Online certification

[pdfb55]

I've been wanting to get certified for a while now and was looking into doing it over xmas break. I dont have alot of free time and I was wondering what you guys think of the PADI online certification. Obviously you have to do all the dives in person but the book part is online. I'm seriously considering this and I just wanted everyone's opinion if its better to do it in person or if online is a good option.
Thanks

[billsreef]

The online part is only a substitute for the book, you still have to do the whole class thing. It's good for the people that don't like buying books ;)

[Ron Leversee]

Just depends on how you learn!!! Some folks need more interaction then others.... You still have to do the review questions, and take the tests....and then the pool dives have to be done with an instructor and the open water dives with an instructor.... I personally love the interaction with a good instructor...but if the instructor isn't that good then give me the on-line!!! ;)

[David P]

PADI likes to do its classes in 2 weekends. 1 weekend is bookwork and pool sessions. You study at home, and do the chapter reviews with the instructor. The second weekend is the open water portion...have that much time?

[pdfb55]

oh really? Thats not as long as I thought it was. How would they do open water in charlotte, nc in december? Can you just use a wetsuit or do you have to go somewhere tropical or wait till summer?

[MightyWarMonger]

you can always use a dry suit for winter diving (strongly recomended) :) going some were just to get you're dive certification sounds like a waste to me because you spend most of you're dive doing practicle aplication stuff and how ever big the class is might depend on how fast it goes and how much time you have left for recreatinal diving. or you could wait till summer and do it but you might want to talk to you're local dive shop and see wht they are offering in the winter mabye you can get a deal on it :)