Just a fair warning

Trust me with your life...

Is it a fact that scuba diving instructing can do anybody?

When you explore underwater dreamland (for the first or twentieth or two-hundreds time), what do you expect from your dive guide, divemaster, instructor?

 

a) he knows shit about diving

b) his attention to you is extremely focused (on your wallet)

c) he can calm you by stating: “Trust me, I'm Paddy!”

d) service is cheap

 

If you choose answer d, answers a, b and c will be fulfilled automatically.

 

I'm not overly demanding scuba instructor. I also do not expect the world to be a perfect place.

However, when I hear leader of “PADI trecking, skuba diving and monkey business” selling crap to his victims, I still wish for some medieval measures to take care of swindlers.

 

Problem is, we take certain things for granted. If I see a sign PADI on a dive shop, I expect it's a PADI certified resort. Meaning a certified instructor is running the operation, it's professional, reliable and safe for scuba activity.

 

In Bali, Indonesia, you can see PADI sign on trucks (denoting a good delivery services), PADI jungle tours (denoting they are jungle experts), dive shacks (implying you should trust them with your life), PADI toilets (this one I haven't figured out the advantage yet)...

Looks like PADI and Indonesian government decided PADI logo is public domain in Indonesia and therefore of no use for you when choosing some reliable dive operation.

 

On what you can rely in corrupted and / or incompetent jungles of south east Asia?

 

PADI logo on a signboard? Anybody can put whatever he thinks will bring some traffic.

Government control? Are you kidding?!?!

Guardian angel leading you to a safe facility? Hmm, better sell your ticket for Bali.

PADI taking all legal steps to prevent misleading innocent divers? See “Government control”.

 

So far, I repeat, so far, PADI official web pages with a Dive Shop Locator are still not compromised. You can find only legitimate PADI dive businesses there.

It would be prudent to ask for advice also your diving friends, your certifying instructor, maybe advice from your local diving club, do some internet research – anyhow, it's your safety and pleasure in question, not mine :)