Student Appraisals

Daniel May - "The instructors and staff were very good - looked better and was cheaper than the other schools."

Thomas Daly - "Homely and friendly staff, on sleat, techworkers, supervisors, course director office admin."

Marc Botterill - "Use of airlift, chainsaw and brush cart very useful, as was price, helpfulness of the office staff on the phone, information given on the website."

Jason Coogans - "The whole course was superb, instructors and all the other trainees."

A. Massey - "Instructors and staff are knowledgeable and approachable."

Justin Hart - "Appeared the best place for training according to the information available."

Daniel Fumar - "Great classroom instructor, very enthusiastic, overall the 4 weeks have been a highlight, its been fantastic. The 50mtr chamber run was hilarious and site instructor's explanations of things in Leyman terms helped a lot."

Kev Barker - "The staff and other divers were excellent! Office staff were very helpful indeed."

Michael McGrath - "PDA'S help and participation on the course, cost, content, realism and recommendation. Good advice and help with booking the course."

Ivan Zucconi - "The help given to me during the course to better understanding the lectures or exercise, this is for all the instructors (first aid, classroom and practical exercises)"

James B - "Chose PDA because the price was cheaper and talking with other people on the phone."

Dean H - "All the staff and other colleagues friendly and good laugh, chose the PDA because of the cost and talking to office admin."

Richard Upton - "Seemed to have good facilities and offer better value for money than the competition, also did not oversell extra tickets that are not essential at first."

Miles Thompson - "Better value for money (ie kit), cheaper, very informative website and admin staff very helpful and nice on the phone."

Paul Elliot - "Report writing and risk assessments were invaluable, value for money course and office staff very helpful on the phone."

Matthew Taylor - "Better facilities/training potential, the personal equipment that was included in the price."

Kaido Peremees - "Most helpful and friendly within HSE standard."

Daniel Turner - "Use of a wide range of underwater tools. The 24 hour shirt was a killer but opened my eyes to what its going to be like in 'the real world.'

Indrek Ostraat - "First experience with the helmet and hot water suits very kind people." Chose the Professional Diving Academy because "optimal duration of the course, HSE certification and price."

Ronan Sweeney - "The enthusiasm of the staff and instructors was great. Box assembly in the cage a real highlight."

John Walker - "Good availability of course, helpfulness of the office staff and location."

Steven Richardson - "At a good pace with help when needed."

Leighton Walford - "All staff have been amazing!"

Allan Williams - "Chose the PDA because I was advised by a previous student that the academy training methods was excellent."

Zippy - "Can't fault the course or the staff all great."

Sabastian R J Ruiz - "Modern building, very good service and excellent diving vessel."

Ross Lewis - "Every day was a pleasure."

Fabien Piccerelle - "PDA is the cheapest and I think the friendliest course in Europe."

Diego Valentinuzzi - "Had a great time - great people, I found all people in the academy to be very competent and friendly."

Juan Pardo - "Good variety of equipment used throughout the course."

Justin Munyard - "I emailed dive companies and they said this is the place to come."

Mark Smith - "The helpful and friendliness of staff and instructors enabling a good learning environment."

Murry Nowak - "The real highlight was the family feel to the academy, brilliant training and office staff, good team work and lots of BBQ's!"

Mark Smith - "Good team spirit, instructors very interactive with courses, very approachable, newer facility, good name for academy and helpful staff."

Wessel Dean - "The instructors/staff take time to explain anything said. They make time for students."

Peter Cook - "Instructors, excellent motivators, bell dives, deep dives and cage dives, honesty about jobs, course work etc. Staff gave truthful information about the course and what chances or more so to the fact, no false hope was given about commercial diving work."

Sobereron George - "I know I am a much better and more confident diver now. PDA provides a much better package for the course in terms of content and materials."

William John Greenwood - "Very friendly approach via telephone, first class service."

Hamish Harper - "The best, friendliest, seemed best value for money, most proactive and communicative and made you feel welcome and valued. Thank you very everybody for an outstanding course from every angle."

Yeung Shun - "Learnt new things for different experience."

Chris Lemons -Excellent price and reputation regarding staff and training facilities with superb pre-course service. Equipment and coursemanship was very good, made to feel like part of the team from day one."

Kendall Jones - "Efficient, polite, helpful (very), cheaper. Got me on the course swiftly. Good reliable/dependable equipment. If I have a problem I feel that I can ask for help from all the staff I have come into contact with, anytime in the future."

Anthony Shaw - "The whole course in a nut shell is very good, with fantastic instructors."

Mark Patey - "Word of mouth, this is the place to join.....and I agree!!"

Lyman Mailman - "All dives were well supervised, instruction was spot on. Great bunch of boys makes everything feel great. Moral is high with a good bond, PDA staff 'awesome' -thanks. Scotland is well known to have the best schools in the world - so they say in OZ, the help and guidance received by Email and phone persuaded me to choose the PDA."

Ted Lester - "The staff were professional, helpful and polite at all times and made things very clear to understand. high regard for safety. The help that was given and the lovely nature of all the staff."

Craig Muir - "The academy looked more professional and well structured than other schools and the pricing was realistic."

Barry Sherwell - "Loch Striven BBQ was good fun and team building. I chose the PDA because of reputation, value for money and course content."

Barry Ince - "A challenging but very enjoyable journey, would recommend PDA to other divers."

Liam Bollard - "The staff on the phone were very helpful. Everybody was really easy to talk to and very helpful in every way." The facilities looked really good and the instructors were excellent. A scary moment when I thought a diver was unconscious (because he was told) made me be very aware for any real future event."

Darren Smith - "Met a great bunch of people both in the class and on the staff - Also I achieved what I intended to do so far. I liked the course content with emphasis on preparing candidates for working in the industry and the additional skills learned I found very useful. I also found the office staff to be very helpful when I enquired about a course and overall got a better 'vibe' from the people I spoke to."

Marieke Koopmans - "Using comms was very nice to try. I had fun; first aid course, the Sleat. We had a nice group!"

Trevor Smith - I chose the PDA because it sounded more professional and I was swayed by how helpful the staff were."

Colin Kirkcaldy - "The element of security that the staff give you when conducting dives. I Chose the PDA because of the vicinity, situation, cost, preparedness for what could potentially be a dangerous working environment."

Michael Kitty - "Meeting a brilliant team of people on the course and in the staff."

Trevor Smith - "Made you feel welcome, good manners, first impressions and last."

James Bedford - "Good Facilities, equipment given to us and the PDA is much more recognised throughout the commercial world."

Phil Sharrocks - "Energy of instruction during class session. Realistic and helpful approach to instruction during diving."

Elaine Azzopardi - "Instructors/supervisors gave as much info and practice time as they could!"

Richard Barton - "Everything dealt with very professionally and personably fully understand some things like the cold and rain is out of control of PDA!"

Christopher Kirkwood - "Being a new diver, I found my introduction to diving an easy and positive experience, the patience and understanding of staff was very helpful in achieving this."

Adam Barlow - "Very well run course, staff were very helpful and always conducted lessons in a very professional manner."

Ray Foster - "Excellent training staff, very professional and competent. Any problems were soon overcome by the supervisors. Overall, I would recommend the academy to colleagues, apart from teething problems it was an enjoyable and worthy course."

Richard Garbutt - "Excellent training staff - 1st class."

Lee Franklin - "Nervous to start with, but had some excellent days to build confidence in water."

Kyle Harper - "Diving in Loch Eck and Loch Striven was very nice. The underwater compass swim of the Sleat was good. I really enjoyed the course and the staff were very helpful."

Frank Gallacher - "Being pushed quite hard is a positive, being encouraged to "muck in" and being part of a team is good."

Philip Parker - "Pretty much the whole course has been a fantastic experience and I will be sad to leave."

Darren Ward - "Instruction and supervision was good."

Steve Morris - "At times I felt that I needed more confidence, I gained this through excellent instruction and supervision."

Lee Franklin - "40-50m dives will be remembered they were worth the course fee alone. The people, staff, classmates and instructors all top notch. Given the opportunity to do some wet welding was excellent. A great bunch of people and a great diving experience."

Barry McGill - "Highlights were the wet bell and hot water suit dive. Diving from the Sleat and hull survey task."

James Barnwell - "Everything is so well structured i.e. lectures and facilities."

Sean Leslie - "There is a lot of highlights to pick from, main one being every member of staff are really friendly and helpful. Also the RYA course, fladens and all the gear we get given. Choosing the PDA because was an easy choice. Its cheaper and you get fladens, dry suit, under suit, books and RYA course. Plus everyone recommends it."

Adam Weatherall - "Everything about the course was excellent. The classroom work was always kept interesting and the practical work was excellent. The Professional Diving Academy came highly recommended by friends who attended last year and also the head instructor at my dive club."

Tim Mudge - "Great instructors, really know there stuff, helpful and easy to get on with, really appreciate them. Cheers!

Michael Howlett - "Top instructors, Good staff and very friendly."

Sean Leslie - "The whole course has been amazing, enjoyed everything about it and the instructors where excellent. I chose the PDA because the office staff are a lot more helpful with advice, reputation is amazing, also cheaper, get equipment package and get to use tools."

Richard Barton - "Really positive and friendly office staff and instructors. Great to be trained by people who clearly know what they are doing. Loved it all."

Mayden Whiteford - "Hot water suits where good, as well as using tools. Its been a great experience because of the facilities and the chance to use the various tools that will be used in the industry."

Adam Weatherall - "The whole course has been a fantastic experience. Staff and instructors were excellent."

Kevin Abols - "The instructors and the lads on the course and diving everyday. Great course and great place to train, and helpful instructors who make it fun to learn." "Cheaper, free dry suit, told it was a better place to learn from lots of divers."

Paul Mosley - "The course has been enjoyable and constructive. It is always easier to learn whilst aving fun. PDA has the best value for money combi course available in my opinion." "Training to the point and easily understood. Staff very helpful." "The training and equipment package seemed superior to other schools."

James Murphy - "Enjoyed the entire course and how friendly the staff were. Excellent!"

Damien Stevens - "Using surface supplied KM 17 helmet in the tank and chamber dive to 50m good fun, also loch striven dive."

Daniel Kay - "The relationship built with the staff and instructors was brilliant and made the course even more enjoyable."

Jonathan May - "I will remember all of the staff who were very helpful."

Daniel Kay - "The relationship built with the staff and instructors was brilliant and made the course even more enjoyable."

E Burgess - "Excellent instructors, patience of saints."

John Salazar - I chose the PDA because of recommendation from people that have been here before."

Jessica Berry - "Very friendly staff, very experienced and helpful. Felt safe at all times, also challenged. Very good course."

Daniel Merrington - "Instructors provided very safe, professional, relevant training throughout whilst also being very approachable."

Darren Ayres - "Excellent relaxed nature. Most unlike army diving training. The best way for me to learn having been out of touch with diving for a while." "PDA recommendation from a number of army collegues."

Tomas Conneely - "Not taking anything too seriously but learning at the same time."

Mike Chaffe - I chose the PDA because I received a lot of positive feedback on forums such as Longstreath, so decided on PDA as opposed to elsewhere.

Steve Ellis - "Good instructions everyday, very professional and always helpful in the office."

David Dixon - "All staff and instructors have been great and helpful" "Good reports from other divers"

Gareth Lewis - "I have had no bad day and have loved all my dives. The whole gig has been boss"

David Dixon - "Instructors are excellent, all staff friendly and helpful. Good course, won't find a better academy."

David Brown - "Quality instructors. All tool training and preparation for the real world, the course was serious but fun."

Gareth Lewis - Instructors made the course very enjoyable for me. It was hard work but fun, just how it should be - instruction, course material, promotion of teamwork, facilities on MV Sleat and PDA office staff fantastic. Really enjoyed course overall."

Davie Marr - "Real time on site training. Knowing that I will be able to adapt to offshore diving. Information gathering from supervisor."

Ben Burrows - "I'll remember the night-dive hull scrubbing exercise. Not as easy as it sounds."

David Robbins - "Good training, facilities and staff."

Matthew Appleby - "I chose the PDA as my brother trained at the PDA and recommended yourselves to me."

Will Blackwell - "Cost, reputation, helpfulness of people on the phone when calling and the gear included."

Neil Baglow - "Professional attitude plus the great reputation you are building."

James Rood - "Personal reference from and ex student and the equipment given to us made me go to PDA."

Chris Dunn - "Some of the best 9 weeks of my life."

Karl Weber - "An excellent all round course. One of the best diving courses I've completed. Excellent tuition."

Sean Darcy - "Smooth running everyday. Everything flowed very well!! Well done lads."

Jason Coogans - "The professional attitude and understanding of my non academic past. Superb teaching and training." "Great staff."

Ricky Dryver - "I chose PDA because of the recommendation I read about." "The great way the lessons were teached and the really great instructors: thanks to all" "The start of my life."

Duncan Harwood - "Excellent instructors, lots of hands-on with different equipment."

John Jackson - "Excellent training methods, first aid made very much interesting and fun point put across." "Excellent course well worth every penny."

Renz Cordina - "Staff very helpful all the way through."

James Horton - "Great time at the Holy Loch on the Sleat, best time I ever had."

Dean Silk - "Attention to detail and helpfulness of staff on initial visit." "Great course, wonderful people and great value for money,"

Andrew Aiquith - "Friendly staff, good laugh but also emphasis on skills and procedures of use to industry."

Alex Wood - "Excellent level of supervisors experience and knowledge. Good variety of tasks during dives. Good pace of course progression. Office staff (before and during course) exceptional."

Alex Hill -"Good facilities and dry suit and equipment given to you."

Renz Gordina - "Anyone who is going for the commercial diving course choose PDA . I did and I don't regret it! It is a great experience."

Gavin Espie - "The whole course was excellent! Excellent staff at the academy. Leaving course ready for life as a commercial diver."

Michael McKenna - "I will always remember the staff, they are brilliant. And the fun we had."

Paul Firth - "All been a great experience, wanted this career for 10 years, finally achieved it at last, PDA thanks." "Loved the course, staff are great, helpful and amazing facilities."

Paul Firth - "Its not just the quality training but excellent staff to work with."

Michael Mckenna - "Life changing."

Rebecca Aumed - "Loved all of it - Surface Supplied course amazing, went by too quickly - Really enjoyable."

Anthony McGiveron - "I will always remember how much good supervisor and instruction I recieved."

Cathy Doherty - "Thanks to all the people who have helped me."

Nuno Braz - "Good people, good dives and excellent installations."

Alex Wood - "A very enjoyable course, great staff and very helpful throughout."

Gary Dawes - "Good training team and very enjoyable."

Sean McPartland - "The staff are all quality and made me feel very welcome. I'll miss them all and thank them a lot."

Keith Brown - "Very user friendly."

Paul Chamberlain - "Diving with different equipment, the powerboat course, good classroom layout and friendly staff." "After joining the course, I knew id made the right decision. Very Professional."

Stuart Patterson - "The course as a whole will be a memorable experience." "Both of my site instructors are heroes, but especially the classroom instructor combat diver!"

Chris McCusker - "My highlights were learning and becoming a confident diver and being confident at all jobs." "I was very happy with the diving course, they made me successful."

Nicholas Heywood - "The top up course was the best week."

Chris Coghlan - "Good use of in depth scenarios to get you thinking drills."

Luis Fernandez De Cordova - "The quality of the training personnel from school is great."

Matt Hay - "Appropriate light hearted, easy going chat on deck, but serious when required and all very safe."

Alex Styles - "The dive set-up was very impressive, staff and course mates where brilliant."

Petur Petursson - "Highly qualified staff!" "I have really enjoyed my time at the academy and the whole learning programmehas been excellent being a non diver before the course. Excellent instruction, friendly office staff and good class mates made the whole experience brilliant."

Barrie Bogues - "Everything in general was brilliant." "Thanks for everything the course was awesome."

Joe McCafferty - "I have never welded before so this was very good to learn the basics."

Lewis Seeley - "Great guys, great training."

Walter Robb - "Class instructors very knowledgeable and willing to assist."

Ben Carr - "Good friendly staff, well run and lots of fun."

Rob Brown - "The professionalism of the staff and the new friends that I have gained."

Stephen Barton Shortt - "Far too many highlights to list. Everyday was excellent."

Krzysztof Zamaro - "Good fun and friendly staff."

Joe Wheelan - "I didn't want the course to end. Great course, Great lads and Great times."

Lewis Seeley - "Good bunch of guys, staff very helpful." "Had a great time, enjoyed every day."

Walter Rob - "Staff brilliant, had a lot of fun on the course."

Lee Louvaine Austin - "Excellent class room training, ref material and instructors experience."

Lee Tugwell - "PDA all the way....."

Kev Stanton - "Great staff, great lads and great location." "Experiences of dive instructors useful."

David V - "Great instructors, great training and enjoyed every minute of course and leant a lot thanks John Ainley - "The 50m bell dive very good and getting the bell rescue nailed."

Mick Shannon - "Knowledge of instructors and what can go wrong in the real world of diving."

John Lundon - "Good training from teachers and dive supervisors." "Rescues realistic, well thought out and random themes excellent. Panel operation air on off coms pnemo - kept on the ball by staff."

Edward Ellis - "Varied dive locations and very helpful and informative staff."

Dennis Murrell - "Most dives were a highlight! Definitely first jump rescue." "Informative, good experience and great fun."

Edward Ellis - "The time spent on the MV Sleat was excellent and jumping off Dunoon breakwater."

Dennis Murrell - "Training staff are excellent and helpful. Good dive sites." "Good dive sites, great staff and excellent experience. I'd do it again."

James Head - "Excellent time, thoroughly enjoyed my nine weeks in Dunoon."

Shaun Maddock - "Excellent course, good bunch of lads and instructors."

Jeroen Vermeersch - "The 9 weeks @ PDA were great."

Patrick Gerard Cosgrove - "Great training, should think it has put me in a good stead for work as a marine engineer."

Joe Jordon - "I chose the PDA because i heard it's considered the best in the world and I want to be trained by the BEST!!! I loved every bit of it!! "All was excellent! Memories for the rest of me life."

Craig Middlemas - "Meeting the instructors, quality people."

Oliver Mercer - "Had an amazing time, learnt loads, great instructors, made some good friends." Chose PDA as had a good informative website and it looked the best option."

Cam Palin - "Best Facilities, best value for money."

Craig Middlemas - "What an experience, loved every minute."

Ben Dixon - "Instructors are top notch. Very impressed and glad I chose PDA."

Victor Mendoza - "Good materials, instructors brilliant."

Richard Deans - "All staff involved in our training were excellent. They helped make it a enjoyable experience. I enjoyed all areas of the training. Thank you all." "Enjoyable time. Big thanks."

Abidin Durmus - "All drills. All perfect, thanks all supervisors." "Chose PDA because heard it was best diving school in world."

David Tanner - "Good atmosphere in the academy and good staff." "Heard good comments from previous students and get equipment to get started."

Greg Standish - "Loved the diving and the atmosphere of the academy. Learnt a lot in a short time frame."

Michael Kinsella - "The use of the tools, chainsaw, lift bags and air lifts etc." "I heard it was a more hands on, practical course than other schools."

Greg Standish - "Overall experience and learning was really enjoyable."

Martyn Meehan - "Surfaced supplied, 1st time with a Kirby Morgan hat, good experience." "better options after course and more helpful."

Ronald Coleman - "Diving in a scenic area. Friendly staff and fellow students."

Paul Curtis - "Really liked assembly tasks, any tasks that involved using any tools." "Have worked with divers who have trained here and other training centres and those who have trained at PDA seemed to speak highly of PDA."

Paul McAdam - "Night diving experience, the instructors interaction with students."

Alessandro Ranucolo - "I liked instructors and colleagues, very good and easy going persons."

David Liam Kenny - "Enjoyed the night dive and the whole 4 weeks have been really good, instructors are brill."

Richard Day -"A good course and great staff. Wish I had done this earlier."

Marijin Nix - "Had a lot of fun with the group on and off site."

Luc Huysmans - "My group, the people here and the whole course were a highlight."

Frederick Nobel - "All the staff/group and every day of training." "It was great, thanks for a great learning experience."

Chris Bowen - "Friendly professional school. Great teamwork and location."