Underwater Photography Course Online - for Divers or Snorkelers

PADI’s Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty is Now Online
course price - $120

Anyone – divers or snorkelers – can enroll in PADI's newest eLearning course: Digital Underwater Photo Course online (aka DUP online). Certification has two levels:

• Level One certification is followed by a single training session in a pool, confined water or open water. It covers the basics of digital underwater photography, as well as gear assembly and care.
  
  
• Level Two certification requires the level one training described above plus a second training session in open water. Additional material covered in level two includes: composing a photo, file formats, how to achieve good color in your images, and other topics.

As with PADI’s other eLearning courses, students affiliate with a PADI Dive Center or Resort during registration. Alternately, students can receive an “Access Pass” code issued by their instructor. After finishing the knowledge development online, the student completes the digital photography workflow workshop and in-water training for certification.

Just the online material takes four to five hours to complete.

What’s Different in the Online Course Versus the Book?
The main difference is: we added a section on underwater videography. 

The crux of the course is basically the same. It continues to be an introduction to shooting underwater images using a common point-and-shoot style camera. I  tell students,

“You've basically got two choices: learn all of this the hard way and end up with ugly photos of fish butts and backscatter - or take this class which is a shortcut to shooting underwater images you’ll want to show off to friends and family.”

The lamp (pictured right) is made up of aaaaall the underwater photos I took on my first dive trip with a camera. There is so much backscatter in all of them, the only thing they were good for was making a lamp.

The online course content has been updated and modernized (remember: we first developed DUP in 2005). It includes a bit of information about shooting underwater video and includes a “how to shoot underwater video tutorial.” As revision schedules allow, the DUP Manual will be revised to incorporate the online content changes.


Stores Are Automatically Set Up to Offer This New Course
- how to opt out
Stores who do not have a DUP instructor can remove DUP from their online course offerings. Here's how:

• Log on to padi.com/my-padi as a store
• Click on Toolbox, Resort and Retailer
• Click on eLearning Courses offered
• Un-check Digital Underwater Photo
• Save Changes

What Physical Materials are Required?
Students are required to own the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer White Balance Slate (product no. 69231) to complete Level Two DUP training.

Please review the 2nd Quarter 2010 training bulletin for additional information on teaching the Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty. The 2Q training bulletin will be posted to the Pros Site shortly and will also appear in the back of the 2nd quarter Undersea Journal.

Here is a link to a popular article we published in 2008 - Tips for Teaching the Digital Underwater Photography Specialty from Seattle Instructor Ken Pfau.

Want to take a peek at the new course?
PADI stores and Instructors who've previously purchased an Access Pass can preview DUP online (or any of our other eLearning courses). Here's how:

1. Visit elearning.padi.com
2. Click on User Maintanence
3. Next - click on Preview Course Sections
4. Choose DUP online from the drop down menu

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Olympus PADI Pro Deal Continues Through 2010

Current PADI Members* can purchase select Olympus digital cameras and underwater housings at a "pro deal" rate. The deal runs through 2010. Here are some of the items you can get at special pricing.

Cameras

• The DSLR 620
• The E-PL1 (also a DSLR)
• The Stylus Tough (great for rental / novices)
  (read my review on its predecessor)
  
  

Accessories

• Memory cards
• Lenses (including macro and ports)
• Filters
• Flashes /  Strobes
• Underwater housing

Due to minimum advertised pricing rules, I can't publish what the deals are. So, for complete details and pricing, please visit the PADI Pros' site (you may need to click on the Old PADI Pros' site link from the right hand column).
 

Here is a link to a popular article from 2008 Tips for Teaching the Digital Underwater Photography Specialty from Seattle Instructor Ken Pfau.






*Offer only valid for PADI Members with a United States or Canada mailing address. All payments must be made in United States dollars.

Now Hiring PADI Instructor - Corvallis, OR

OSU Hiring Dive Safety Officer

Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) is hiring for the part-time (20 hrs/week) position of Dive Safety Officer. The complete position announcement is available at oregonstate.edu/jobs posting number 5444. The position closes 9 April 2010.

Position Duties

(excerpt from the complete job posting)

20% Training of divers. Pool training: swimming skills, mask, snorkel, & fin skills, scuba equipment skills imparting knowledge of stamina and physical limitations through skill testing to go beyond entry-level skills.

Lectures: Providing knowledge of OSU Dive policy, waves (deep water vs shallow water), currents, visibility, tides, forces due to waves, u/w physiology, physics, & drag forces on divers. Lectures go beyond entry level discussion. Open water dives: providing open water dive experience to students of diving conditions and purpose to take divers beyond entry-level. Testing of divers by both practical and written examinations.

30% Assisting in dives (including inspection of Research vessels). Knowledge required of research technique(s), as well as understanding dive conditions, are required by the DSO and thus, he/she may assist in diving with the Principal Investigator or grad student(s), to enhance their success at achieving research goals. Requires travel to the Coast.

10% Providing Advice & Counsel Experience with ship board methods and sea conditions, i.e., winch handling, ship board instrument deployment & recovery, positioning of vessel(s) for diver deployment & recovery, are essential.

Communication with both ship personnel and scientists, insofar as safety, and what can, or cannot be accomplished, are valued skills of the Diving Safety Officer. Record keeping, phone, & e-mails


20% A routine and continual need to communicate with grad students, faculty, or staff with diving related questions, regarding certification, training, open-water issues, and safety, using diving as a research tool, are required. Record keeping of dive statistics is an essential part, for both safety and documentation issues. Equipment maintenance

20% - equipment maintenance. Diving is equipment intensive, and safety depends on both oversight and systematic maintenance of all diver related equipment. The DSO is responsible for oversight and at times, repair of OSU's Dive Locker, e.g., tanks, BC's, regulators, accessories, and storage.


For other PADI Instructor jobs in our region, please click on the "jobs" tag below

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Divemaster Application Hologram

If you've recently purchased a Divemaster crewpak, you may have noticed something new in there.... a hologram decal. The decal is a proof of purchase to ensure the candidate received the required materials for the Divemaster course.

What Are the Required Materials for Divemaster Anyway?
Starting 1 June 2010, all new Divemaster candidates are required to own an instructor manual (4Q09 Training Bulletin page 6).

So the required materials are as follows:

• Instructor manual
• Divemaster manual
• Divemaster slates
• Diving Knowledge Workbook
• Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving

Divemaster candidates who started their program prior to the instructor manual standards change aren't required to have a hologram. Please write: "no hologram received, program started on [date prior to 1 June 2010]" on the 2010 Divemaster application form.

The revised Divemaster crewpak (which started shipping late last year) includes both the instructor manual and a hologram. This hologram should be placed at the bottom of the revised Divemaster application.

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Revised Open Water Instructor Cue Cards Now Shipping

This just in from the warehouse: we're now shipping the revised Open Water and Confined Water instructor cue cards. The cue cards were revised late last year to match the new instructor manual.

Open Water Instructor Cue Cards - Confined Water
New revision date: 10/09
Version 2.06
Product 60194
member price: $33.50

Open Water Instructor Cue Cards - for Open Water
New revision date: 08/09
Version 2.06
Product 60202
member price:  $25.45

The revised products are available now in English and ala carte only.

What changed exactly?

Confined water
Changed: cramp removal skill may be demonstrated topside or underwater.
Changed: new wording to describe fin pivot

Open Water
Added: 3 min safety stop - new dive flexible skill
Removed: Buddy breathing references
Removed: Skin Dive in open water

It's March 2010, why are the revision dates 2009?
We date the products based on when we start working on the revision. Sometimes the production process can be lengthy - there are production samples, the actual production time, shipping, quality check etc.

What about Rescue slates?
New rescue slates will be out this summer. Stay tuned to PADI Instructor News for updates.

What about the XYZ slates?
Please check out my instructor slate revision info page for information on the most current version of all our slates.

The Greatest Videos About Goldfish You'll Ever See

And Now for Something Completely Different!

If only we could train a garibaldi to do this...

View more smart goldfish videos at staydrenched.co.uk - that fish is brilliant when it comes to knot tying. If only it had been at my IE!!!

Sale on EFR, Rescue Diver Materials and More

PADI Continuing Education Materials
On Sale Through 15 April 2010

Save 15% off your regular pricing on the following package:

5 x Emergency O2 student kit (60032)
5 x Rescue crewpak (60327)
5 x EFR Manual (70091)

(at member price, the 15% discount works out to a $71 savings)

Why These Products? Why Now?

You can think of this as a sale on our "rainy day" products. By that I mean: EFR, Emergency Oxygen and Rescue Diver can bring people in for training even when your open water is blown out or frozen over. Rescue students can complete their classroom and pool work now - and open water training when conditions allow.

Don't Forget: PADI standards allow certified Open Water Divers to participate in confined water rescue exercises (see page 76 of the instructor manual for more info).

Rescue Diver - I'm Out of Air from Laughing
Anyone who's taught Rescue Diver knows that it's "serious fun," but new divers can be intimidated by the course. Personally - I think the Rescue pool sessions are the most fun someone can have in a pool.

For example:  I had five very creative divers in my last rescue class who played victim, rescuer and occasionally "shark." We had a belly-flop contest which nearly resulted in an unconscious diver at the surface (me) - it was a riot.

When promoting your rescue course in an email or on your website, include testimonials from students talking about how much fun they had while gaining confidence in their dive skills. Or, include a funny story from your last class.

Emergency Oxygen Closes the Gap to MSD - and MSDT
By the time most divers enroll in a Rescue course, they're thiiiiis close to being a Master Scuba Diver. The Emergency O2 course counts as one of the five specialties toward the Master Scuba Diver rating.

Teach the Emergency O2 Specialty during a Rescue Course and you get two for one certs. Good news for OWSI's. The Emergency Oxygen Specialty also replaces rescue exercise nine when taught in conjunction with a Rescue course.

... but wait there's more?!?!?

(buy the package above and unlock a 10% discount on additional products)

Using the Discover Scuba Philosophy Beyond Open Water
Discover Scuba is a great way to get people acquainted with scuba. Why don't we do this for continuing education?

If you have free or reasonably-priced access to a pool, host a Discover Advanced Open Water Rescue DPV Dry Suit Day. For more info and ideas, read the Discover Continuing Education Event article. Or, if you're receiving this as an email subscriber, just keep scrolling down.

It just so happens we have related materials for a Discover Continuing Education event on sale as well...

Purchase the package at the top of this page and receive 10% off your regular price on the following products:

• Advanced Open Water crewpak
  with safety sausage and whistle (60329)
• Enriched Air crewpak
  with tables OR new dive computer version (60120 or 70480)
• Dry Suit Diver crewpak (60995)
• Digital Underwater Photographer crewpak (70092)
• DPV crewpak (60167)

The items above can be purchased "one for one" with the first package. In other words, by purchasing one of the Rescue/EFR/Emergency 02 packages it "unlocks" the 10% discount on all the products above. The Rescue/EFR/Emergency 02 package has qty five of everything so you can buy up to five of any item above at 10% off.

Read the official Dive Into Spring promo email

The oh-so-fine print

• This promotion cannot be combined with any other discounts or special offers.
• Offer is not available from our online shopping cart, you must order from a human.
• Promotion ends Thursday 15 April 2010.

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Host a Discover Continuing Education Event

Why Don't We Apply The Discover Scuba Philosophy Beyond Open Water?

A Discover Scuba experience is a great way to get non-divers acquainted with scuba.Why don't we do this with our continuing education courses?

Why not: Discover Advanced Open Water?

Some instructors utilize multilevel training - introducing Open Water Divers to the Rescue Diver program because they're sharing a large pool with a Rescue class, for example. This is great if you can do it.  

Another way to promote your con-ed courses is to have a Discover Continuing Education Pool Day. Here are a few things you could offer:

• Rescue demo's
• DPVs into the pool
• A buoyancy clinic
• Create a "reef" out of plastic toys for divers to photograph
• A topside navigation course
• Dry suit demo's

To get the creative juices flowing, here is a sample event checklist.

If you're interested in hosting a Continuing Education Pool Day this spring, contact Adrianne Miller (Adrianne.Miller at padi dot com) to receive a customizable email blast and flyer.

We're also having a sale on continuing education products from now through 15 April 2010.

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No Updates to the Site Layout - The Readership Has Spoken!

Quick follow up to the recent poll: Should I Change the Layout of PADI Instructor News?

First of all, a big thanks to the 86 folks who voted. Here are the results:

Should I Change the Layout of This Website?
Yes - 51%
Yes, but not the one pictured - 12%
Indifferent - 6%
No - 29%

Since barely more than half of the readership was in favor of the new layout (51%), I've decided not to re-vamp the site. Instead I'll take some of the concepts like the mini-menus, and implement them on the current site.

New eLearning page

I've started by creating a dedicated eLearning page. On this page you'll find a list of articles that give a brief over view of all our eLearning courses. As new eLearning courses launch, I'll update the page. So you can bookmark it, or access by clicking the blue eLearning logo in the side bar.


PADI Product Mini-Menu
I also created a mini-menu for product info. Below the picture of the IDC crewpak is a list of article links about products.

• What's in the new IDC crewpak
• Current Revision Dates - Exams
• New Enriched Air Diver materials now shipping
• - etc.

Please see image at right or click through to the blog to view it.



Page o' 2010 Info
The next page I plan to create is a 2010 page. This page will be a quick reference for all things 2010:

• 2010 application fees
• 2010 IE schedule
• Specialty of the Month prizes

As always, I appreciate your suggestions. Please  post them as a comment or send me an email: megan.denny at padi dot com.

PIC Online Now Available for PADI Instructors

PIC online is now open to all PADI Instructors and stores in the PADI Americas region.

How to Use PADI PIC Online

1. Use the PIC Online worksheet to collect student information.
2. Purchase PIC Online credits from your PADI Sales Consultant for $17.55/each.*
3. Log on to the PADI Pros' site and click PIC Online from the Online Services Menu
4. Enter class and student data (more detail below)
5. Upload a digital image of your student(s)
6. Review student information and submit!

* 2010 Member price is $17.55. PIC Online credits are only available from a human - please call or email your sales consultant to order. Please do not order Online PICs from the online shopping cart. As of Nov 2010, PIC online can be ordered from the online shopping cart- read more.

Benefits of Using PIC Online

Using PIC online saves more than just paper...

Save money

• PIC online costs 55 cents less than a paper PIC
• $17.55 versus $18.10 at member-level pricing
• No stamps to buy

Save  time

• PIC online credits typically post within one hour. 
• Cards are processed by the next business day.
• Process multiple students using the same class information.
• "Find student" option automatically populates student information

Avoiding Common Problems

Please double check your data entry.
If you've accidentally made Brian "Brain" or Roberto Roberta... it will cost another PIC credit to make the corrected card.

You will receive a confirmation email shortly after submitting your certifications online. If you discover any errors, phone customer service immediately at: 800 729 7234 ext. 2495.


Credit card on file
If you've signed up for auto-renewal, the PIC Online system can "see" your card and use it for Project AWARE cert cards and donations. This card may differ from what's saved in our online shopping cart, or the card you use to place orders with your sales consultant. Please double-check the information.

The website where you input student data is not set up to sell additional PIC online credits. To purchase additional PIC Online credits, please contact a human or order from the online shopping cart. We * may * not have the same credit card information.


Using a student's credit card?
At the bottom of the form you'll  have the option to enter a student's credit card information for one-time Project AWARE cert cards and donations.


System time out
After 15 minutes of inactivity, your PIC online session will time out. Student information will not be processed or saved. No PIC online credits will be deducted.


Certifying Instructor / Store Information
Currently, only independent instructor certifications* can be submitted using the standard PIC Online beta test. Also, the PIC credit is attached to the instructor number it was purchased under.

To enter certifying store info or referring store information:

• Submit a paper PIC
• Use a PIC online #1 purchased by the store and #2 while logged in as the store.

* Stores who wish to participate in the IRRA PIC Online beta test should contact their sales consultant at 800 729 7234.

Student image file
Please use .jpg files that are 300kb in size or smaller.  Here is a website you can use to resize images.

Printing Temporary Cards
After submitting your order, a new window will open with the student(s) temporary card(s). If this window does not appear, your browser is blocking pop-ups. Use your browser's help menu to unblock or approve pop-ups.

Another way to get your temp cards is to close out of PIC online and go back into it from the main menu of PADI Pros. Click online services, then PIC online. Before you get to the actual PIC online form, there will be a page with four links: one of them is "proceed to application" another one is "reprint temp cards."

Purchasing PIC Online
Please call or email your sales consultant to purchase PIC online, it is not possible to order PIC credits from the PIC online data entry system. Please contact your sales consultant or order from the online shopping cart.

If you try to order online PICs from the online shopping cart it will charge you for shipping because it doesn't understand a virtual-online product. Please call or email your sales rep to order online PIC credits.

For More Information
Read the article: How to Use PIC Online (Step-By-Step)
Download the official PIC Online Beta Test Help Document (pdf)

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How to Use PADI PIC Online

The new PIC online system is very easy to use and most people will be able to input certifications without having to refer to these instructions.

For anyone who likes a thorough briefing, here's a closer look on how to enter a PIC online. You can also download the official PIC Online Beta Test Help Document (pdf).


Let's Get Started
Click on the thumbnail image below to open a full-size image of the new PIC Online form.

As you read the descriptions in this article - refer to the corresponding red number on the full-size image.

(email subscribers please click through to view these instructions online)

1. Are you processing an entire class or just one student?
 "Process For Class" -  allows you to process multiple students under the same course information.

"Process For Student" - allows you to process one or more certifications for a single student.


2. PIC Online Credits
View how many PIC credits you have available. Additional credits can be ordered from your sales consultant or the online shopping cart.

PIC credits cannot be purchased directly  from the PIC online form or via the online shopping cart. Also you must have credits in your account before you can enter student information.


3. Instructor Information
The system can accept independent instructor certifications only. You can only enter an instructor number here, no store number can be added.

To enter a certification with store information, submit a paper PIC or use a PIC online #1 purchased by the store and #2 while logged in as the store.


4. Card information
Enter the course level and card type here (Project AWARE or standard card). This is also where you decide if the card gets mailed to the instructor or directly to the student.

TIP: Project AWARE cards should be entered in a separate batch from students who opt for standard cards.  Similarly, enter separate batches for students who want their card mailed directly versus mailed to the instructor.

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If you've selected "Process for Class" in step #1, everything above this line will be locked once you click "Confirm Course Info." All students will receive the same certification, card type and delivery option.


5. Student information

Enter your student information here. If the student has previously certified as a PADI Diver, you can pull up their information from our database.
(click thumbnail at right to enlarge)


Be sure to verify that the student's address information is still current. Our PIC online worksheet is a great way to ensure you've collected all the necessary info.

6. Upload student photo
PIC online will accept .jpg files of 300k or smaller.

Here is a website you can use to easily re-size images.

First: Click Browse
Next: Select the image file from your computer
Last: Click the Choose Image File button.

7. Credit Card Information for Project AWARE
(Optional) input a credit card here for Project AWARE card donations. If you have a credit card on file with us for auto-renewal, it will display here.

Only your auto-renewal card is accessible from PIC online. Credit cards you have on file in our online shopping cart and/or the card you've given to a sales consultant, will not appear here.

To pay for expedited shipping, please contact customer service at: 800 729 7234 ext. 2495.

Now Click "Process Order" and You're Done! 
All students listed under Pending Applications will be sent to our diver database.

Temporary Cards
After clicking Process Order, you'll be able to print temporary certification cards. The wallet-sized cards print up to eight student cards/ page.


TIP: Temp cards will appear in a pop-up window. If you do not see temp cards after clicking "submit" check to see if pop-ups are being blocked by your browser.

Email Confirmation / Errors
You will receive an email confirming the certifications. If you discover any errors, phone customer service immediately at: 800 729 7234 ext. 2495.

Once certification information has been submitted it cannot be changed. Card corrections will cost another PIC online credit so please double check your data entry before submitting the information to us.

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Now Hiring PADI Instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area

Help Wanted

AAA Premier Scuba in Alameda, CA is looking for a PADI Instructor.

New instructors are welcome to apply; however, California diving experience is a requirement. Interested instructors please call: (510) 217 8587 ask for Craig, Ron, or John.