Question re. Dive Training

sNarah

Hi guys

I have decided I want to pick up diving again. I have done a couple of initiations on holidays and started a course in Belgium which I couldn't finish due to work commitments.

Am looking at a few training centres in the Dublin North/Louth area and am a bit confused as to which 'organisation' I should choose.

I know PADI is a worldwide association and therefore handy enough re. recognisition in dive centres around the world.

I did however also come accross Comhairle Fo Thuinn (CFT) (Irish Underwater Society) who seem to be a leading organisation here in Ireland.

What I can't figure out however, is the relation between the 2 of them and which one is a better option?

Any advice is very much appreciated!

Thanks

SKYDOG

Probably best to give a dive centre a call, there is one close to where I live in drogheda called adventure diving that looks pretty professionally, google should find them

Ratsathome

Try them, the man to call is Mark
http://www.adventurediving.net/index.asp
Good luck

Borzoi

sNarah wrote: »

Hi guys

I did however also come accross Comhairle Fo Thuinn (CFT) (Irish Underwater Society) who seem to be a leading organisation here in Ireland.

What I can't figure out however, is the relation between the 2 of them and which one is a better option?

Mortal enemies to be honest

Walking on eggshells:
Very different ways of approaching diving qualifications, CFT is based around clubs, and learning slowly from club members. PADI is based on professional dive trainers delivering training quite quickly.

IMO don't worry too much about the qualifications, find a dive centre or club who are active, local and whom you get on with. Take it from there.

denismc

CFT is affiliated to CMAS which is an international organisation so any qualifications with CFT will be recognized worldwide.
On the CFT website there is a list of clubs in Ireland so you can contact one nearest to you.
Joining a club is a great way to meet people.

whosedaddy?

denismc wrote: »

Joining a club is a great way to meet people.

So is diving with a dive centre...

sNarah

Thanks for all the answers!

I was looking at Dive Inn Scuba, they are located in Donaghmede... For the practical reason they have daytime courses rather than evenings...

Any experiences with them?

seadeuce

Most CFT clubs would be almost finished with their annual induction of trainees and initial courses by now.

Your best bet is to do the PADI Open Water course, then, if you want to continue, you can decide whether to join a CFT club.

There is a crossover formality which comprises a few lectures and usually your diving would be unaffected by this. IOW you could dive on club dives and do the lectures whenever they are organised by the club's training officer.

Forget the differences between agencies crap. Both have their good/bad points but the bottom line is that it's down to the individual and the instructor.

A good instructor will make all the difference.

Your choice. 80% of the club I'm in have crossed over from PADI - without regrets I may add - and have continued to develop at a much lower cost.

Seadeuce

loctite

denismc wrote: »

CFT is affiliated to CMAS which is an international organisation so any qualifications with CFT will be recognized worldwide.
On the CFT website there is a list of clubs in Ireland so you can contact one nearest to you.
Joining a club is a great way to meet people.

Brought my CFT qualification to La gomera and they had never heard of it.... had to use my PADI rescue cert....

Ihearvoices

Hi sNarah
Your local club is Drogheda Sub Aqua Club http://www.droghedasubaqua.com/

elcowboyspace

Hi Snarah. I have dived with The aforementioned Dive inn scuba. In fact I tend to dive with them at least once a month as they usually have interesting wreck safari's on or good boat diving.

They can normally accomadate your own schedule to fit training around work and what not. The pool and dive centre/shop are all located in the same building which makes life easy as a lot of centres have to travel to rent pools elsewhere. I'd definately recommend them, never a problem to drop in and just have a chat about things. Sit down and have a coffe and some bickies and see how things run.

scubagit

loctite wrote: »

Brought my CFT qualification to La gomera and they had never heard of it.... had to use my PADI rescue cert....

Seems bizarre that a dive centre would not have heard of CMAS!! That alone would make me wonder who the hell I was dealing with.

loctite

scubagit wrote: »

Seems bizarre that a dive centre would not have heard of CMAS!! That alone would make me wonder who the hell I was dealing with.

or the quality of CMAS certification?

Lobster

loctite wrote: »

Brought my CFT qualification to La gomera and they had never heard of it.... had to use my PADI rescue cert....

I always say "CMAS" when abroad or speaking to foreigners, I wouldn't expect them to know what "CFT" is about.

loctite

Lobster wrote: »

I always say "CMAS" when abroad or speaking to foreigners, I wouldn't expect them to know what "CFT" is about.

or KMAS if on the continent...

sunshinediver

loctite wrote: »

or the quality of CMAS certification?

Eh no.. Quality has nothing got to do with it. CMAS is the second oldest diving organisation apart from BSAC and is widely known, I'd defo question the dive centre mate :rolleyes:

loctite

sunshinediver wrote: »

Eh no.. Quality has nothing got to do with it. CMAS is the second oldest diving organisation apart from BSAC and is widely known, I'd defo question the dive centre mate :rolleyes:

It was a reputable centre, I think its more of a reflection that non voluntary diving organisations are just becoming more popular and that younger diving staff have just not heard or dealt with such divers before.

sunshinediver

loctite wrote: »

It was a reputable centre, I think its more of a reflection that non voluntary diving organisations are just becoming more popular and that younger diving staff have just not heard or dealt with such divers before.

Yeah quite possibly, good point.