Hi Jits Ronin,
I read your thread backwards (last post first, to your OP last) and then thought to myself, what did Jits think he was paying for?
A tech level course? A comprehensive training course?
The recreational scuba training regimen is just what you described. It is a trail of bits and pieces that any mouse would find attractive enough to follow. But, but...you end-up with all those cool cert cards!!!
Comments on your listed points:
- Limited skills practice: My instructors did limited skills practice for most of us because we were adequately competent.
- A good diver can spot a good skillset in another diver in about 20 seconds.
- If you are on your way to mastering basic skills and understand the philosophy behind it, then why waste time boring people to death.
- That's what the recreational system is. You are supposed play the role of the mouse who follows the bread crumbs to that big blob of peanut butter on trap's trigger mechanism. Your reward is a Master Scuba Diver title with a fist full of cert cards to prove it.
- You were being taught a few skills that you probably mentally mastered during the dry-runs on land. You probably understood the concept and were able to accomplish the goal reasonably well so the instructor said to himself/herself: "My work is done here, now I need to give them the elevator speech for the next set of certs to sell them."
If you want comprehensive training, sign-up for tech courses. I witnessed a diver being put on the short-bus during tech training. Dive well, or you are assigned remedial training.
I did enjoy PADI's Self-Reliant course. It was a bit challenging in the cold winter water of Monterey. And as the instructor mentioned with a chuckle, your face will scream when you rip off your mask for the mask replacement drills.
I am full circle here. OP, your perception of the training regimen for recreational divers is askew, IMHO.
cheers,
m