Someone wrote
To which I reply, there aren't any 'stupid specialties" just specialties that may not be taught very well.
Boat Diver -- what could be taught to make it worthwhile? Well, how about some gas management planning -- the difference between the planning for a live boat dive, moored (anchored) boat; tides, waves and currents and how they effect both the planning and the dive itself; methods of ingress/egress and why some are more reasonable depending on the diver and/or gear configuration; emergency radio use; and more. The "course" doesn't have to be just -- "The pointy end is the bow, the blunt end the stern and you pee in the head."
"Stabbed in the Heart", "Touche". . . I'm Guilty, not at the above statement, but I thought the same as the poster. As an old time diver, I've been disgusted by the "fraud" I've watched quick money instructors pull off. And I'll admit, the boat diver class seemed a rip off. I don't "teach" for any agency. . . But I tell every new diver on my boat, most of what you listed, except no tides. Everyone should know, but in today's climate of abandoned divers to freighted to dive. . . most of the education is suspect. Every new diver that comes to our lake in the hills, is going to solve all problems with their cell phones. . . no signals. Every business on the lake monitors the marine band radio, and has land line phones. We have to keep telling new divers every week.
Several years ago in Cozumel, a large dive shop from the U.S., with multiple "Instructors" at the end of each day of diving they would take up many tables in the restaurant and "sell" the boat diving certification, if they paid for it and the instructor would sign off. The boat instruction was from the Cozumel guides.
Another "instructor" was with 10 students. . . the instructor and students were swept by the current over a mile before they could teach themselves how and where to get out of the water. They then walked passed their dive operators shop, back to the hotel, in the front door of the hotel, then back out to the dive shop. I was headed out to a reef with two new diving friends, when we noticed the stronger than normal current, we went back to shore then up current to a better stairs to exit. The instructor was selling the current diver certification that evening.
Peter, you're an experienced diver, and a new instructor. . . Please excuse, the bad feelings a lot of old time divers have expressed, but call us out when we make stupid remarks. Keep reminding us, that an instructors ticket doesn't automatically, mean you can't dive, and you're just out for a quick buck.
There ARE some good instructors. . . they became good divers, before they became instructors. And they are still bringing in excited new divers. . . It is still exciting for me, to have a new diver thrilled to find their first fish, a freshwater jellyfish, other thrills, that make the new diver want to come back again.
