Mapquest and GPS are widely used instead of maps.
More people write emails than letters.
Cell phones are replacing the need for a traditional phone,
and DVDs and DVRs have made VCRs obsolete.
More people write emails than letters.
Cell phones are replacing the need for a traditional phone,
and DVDs and DVRs have made VCRs obsolete.
When reliable, convenient alternatives appear, consumers make the change to better tools. We've seen a similar evolution in the dive industry.
(from the 3rd Quarter 2009 Undersea Journal)
A new training option for the PADI Open Water Diver course allows you to teach dive computer use instead of RDP use ...you've probably been teaching your entry-level divers to use their RDP's to plan dives and act as backup to the dive computers the actually use on their dives. You can continue to do this - teach both RDP and computer use - or you can teach computer use only.Whichever option you choose, student divers will continue to learn the basics of decompression theory, the importance of dive planning to keep nitrogen levels within acceptable limits, and how to monitor depth, bottom time and surface intervals as they always have by using the PADI Open Water Diver Manual, Multimedia, or PADI eLearning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy the new computer book by itself or do I have to buy the whole crewpak?
We sell the manual by itself under certain circumstances, please call or email me to order this item.
Can I teach both the RDP table and the computer?
Yes.If you'd like to teach both options, I recommend ordering the computer crewpak (60335) and adding on a table ala carte (60099).
Ordering the reverse: a table crewpak and adding on a computer book - is more expensive).
Have You Updated the Open Water Prescriptive Lesson Guides?
Yes! This product underwent dramatic changes in early 2010 and the revised product is available now. Read more about the new Open Water Prescriptive Lesson Guides.
Will the Dive Computer Option Be Added to eLearning?
Yes, we added a dive computer module in June 2010. The student is required to complete the dive planning section with their choice of RDP table or eRDPML. They will then complete an additional module about dive computers. Read more about computers in the PADI eLearning Open Water course.
Is there a revised Open Water exam?
Yes, the exam was updated in 2009 - check the revision date on your exam. Students using the dive computer option complete different questions about dive planning.
Complete list of exam revision date info from an earlier PADI Instructor News post.
Where can I find more information on teaching the computer option?Please reference the third quarter 2009 training bulletin.
Have the Open Water manual or Open Water DVD changed?
No changes to either of those products.
Do computer students need the Open Water manual?
Yes, PADI Standards require all Open Water students to own a copy of the Open Water Manual. Computer students must read the entire manual and complete knowledge reviews 1-3. Computer students are not required to complete knowledge reviews 4 and 5.
In lieu of knowledge reviews 4-5 from the Open Water manual, the computer student completes two knowledge reviews from the How to Use and Choose Dive Computers manual. Answers to these knowledge reviews can be downloaded from the PADI Pros site.
What is the Dive Simulator?
The Dive Simulator is a generic dive computer used to illustrate some of the topics discussed in the How to Use and Choose Dive Computers manual. The simulator is a free download (access information can be found in the Computers manual). Students are not required to use the Dive Simulator.
How does PADI address variety of dive computers on the market (and differences in dive planning calculations)?
The How to Use and Choose Dive Computers manual discusses general computer use and refers students to their users manual for specific details. Please see our earlier article which includes sample pages. Quiz and exam questions are worded to address general computer usage rather than specific scenarios.
New and Updated Products for Open Water
Dive Computer option
Dive Computer option
New Products: available now
60335 - Open Water Computer Diving crewpak
- Includes: How to Use and Choose Dive Computers book,
- Open Water manual
- Student record file
- and blue logbook.
This crewpak is similar to 60300 and 60067 but with no table/eRDP and the computer book instead.
60347 Open Water Computer Diving crewpak
with multimedia DVD-ROM
Includes same items as 60335 above but with Multimedia DVD-ROM in lieu of Open Water Manual. Also includes How to Use and Choose Dive Computers book (included in crewpak).
This crewpak is the same as 60316 and 60328 but without the table or eRDP and a computer book instead.
Not Updated:
The PADI Open Water Manual, Multimedia DVD-ROM and Open Water DVD remain the same.
Computer students will use these products in the same way as traditional learners. The only exception is: computer users have a special version of knowledge reviews 4 & 5 in their How to Use and Choose Dive Computers booklet.
Please read the 3rd Quarter 2009 Training Bulletin for more information on teaching this new option.
