Triple Constraints of Scuba Diving Classes

Many people have no clue about how to select the right scuba diving class for them. They tend to read a couple paragraphs about the course contents, go into a dive store and sign up. What people need to realize is that there will be a correlation of three things that make up scuba diving classes. The truth is, scuba diving classes are bound by these three topics. I call them the triple constraints of scuba diving classes. Let’s look at what they are and how the average recreational scuba diver can use them to decide if a specific course offering will meet their needs.

The three topics that make up the triple constraints are: price, duration/time, and quality. Think of the triple constraints like an equilateral triangle. That is, each side of the triangle has the same length. When one side changes, either longer or shorter, the other two sides must change equally. Otherwise, the triangle goes out of whack and is no longer balanced. Let’s apply this theory to a scuba diving class.

Let’s say you are shopping around for a Peak Performance Buoyancy course. You find a course offering from dive store A. The price is very low and it only takes 4 hours to complete. So the price and duration legs of the triple constraint triangle are short. Assuming the triple constraints hold true, what can you expect from the quality aspect of the class offering? It’s leg will be short in order to keep all things balanced. Inversely, if you find another buoyancy course that lasts two days and costs four times as much as the other course, what can you expect the quality to be? Again, keeping everything balanced, the quality should be high.

Let’s look at another scenario in which you should be aware of the triple constraints going into a class. We’ll use the Open Water class as an example. Once you start on your open water course, you have already agreed on a price, duration, and quality for the class. Now if your performance in the class isn’t very good, you will need more time to get to the quality level set at the beginning of the course. Now your triple constraint triangle is out of whack. The quality leg is long, while the time and price legs are not equal. Keeping with the triple constraints, your duration will increase to match the quality. You should then expect to pay more for the extra time in order to meet the quality agreed upon at the beginning of class. By the time you have completed your course, the triple constraints triangle should be equal. Keeping this in mind before you start your class should force you to consider your time and financial budget you had set for the class.

You can also use the triple constraints of scuba diving classes to help you analyze potential instructors. If you require more time to pass a specific class and the instructor does not charge you for the extra time, then the triple constraint triangle will no longer be balanced. Your duration leg is longer than the price and quality legs. If the instructor keeps the quality high and the duration high, then does he/she really know the value of the course? After all, nobody works for free. Teaching scuba diving is not a philanthropy activity. Do you really want to take a scuba diving class from an instructor that doesn’t value his or her time and knowledge?

For the recreational scuba divers out there, the triple constraints I have outlined should be used as a guideline. They will help you with your initial search to finding the right instructor for you. See the video below for help with that. By using the triple constraints, they will help you move forward with your search. They will give you an idea if the class is going to meet your needs and help you plan your time and financial budget for the class.