Are clubs cheaper than PADI? is PADI a rip off? 

Please remember, I'm not anti padi, they are very good a supplying quick courses to holiday makers, its just that in my opinion there is a better & cheaper way to learn.

Lets compare prices

Given that in a 12-month period with Stourport  Divers it is entirely possible to reach "SAA Club Diver", and given that a "SAA Club Diver" is equivalent to a "PADI Advanced open water Diver with Diver rescue" we are able to do a direct price comparison, (please note that both SAA & PADI qualifications have worldwide recognition, see comparison tables)

With PADI	With STOURPORT DIVERS,
Open water diver course £199,  then Advanced Open Water course £199, then Diver rescue course £199	12 months membership of the club during which you do as much training as you wish, 12 months membership of the SAA, 12 months dive insurance, Qualification log book, Free loan of scuba equipment, 1-on-1 training (much safer), Male & female instructors, Organized trips through out the year, Subsidized associated courses and the great Social aspect of being in a club
Total   £597	Total £152

Thats a saving of £445 with Stourport Divers !!! (thats like getting a free holiday abroard!!!)

It should be noted that all costs are approximate and based on adult fees, Stourport Divers offer a discount for students and juniors, with a club a student is buying 12 months membership of a club and not just a quick course and that with both options there may be small additional costs for training manuals, medicals, hire of open water equipment, pool & open water access fees ect.

And, If you choose, in subsequent years with Stourport Divers you could progress to "SAA Dive leader" or "Dive Supervisor" (equivalent to padi master scuba diver), become a SCUBA Instructor and/or gain numerous additional skills such as O2 admin, boat handling, VHF radio, Nitrox, Ect. all of which would cost £???? under the PADI system!!!

It should also be noted that additional skills like multi level, wreck diver, deep diver, equipment specialty ect which are classified as expensive separate skills with PADI are thoroughly covered within the normal SAA training at "no extra cost",

just look at these typical PADI prices!!!

PADI Boat Diver Speciality	£79
PADI Deep Diver Speciality	£159
PADI Drift Diver Speciality	£79
PADI Drysuit Diver Speciality	£79
PADI Equipment Speciality	£59
PADI Multilevel / Computer Diver Speciality	£79
PADI Navigation Diver Speciality	£149
PADI Night Diver Speciality	£149
PADI Peak Performance Diver Speciality	£79
PADI Underwater Naturalist Diver Speciality	£79
PADI Wreck Diver Speciality	£149

These PADI course fees add up to a staggering £1139 and yet most of these specialities are at "no extra cost" with Stourport Divers. and these silly course fees are small fry compared to the cost of gaining PADI instructor qualifications!!!

So why is SCUBA training "SO MUCH CHEAPER" with Stourport Divers?

The answer is simple, Stourport Divers is a “not for profit” club run by volunteers for the benefit of its club members, We don't have shop owners pockets to fill, expensive rent & rates to pay or instructors wages to find, our club fees only go to cover the running costs of the club

Is PADI a rip off? the answer is no, the fact is, padi is a business that needs to make a profit (and its up to you if you want to help them do that)

Which is best?

I’ve heard it said by padi divers, "divers trained by clubs seem to have a greater depth of knowledge", Now why would that be true? Well, In my opinion that is because you join a club like Stourport Divers for at least a year!  its not just a quick course!!! (anyway, we're not such ruffty tuffty divers as some padi people think we are:-)

P.S. If you have gained a basic padi qualification and are now looking for the support that only a club can give, we are happy to recognize and build on your current qualification (its never too late to start saving money)

(see some very good reasons why "you" should learn with Stourport Divers)

which ever way you choose to learn I wish you safe diving,

John