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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 139
Location: the Chocolate Side of the Force
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 Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:56 am Post subject: Dive shops in Tokyo? |
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Anyone know of any scuba shops in the Toyko area? I'm looking to pick up a PADI open water manual if I can this weekend.
--boz |
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moot point
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 441
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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There are loads.
You want to dive? PM me. I'll set you up with a great knowledgeable guide -- and very reasonable local price. |
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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 139
Location: the Chocolate Side of the Force
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| moot point wrote: |
| There are loads. You want to dive? |
I live in Korea, and just passing through Tokyo between teaching gigs. I won't be able to pick up the PADI manuals stuck out in the boonies where I am, so I thought I'd do it in Tokyo while I was there next week. My co-worker is an instructor, and offered to do all the class stuff and sign me off on it during the semester, before I do any open water testing during the summer semester break.
I'll be in the Tokyo area next week (all over the Yamanote line, Shinkiba, Chiba, Tanashi, EggDome). Any half-decent shops I can pop into near those areas?
--boz |
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sethness
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 209
Location: Hiroshima, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:16 am Post subject: In *English* ? |
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You may have trouble getting an English version of the manual while in Tokyo. However, PADI has a main office in Tokyo from which you can buy the manual. It won't be cheap, though... expect a $50 pricetag.
You may be able to get it cheaper from America or Australia.
Beware PADI instructors in Korea. Many PADI instructors in Korea're notorious for giving licenses that're barely deserved... scandalous, really. Your course should definitely be taught 100% by an instructor or an assistant instructor, and involve a lengthy pool session + four REAL OCEAN dives. Don't accept the course if it's just pool dives.
On the other hand... if you're planning on doing the book and pool parts in Korea, then do the final 4 ocean dives in some nice warm tropical place...that's the best way to do it !
--Signed, another PADI instructor |
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sethness
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 209
Location: Hiroshima, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:31 am Post subject: New PADI Scuba Manual is ...pushy, unreal sales. |
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You may also want to prepare yourself for the shock.
PADI's SCUBA Open Water manual does NOT portray the world of diving accurately. It pretends that PADI is the only diving organization in the world (it's actually one of many) and quite clearly ignores important distinctions between what PADI is (a SCUBA school system) and what a SCUBA equipment repair facility is (entirely unrelated to PADI certifications). You'll also find that some parts of the Recreational Dive Table are left intentionally vague to protect PADI from liability. THe result is confusing and vague.
It's a pretty seedy book, pushing PADI brand-name identification at the cost of poorly preparing divers for the real world of diving.
About 5 years ago, PADI stopped using its old Black'n'White version of the "open water manual" and dramatically revised the book.
The new version is more colorful, but is completely sickening in how it misportrays SCUBA diving. It's ... "Planet PADI", where there are no other SCUBA organizations, and every PADI shop is perfect and all-powerful. Be prepared for extreme fibs, credit card ads, and just a whoooole lotta snakeoil salesmanship in the latest manual.
When I teach the course, I ask my students to rip out a rather large number of pages, and to cross out or correct quite a few other pages, before I'm really content that the manual is fairly portraying the SCUBA industry.
==========
On the other hand, SCUBA's wonderful... you're gonna love it. Underwater is the most relaxing, lovely place on Earth when SCUBA's done right. Enjoy ! |
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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 139
Location: the Chocolate Side of the Force
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:17 am Post subject: Re: In *English* ? |
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| sethness wrote: |
| Beware PADI instructors in Korea. Many PADI instructors in Korea're notorious for giving licenses that're barely deserved... scandalous, really. |
I teach at a Korean university. I know exactly how instructors here operate. Believe me, my co-worker is not one of them. 100% American dive instructor.
| Quote: |
| On the other hand... if you're planning on doing the book and pool parts in Korea, then do the final 4 ocean dives in some nice warm tropical place...that's the best way to do it ! |
This is exactly how I'm doing it. Get the boring stuff out of the way during the winter term, and do the fun stuff during the warm summer break. Haven't decided yet. Where's best? Thailand? Oz? (ooh, wait, won't be summer in Oz).
--boz |
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