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Q: SCUBA certification in Mainland china
I know that there are dive shops in Mainland china where a person can get certified for diving (BJ, SH, GZ, Hainan...)...
I have been doing research, the average cost for a basic initial (open water) certification, IN CHINA, is about 6000 rmb. This is just over TWICE what it costs everywhere else.
Why? Is it a 'Tuhao only' sport in PRC? I asked a friend of mine who is an instructor, and could not get a clear answer (other than "Don't dive in PRC, you will die! Go to Philippines!")
I don't know why the price difference but I agree with your friend. Do it in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam... where you can be reasonably sure the instructors will be properly certified and competent. The diving will be much better there too.
Spiderboenz:
I never thought to check Vietnam.
Philippines is MUCH more economical than Thailand, probably going to do it there. The sucky part is, I cant do it this summer, so have to wait until my Holiday breaks, and that is when the Locusts swarm there.
Stiggs:
Don't go somewhere like Boracay . I'm sure there are places off the tour group trail with great options.
RachelDiD:
I got mine in Coron, Palawan for about 300 USD. The reefs were gorgeous, the instructors were professional, and that is 700USD less than the Chinese course.
6k? wow,,,, changed a bit since I got certified in 1983. 
ummmm,,,, I did some diving on a Live-aboard in the Andaman Sea, Thailand back in 2003 if I remember correctly, and had one of the most awesome encounters with a nice, full-grown Manta Ray ~ Really worth getting over there if you can save up the cash and time. that Manta is right up there with my coolest experiences of any dive ever~
I haven't dove in the Philippines, but I've swam and snorkeled there a lot, been 6 different times. I'm trying to get down there again later this month to dive on the Japanese warships around Coron. Philippines is an awesome country for hanging-out / backpacking around... maybe more expensive in general than TL, but that doesn't mean a person shouldn't get to both places.
Spiderboenz:
Did you get certified in PRC? Because that is the cost (average) in Mainland china.
diverdude1:
haha,,, nah, I was certified in Corpus Christi, Texas. PADI all the way !
is it a PADI or NAUI certification? Or just Chinese??
I checked out prices when I went to Koh Phi Phi in Thailand... about 14000 baht for a full (advanced??) open-water... 5 baht to the RMB... thus, less than 3000RMB!
Stiggs:
Were you just going to get certified, or get the cert then do some diving too? If you're doing that look at the fun dive prices and what accommodation will cost you, you might find that what you save in a cheaper airfare you spend on more expensive diving and accommodation.
A lot of dive schools have packages that include certification, accommodation and dive trips.
Shining_brow:
IIRC, return flight Hangzhou to Koh Samui was about 5000RMB. And I imagine a similar price to Phuket.
Accommodation at a resort on Koh Lanta cost me about 800RMB for 3 nights.
And as Stiggs said, there are packages which include all but flights.
I'd trust Thailand more than China (especially since I saw non-local instructors everywhere! I think the girl I spoke to was Swedish or Danish or something...).
Stiggs - if you were asking me - I did my certification in Australia many years ago - I was just checking the prices for someone else.
