Well, I am (to say the least) pissed off.
I am a Brit living in Taiwan. I got my Open Water in Texas, where I had a truly wonderful experience.
I had earlier done a "Discover Scuba" in Phuket, Thailand.
So..... seeing as how Taiwan is an island...... ooh, with lots and lots of water all the way round it.....I thought I would try and find a Dive Centre to help me get my Advanced OW.
I have recognised my need for this qualification before I start any serious diving, for my own safety and peace of mind.
An easy task, you may think.
Island, water, rail/road links, internet, telephones and so on all being in existence here.
Errrrm..NO!
It is easier to find Rocking Horse poo than get someone to take me on as a student.
Diving is really only any good at the south of the island, warmer, better vis, safer sites and so on. All the dive centres are based there. I contacted one (now bear in mind I am less than 5 hours away in total travel time) and asked if they ran any AOW classes.
They said "
No we don’t train people from the north of the island as the travel is too far"
OKIDOKI
I wrote back saying "no problem, I shall come down and stay in a hotel for as long as it takes for me to get my certification. I really want to take this course"
Suddenly it was "
Well we only do groups of 4 for courses. We will get back to you with alternative centres"
So, after two weeks of waiting for further details, I gave up waiting and contacted another place.
Told them the same thing, really wanted the cert., prepared to stay in the town till course was completed, keen and committed.
I got a slightly better response which was "
well, we really only take club bookings but we can do an individual course if you can bear the full cost"
Me: "Yes please, I really am keen to do this asap. Please send me an estimate and we can take it from there"
SILENCE for two weeks.........
What the bloody hell do I do now?
I am not going to go with an agency that only speaks Chinese, for obvious reasons. The "Western" centres seem to think I am not part of the "clique" so won’t give me the time of day.......
I am a potential customer in the market for a whole range of kit, want my own BCD, reg and so on. Also want to do the Rescue Diver course and a couple of the specialist things (AWARE, fish identification and so on). HELL-
O?? Is that a cash register going "ker-CHING!"?
I have time, (some) money, enthusiasm and dedication....... all I want is a start.
I think that I shall have to fly to Thailand and do it all there, when I can afford to do so. This is insanity because there are some wonderful dive sites just a few hundred miles south of me, fairly unknown to the rest of the world’s divers and I am sitting here twiddling my thumbs (yes I am wearing my reef gloves, just in case!).
Bah! Humbug!!
OK, vent over. I am just fed up and want to get back in the water.
Rach xx