Hmm, did not know it was she. So I'll repost my other thread responce here using the proper gender.
I am highly offended by her assertions. It is even more surprising that her responses are so venomous. Especially for a professional therapist. As someone who is intimately involved with an LCSW, MSW I am quite taken aback at her response to the offense taken by legitimate dive professionals. Since the LCSW title itself is absolutely no guarantee of any kind of quality.
I know this for a fact based on the experiences therapists I have known personally and professionally have had in dealing with patients who have been taken advantage of by other so called pro's. That there is some type of state, local, or federal govt. regulations over a profession is still no guarantee of quality service. Anyone remember the "You're doin a heckuva job Brownie!" statement?
I do appreciate the fact that the OP is apparently not hiding behind some internet handle. That shows some guts. And maybe some poor judgment as well if a patient or potential patient should see the responses she has posted so far. I certainly would not choose a therapist who so easily generalizes an entire group of people based on the actions of one individual. Or who so quickly attacks those who are just trying to give her information that she requested.
As for SDA and the content of it's courses and whether or not it is the same as PADI's, SSI's, SDI's, NAUI's or Billy Joe Bob's Scubie Divin Learnin center. The fact is that a little research would have shown that it is not accepted in lieu of training within the agency's approved curriculum models. I personally don't like elearning for the Basic Open Water class and feel that it is not a good substitute for extensive face to face interaction with an instructor in the classroom at the entry level, but that's me. It is here, others are ok with it, they accept it and see good results. I personally would still require the student to put in significant time with me even if they did complete it.
Ms Falk's ire seems to be directed at the wrong people. The industry did not rip her off. PADI did not rip her off. No instructor on this board ripped her off. SDA did. But it appears that SDA, true to form, is saying tough noogies to her. And she seemingly refuses to follow the advice I'm sure she tells the majority of her patients at one time or another:
To take some responsibility for their own actions.
Maybe her momma did or did not breast feed her, or her father was always at work or a drunk or never at home or walked out. But it does not mean she is free from taking responsibility for herself and looking at her part in this mess.
Did she research the on line entity thoroughly? Considering that it really is her son's life on the line.
Did she call and speak to someone at SDA and get assurances that the course would be accepted?
Did she get on the phone and call local dive shops in his area to indeed verify SDA's claims?
Did she call local shops or instructors and see if this was indeed a good deal? As we all know times are tough and a shop just might be willing to give a discount on training.
Did she call any agencies, whose numbers are easily located, to verify SDA's claims?
Based on what she has said here we can infer that the answer is no.
What would he say to one of her patients that did this?
What would she say to a patient that told her they were going to sign their kid up for a course where their life could be at risk if they did not do everything correctly because they did an on line search and it was the cheapest and fastest one?
We seem to have someone who is highly pissed off at the dive industry now because we did not do all the research for her and take all the responsiblity out of her hands. Isn't that what this is about? Another individual wants it fast, easy, and cheap. They want to leave all the work in the hands of someone else.
No different than a diver foolishly allowing a DM to plan their dives or an instructor to say "here's 28lbs of lead. That should keep you down in that 3 mil" and not questioning it.
It is this lack of taking responsibility that is fostered and even encouraged by folks like SDA and those "professionals" that do these things that I just mentioned. And worst of all making money off of it.
Had she done one Google search this likely would not have happened. I wonder how much research she did when she bought her last major appliance? Probably more than on this, where her son's life could literally be in the balance.
And as a postscript, I know this sounds entirely sexist but, I'd think a mother would be even more likely to check into something like this thoroughly to be sure it was safe and on the up and up. More so than many dad's who would look at it and see it as no more dangerous than any other sport and a guy thing to do.
