Wednesday 21 April 2010

Reminder, PADI Member Forum, Aarhus. Denmark



Aarhus, Denmark. May 5.
Time: 18.30
Radisson
Margrethepladsen 1
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark

Monday 19 April 2010

Scuba Tune Up Online - Coming Next



This programme helps PADI Dive Centres and Resorts reconnect with divers looking to refresh their dive skills. Each participant registers through PADI eLearning and must affiliate with a dive centre or resort. Since this programme doesn’t require dives, it is important that you communicate with participants and encourage them to visit the dive centre or resort to refresh their skills.

For details, further information or questions regarding any of these programmes, contact your PADI Regional Manager.
mox.moberg@padi.se

Do You Have Questions About Dive Theory Online?



Have questions about the recently launched Dive Theory Online? Here is a list of the most common queries along with the answers.

What material does Dive Theory Online cover?
Dive Theory Online consists of the following six sections:

Physics
Physiology
Equipment
The Recreational Dive Planner
Diving Environments
Dive Skills


Who can benefit from Dive Theory Online?
PADI Divemaster candidates, IDC-bound professionals, IDC Staff Instructor candidates and Course Director Training Course applicants can all use the programme to prepare for their course exams. There are, however, no course prerequisites so anyone – even nondivers – looking to improve dive theory knowledge can benefit from Dive Theory Online.

How does it work?
After enrolling, participants view interactive presentations that include video, audio, graphics and reading. Short quizzes let participants check their understanding of the material and proceed efficiently at their own pace. Automatically scored end-of-section questions verify participant mastery of the topic.

What else is required to complete the course?
Dive Theory Online does not have a practical component so completing the online course material is the only requirement.

What does the course cost?
$100 US.

What’s the revenue share for individual members?
PADI Instructors receive $25 US per participant, provided they are enrolled or opt-in to the PADI eLearning programme.

How do I enrol participants and ensure that they affiliate with me?
First, visit the PADI eLearning section at the PADI Pros’ Site to set up your account and opt-in. Once you sign up, purchase a PADI eLearning Access Pass™. Please note that you must purchase an Access Pass to complete your account registration.

When will I receive payment for my eLearning students?
Compensation will be distributed on a monthly basis. Contact PADI Nordic Office for payment options.

How long do participants have to complete Dive Theory Online?
It will be available for 12 months from the date of course registration.

Will participants have access to the material after course completion?
Participants can review course content (outside of final assessments for each section that may only be completed once) for 12 months from the date of course registration.

Will this credit towards the Instructor Development Course?
Although Dive Theory Online is a great way to refresh knowledge while preparing for the Instructor Development Course Dive Theory Exams and Instructor Examination, it does not replace any of those exams at this time.

Are there any age restrictions?
Yes, participants must be at least 13 years of age.

Is Dive Theory Online available in a language other than English?
Not at this time.

For more information regarding Dive Theory Online, please contact PADI Nordic Office.

Thursday 15 April 2010

The New PADI Pro Site, is up and running!


The new PADI Pro Site for all PADI Members are now ”up and running”.
Please feel free to log on to www.padimembers.com
REMEMBER!!
You need to create your New account, the first time you log on to the site, just follow the instructions on the web page.
Navigate around and make yourself familiar with the content.
If you have any questions, please contact PADI Nordic

Monday 12 April 2010

Integrating the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course



Digital Underwater Photographer is one of the most popular PADI Specialty courses and it's an easy add-on to other courses - especially the PADI Open Water Diver course and Adventures in Diving programme. Plus, the introduction of PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course Online gives your divers another option when it comes to completing the knowledge development portion of the course on their own time - leaving more time for the hands-on fun stuff in the water.
Here's how you can integrate the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course with the PADI Open Water Diver course:

1. Have divers complete the knowledge development portion of the course. They can use the manual or go online and take advantage of interactive assessments and some new information, including use of the video imaging features available in some digital still photography cameras.

2. Level One certification - Because level one requires completion of knowledge development and a training dive in confined or open water, you can easily integrate it into the open water diver course. Just have participants complete knowledge development online and complete their first Digital Underwater Photographer course dive in confined water as an add-on to one of their existing confined water dives (after confined water dive number three), or during the tour portion of open water Dive 4 during the PADI Open Water Diver course. You can provide a Level One certification at this point or have them continue on.

3. Level Two certification - If you've had your divers complete the first Digital Underwater Photographer dive, have them complete their second Digital Underwater Photographer dive (and complete their Level Two Digital Underwater Photographer certification) in open water as an additional dive following all the PADI Open Water Diver course open water dives.
Looking to use the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course in your Adventures in Diving programmes? Here's one way:
1. Have divers complete knowledge development either traditionally or online.
2. Add a confined water session and use it to conduct the first dive (and level one certification if desired) from the Digital Underwater Photographer course. This will ensure they are well prepared for the next step in open water.
3. Conduct the second PADI Digital Underwater Photographer dive in open water as an Adventure Dive. This way, divers will have met the requirements for the Level Two certification as well as completing the Digital Underwater Photographer Adventure Dive for their PADI Adventure Diver or Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

Don't forget that using the online component to satisfy knowledge development requirements provides you yet another way to maximize your time in the water with your divers. After all, it's the diving your students really love. Sounds like more fun for everyone, doesn't it?

PADI eLearning EANx Part 2 (2)


How do I teach with these different tools?
Students completing the PADI Enriched Air Diver course will have several tools available to them to help them learn to plan their dives. The computer simulator is an online component that students receive a web link and password for as part of their crew pack. They can use this simulator to practise the techniques involved in planning dives using a computer; they will do this during their home learning. Please note that the simulator is not a dive computer and is not intended for planning real life dives.
During the course students will use a dive computer – this could either be their own computer or a school computer if you have one for hire. If the computer is EANX compatible you can show them how to set it up for the correct mix, how to plan the dive and how to review it afterwards. Your students can complete the course using air only computers if necessary, and the instructor guide includes specific instructions on how to do this. In these circumstances there are limits to the maximum allowable oxygen content in the mix that they dive with and the depth that they can go to. You will need to ensure that there is an enriched air compatible computer available for them to practise setting up and dive planning on, however.

What are the benefits for me?

The PADI Enriched Air Diver course has always been a popular specialty. With the new flexibility offered, even more students will be able to enrol into your program. The use of dive computers ensures the course is relevant to the type of diving your students are conducting and that the course has practical value to them. It also highlights the importance of dive computers to those who do not already own them, and consequently will have a positive impact on your equipment sales.

Can I keep using tables?

The Enriched Air RDP tables are still in production at this time – they are available as part of a crewpack (product 61044) or individually. You may teach students the computer option and then provide them with additional tables and instruction afterwards if you wish. Please note that in this instance you would follow all the standards for the computer-based enriched air program, including the knowledge review and the final exam. The use of tables would be entirely supplementary. You are still able to offer the table-only version of the course if required, using the previous versions of the instructor and student materials.

You can purchase these new materials from your local distributor or via the online shopping cart on the PADI Pro website. Please continue to read your training bulletins for updates on future changes to the PADI Enriched Air Diver course.

If you have any questions regarding the use of these materials, please contact PADI Nordic, +46 31 80 88 40, or Regional Manager : mox.moberg@padi.se

Friday 9 April 2010

Whts´s New with Nitrox? Part 1 (2)


What’s New with Nitrox?
In 2010 PADI released a new set of instructor and student materials for use during the Enriched Air Diver course. In line with PADI’s teaching philosophy these materials ensure your students can learn through an educationally valid system, at their own pace, and using the most up to date information available.

These materials include some exciting new developments relating to the way you can offer this course, and the information that your students learn. This article explains these changes and how you can incorporate them into your new courses.

Why change?
The PADI Enriched Air Diver course has traditionally been based around the use of dedicated 32% and 36% RDP tables, as well as oxygen exposure tables and equivalent air depth tables. In recent years the diving industry has seen a huge increase in the use of personal dive computers by divers to track their dive profile and no-decompression limits. Increasingly divers are using these computers to plan all aspects of their dives – this is also reflected in recent additions to the PADI Open Water Diver course, which can now be taught using computers instead of an RDP / eRDPml. In line with this development, PADI is now allowing divers to be taught to use computers to plan their enriched air dives, rather than tables. This approach better reflects the realities of modern diving techniques. The PADI Enriched Air Diver knowledge development section is also now available online, providing greater flexibility for students, and a wider potential market for dive centres and instructors.

What are the new materials?
The updated materials comprise:

Enriched Air Diver Instructor Guide (version 2.0) product 70244
Enriched Air Diver crewpack (with computer simulator card) product: 70480
Enriched Air Diver exam product 70122

The materials, along with the Enriched Air Diver DVD (product 70870) are required in order to be able to teach the new outline.

Has the way I conduct the course changed?
The overall approach to the course remains the same. Students will complete home study (either through eLearning, or through their student manuals). This learning is now additionally complemented by the computer simulator – an online component they can access using the information in their crew pack.

If the students are using a manual, they will complete one knowledge review. You will mark their knowledge review and go through their answers with them, covering any areas that they may not have fully understood. They will then sit the final exam. If students have completed the eLearning option they will provide you with their e-record and they do not need to complete any further theory elements.

Students then need to complete the practical elements of the course. This includes gas analysis, completing fill logs and planning dives through dive simulations. It is not a requirement for your students to complete any dives, however you may wish to offer them as an additional benefit to your program. Once students have completed all the theory and practical elements, they can be certified as PADI Enriched Air Divers.