It seams to me that learning to dive or teaching someone to dive is a lot like learning or teaching someone to drive a car. In both cases, the decisions you make can injure or kill you and/or others. Basically, placing your life at risk is unavoidable whats controllable is what you can do to reduce the risk.
You may be able to drive a car with bald tires for years without getting into an accident just like you might be able to dive with an ill-fitting BC and get away with it, but in either case you might not. I make sure my car has good tires, anti-lock breaks, and airs bags. Likewise Ive purchased my own quality scuba equipment and intend to get the best training I can.
Im taking an OW course here with the idea of making the actual OW dives in Aruba. One of my friends asked why I was wasting my time taking the class when I could get certified in Aruba. The biggest reason is what I perceive to be the motivations of the organizations providing the training. In the class here I believe that the Instructor will be focused solely on the class, the dive shop is interested in a long-term relationship rather than making a few quick dollars. On the other hand, having conducted email discussions with several PADI facilities in Aruba, I get the impression that the dives will be made with an instructor running a dive boat, catering to many different levels of divers at the same time.
Lets face it; you dont have to be a genius to figure out that certification is for sale and if you want you can take shortcuts to get in the water. But I intend to get the best equipment I can, the best training I can, and read as much as possible to reduce the risk as much as possible.
Several threads here have discussed lackadaisical training and even training classes out of control. This reminds me of the advice I gave my daughter on bad or aggressive drivers on the Washington Beltway (i.e. racetrack and/or parking lot), get away from them as quickly as you safely can and stay away from them.
I really enjoy this board and all the advice and opinions expressed. I think spending time here will certainly make me a better diver.
You may be able to drive a car with bald tires for years without getting into an accident just like you might be able to dive with an ill-fitting BC and get away with it, but in either case you might not. I make sure my car has good tires, anti-lock breaks, and airs bags. Likewise Ive purchased my own quality scuba equipment and intend to get the best training I can.
Im taking an OW course here with the idea of making the actual OW dives in Aruba. One of my friends asked why I was wasting my time taking the class when I could get certified in Aruba. The biggest reason is what I perceive to be the motivations of the organizations providing the training. In the class here I believe that the Instructor will be focused solely on the class, the dive shop is interested in a long-term relationship rather than making a few quick dollars. On the other hand, having conducted email discussions with several PADI facilities in Aruba, I get the impression that the dives will be made with an instructor running a dive boat, catering to many different levels of divers at the same time.
Lets face it; you dont have to be a genius to figure out that certification is for sale and if you want you can take shortcuts to get in the water. But I intend to get the best equipment I can, the best training I can, and read as much as possible to reduce the risk as much as possible.
Several threads here have discussed lackadaisical training and even training classes out of control. This reminds me of the advice I gave my daughter on bad or aggressive drivers on the Washington Beltway (i.e. racetrack and/or parking lot), get away from them as quickly as you safely can and stay away from them.
I really enjoy this board and all the advice and opinions expressed. I think spending time here will certainly make me a better diver.