Posted by MHK on October 17, 2000 at 16:14:19:
As many of you have followed my critics of PADI's consistent downslide,
And others have jumped in and offered there own opinion of the same,
PADI's sinking is about as certain as the Titanic's. It looked
Unsinkable but once it got tested it went right down, and took most
With it...
I have recently chronicled yet another of PADI's dumbed down standards
Wherein they are allowing diver's with 20 dives to enter the DM
Program. The fall is catastrophic and saddening.
To that end, rhetoric works only so much it's time for action... Many
of us have just received the renewal for the upcoming year.
I'm taking the lead and asking any other PADI DM or Instructor to
follow me and return the application with a note that states substantially as follows:
" We, the undersigned PADI professional, do hereby reject your
application for renewal. We base our decision upon the misguided
efforts of the current PADI leadership and the resulting directions and
mandates put forth by said team. While we were once a member of a
proud and dignified organization we believe that the chosen path is
substantially different from our core beliefs. While we appreciate the
importance of increased market share and we respect the marketing
efforts in this regard, we firmly believe that reduced emphasis on
quality training will, in the long term, ultimately lead to a demise of
our organization. We take seriously our responsibilities but do not
believe that we are receiving a corresponding level of commitment from
the current leadership. Market share is important, but quality
training is much more important.
Respectfully submitted,
xxxxxxxxxxx
This is the letter that I intend to send to PADI today and I invite all
others to join me. It is my feeling that PADI perceives silence as
acquiescence. If we hit them in the pocket book maybe they will respond.
Regards