable, knowledgeable and professional.  He somehow made the grueling course a heck of a lot of fun and we even managed to squeeze in a dive on the Rhone - it was great to return to the site of my very first dive!  After all of his instructor candidates passed I meant to write a letter singing his praises but I was busy teaching and never could quite get around to it.  However, the more I taught, the more I realized how much he taught me - not only by teaching the Instructor Development Course by the book but by being such a great role model.  From the PADI course, I learned how to teach.  From Mike, I learned how to be a teacher...how to pace a class and cover all course requirements but still keep it fun. 

Mike told us that to this day, he learns something new from every course that he teaches.  As a new instructor, I definitely learn something new with each course!  For instance, PADI teaches us how important positive feedback is for our students.  I love to watch this in action when I see how proud my students look when I tell them that they performed a skill just right!  One of my very first Open Water students took the time to write some positive comments about me and PADI passed them on.  It was really nice to get the feedback.  This reminded me that my students aren't the only ones that deserve positive reinforcement!  So I wanted to take the time to say THANKS!!!

Michel Rowe, CD-29992; Cruz Bay Virgin Island

 yellow fish bullet I recently took my Advanced Open Water Diver under the instruction of Vlad Soto at the Unawatuna Diving Centre in Sri Lanka. I thought you should know that I thought Vlad a first class PADI instructor. His technical instruction was clear and thoughtful and he was extremely patient at all times. The course was all the more memorable having him lead it.

Vladimir Soto, MSDT#165157, Miami, Florida - US

red fish bullet I wanted to personally thank you for the Jeff Loflin recommendation.  I literally just crawled out of the swamp of 40 Fathom Grotto from our 240’ certification dive for DSAT Trimix.  What a wonderful experience.  It is not often I am challenged both physically and mentally in a Scuba course anymore, but with Jeff’s course, I most certainly was.  In four very long days, I learned more about not only deep Trimix diving, but also my personal underwater posture, that I feel I have improved as a Tec diver, 100%.  Jeff not only taught the required material as covered in the manual, but we had several late night and early morning discussions on other deep diving philosophies.  I was given many opportunities to ask questions and delve deeper into different types of technical diving.  Although this course was exhausting, 7am to 10pm, or midnight almost every day, I do not believe any information was inappropriate, or unnecessary, with the exception of a few side bar conversations with his assistant.  We discussed several different philosophies about deco procedures, covering many different deco software programs, and dive computers.  We certainly had some good discussions about the dark side.  At first, I was actually a bit intimidated as he mentioned the last Tec Trimix class he taught all the students packed up and went home after day two, of their own accord.  I was like great!  Therefore, I was both nervous and excited to get in the water and prove myself to him, which I haven’t felt I have had to do in a scuba course in quite some time.  After the 1st dive, with some great constructive criticism, mostly from his cave diving side, I had several great ideas to work on for the remaining three days.  By the end of today’s dive, my buoyancy skills, I felt, were much more under control, and by the way, I didn’t think they were bad to begin with, but my 3-foot variance on stops was now down to one and a half feet! 

Again, in summary, a great experience, a great course, I learned a tremendous amount more than I had anticipated or even thought I desired.  I will certainly be taking some continuing education courses from him in the near future, specifically his Trimix Instructor course, and his DPV course.  He seems hell bent on getting me into some cave course, which until this last dive today, I thought was highly unlikely, but I seem rejuvenated and excited about being a student again, and I also look forward to exploring some deep exciting wrecks in the years to come.  Feel free to let Jeff know how much I appreciated his course, and maybe we can all hook up to do some diving together.  He says the Ozark is a great dive, and the Ariskiny is on it way down to 220 mid May! 

Jeff Loflin, CD-18604; Bonifay – Florida – US

 yellow fish bullet

red fish bullet I can give the highest compliments to my dive instructor James Humphreys.  His approach to instructing a complete novice made the experience of doing the course one the best learning experiences I have ever undertaken. 

 

His attention to detail and safety was fantastic.  In addition, he was always calm and understood how I, a complete novice, felt.

 

This was a great course, heaps of fun and made so much better by the great instructor I was lucky to have in James.

 

James Humphreys, OWSI#633229, Taunton , Somerset - England

yellow fish bullet

I'm a firm believer that hard work and excellence should be acknowledged, and so I am emailing your office to give credit to a great PADI Instructor who is a superb role model for your company, and someone who has not only introduced me to the world of SCUBA for the very first time, back in January of this year...but has inspired me to become a PADI professional myself.  I write this email from a PADI CDC in Thailand , where I am well on the way to becoming an Instructor!

The person I wanted to commend is Andrew Lander, and he runs a small dive shop on Canouan Island , in St Vincent and the Grenadines .  I was a little afraid of the concept of diving initially, but he guided me through the PADI framework in a thorough and utterly professional manner, making me work hard when it was important for me to do so, but offering good humour and friendliness to ensure I enjoyed myself along the way!

There should be more instructors out there like him, and fairly new dive shops of this quality should be given the support and encouragement they deserve.  I hope I will be employed in one of those in the near future!

Andrew Lander MSDT#180936, Canouan Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines

red fish bullet

Bien, ahora aquí lo que motiva esta carta: el buceo fué para mí una atracción muy fuerte, pero siempre estuvo fuera de mi alcance, lo que a través del tiempo se transformó en un sueño...pero hace 3 años se convirtió en realidad: certifiqué como OWD, y allí ocurrió uno de los cambios más importantes de mi vida: ingresé al MUNDO SUBACUÁTICO y Uds. saben muy bien lo que ello significa... pero además descubrí una nueva forma de aprender: EL SISTEMA DE EDUCACIÓN CONTINUA DE PADI, y es aquí donde quiero señalar lo siguiente: el método de enseñanza-aprendizaje con el que trabajamos, utilizando los videos y manuales que PADI suministra junto con el desarrrollo propio de este método y me estoy refiriendo a cuestiones puntuales como por ej: las clases académicas, los repasos de conocimientos y las autoevaluaciones como así también el sistema de evaluación final donde el alumno comprende y reafirma los conocimientos, es de una experiencia INVALORABLE en la formación intelectual y profesional de una persona, y esto lo digo con conocimiento de causa a partir de 20 años de experiencia en la función docente que realizo en la FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS VETERINARIAS, y es aquí donde quiero ser muy justo y puntual: ESTO HA SIDO POSIBLE GRACIAS A LA EXTRAORDINARIA ACTITUD PROFESIONAL Y HUMANA DEL MASTER INSTRUCTOR #181680 DIEGO DEGIACOMO, el cual hoy es mi guía, mi confidente, mi consejero, pero por sobre todas las cosas el responsable de haberme hecho ver que no existen fronteras en la vida para aprender y crecer siempre.Quiero que sepan que PADI en la República Argentina está representado y respaldado por una persona que se desempeña al máximo por sus alumnos, que trasmite absolutamente toda su sabiduría pero que fundamentalmente FORMA LOS BUZOS MÁS SEGUROS DEL MUNDO, esto Uds. deben saberlo bien, aquí nuestro Mar Argentino es tan hermoso como agresivo: las condiciones de temperatura (10ºC durante casi todo el año) y visibilidad ( 10 mts.) hacen que la enseñanza y práctica del buceo se realicen cumpliendo en forma estricta todas las normas de seguridad que aprendemos en los cursos PADI y esto es responsabilidad absoluta del INSTRUCTOR, por todo esto quiero AGRADECER INFINITAMENTE A PADI QUE A TRAVES DEL IMPECABLE MASTER INSTRUCTOR #181680 DIEGO DEGIACOMO ha producido la formación de un DIVEMASTER, pero fundamentalmente ha reafirmado mi amor por la vida y la naturaleza.

Diego De Giacomo , MI #181680, Puerto Madryn, Argentina

yellow fish bullet My wife and I just finished our OW certification and we had an amazing dive master working with us.  I don't know if you only take feedback on instructors or not but I thought I'd send this along anyway.  We were diving with Wayne Gallinger (211287) in Alberta , Canada .  My wife and I have each been teaching professionally at college and Jr. High for over ten years each and we have a pretty good idea of what it takes to pass on information and skills to others.  We both agree that Wayne has a definite talent for instruction!  He was able to pass on information but more than that, he was encouraging along the way and instilled a sense of security in his students.  Connie and I were both completely relaxed when he was leading us.  His ability to know when a student needs serious consultation and when they just need a light-hearted remark makes all the difference.  He created an environment where it is easy to ask questions and I am thrilled that he is pursuing the professional diver pathway.  He will be an AMAZING instructor and I thought it would be good to let PADI know that how pleased we are with the assistance he provided during out course.

Wayne Gallinger DM#211287 Calgary ,  Alberta , Canada

red fish bullet

My wife and I were certified by a PADI  5 Star facility (272) in 
september of '95. Our instructor was Steve Glass (MSDT-30486).
We are trying to locate him in order to thank him for his training 
methods. We have logged 486 dives since our certification.
On may 31 we encountered our first real emergency. My buddy (and 
wife) suffered an air embolism at 82', and blacked out.
Without Steve's training it could have been much worse. Many of the 
things he taught us are still used by us on every dive.

At the time, we did not fully understand "why", but the training 
stayed with us. When it counted most, we were prepared!

If possible, could we contact him directly, or could you forward this 
message to him?
We are very thankful to PADI and instructors like Steve Glass.

Also, (Very Important)  we want to tell you that the dive operators 
that we were diving with (DIVI TIARA, Cayman Brac) when this
emergency happened, Were extremely competent and well equipped to 
handle this situation. PADI has done a wonderful job of
training it's facilities around the world! They were Great!

Stephen Glass CD-30486, Whittier, California –US
Divi Dive and Photo Tiara, R-813, Gold Palm, Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

yellow fish bullet

I was pleased to learn from your web site that as well as structured feedback from surveys you also take unsolicited feedback regarding Padi dive centres and professionals. I would like to give you feedback on the experience I had with Perth Scuba and the managing director, Lee Johnson.

In September 2005 I started my Divemaster course with my local Padi dive centre in the UK . In October 2005 my wife was diagnosed with motor neuron disease. This had an enormous impact on both of us and I stopped diving. At the end of November we travelled to Perth, Western Australia to live with my daughter for six months to help come to terms with the diagnosis and our future.

In February of this year my daughter encouraged me to take up the Divemaster course again in Australia . I did not know if I could continue or would complete the Divemaster course for which I had paid the full amount in the UK . I approached a number of dive centres around Perth and asked if in the circumstance if they would take me as a referral and let me pay by module, week or month as I went along as I did not know whether I could continue.

All said I would have to pay for the complete course regardless.

Fortunately one Sunday I came across Perth Scuba, Unit 4, 180 Bannister Rd.

Canning Vale, WA 6155.

On making the same enquiry with Lee Johnson the answer was "no problem, let's get you started and we will work out payment as we go along". Lee arranged that I could take the examinations the  following Sunday after I had obtained a doctors certificate to dive which is mandatory in Australia .

On passing the exams Lee himself made out a schedule for me to complete the remaining modules of the course. Although running a very busy dive business and training operation Lee was always availalable, supportive and totally infectious with his positive attitude and dedication to diving and the Padi organisation. Even at times when I found it necessary to cancel pre booked sessions Lee's reply was always "no problem let's see when we can do it".

Over the years I have been in many dive centres and I can assure you Perth Scuba is outstanding. The shop is well stocked and immaculate, the training facilities are excellent and the instructors very professional. However, what makes Perth Scuba outstanding is the attitude and culture evident throughout the team which is the result of Lee Johnson's dedication and professionalism. He not only gave me great support throughout the three months Divemaster course, he helped my wife and I through an extremely difficult period and made our stay in Australia worthwhile.

Because of my wife's illness it is extremely unlikely that we will travel to Australia again, however, Lee Johnson and Perth Scuba will always be a great memory.

I note that you follow up on structured feedback and I trust that you have something in place to reward people and businesses who are exceptional, an enormous asset to Padi and the dive industry in general.

Bob Hodgetts, DM#640605, Ash, Hampshire,England

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