Bahamas: Missing Female Diver
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Qnape
Contributor
Thank you for posting that video; and to the heroic filmmaker for sharing his experience. The video would make a good sticky in the beginner's forum. It says a lot about what new divers can expect in many places - to be led into situations beyond their experience and understanding. Yes, they are responsible for themselves but it is obvious that the potential for a bad outcome is there. Can a 12 year old and buddy (mentally also 12, it seemed) be counted on to say "NO" to participating in a dive beyond their training? Obviously not in many cases.
I will be showing this video to my dive buddy (15 yr old daughter). I hope it helps her understand why we took extra instruction and practice dives before heading out on the reef, spent a week with a private DM even when told we did not need it, and obsess about gear prep. I think she already gets it; if I thought she didn't we wouldn't be in the water.
Yes, that happens up here, too, in a 20 ft quarry where the temperatures get into the 70's by June. Meanwhile all the rest of the diving up here in the Great Lakes has temperatures of 35-60F depending on depth and time of year. True, you do get 70F+ in the St Lawrence River in August and September, but you also get a real current, not something you see in that quarry.
In this case, though the dive professional in question was a qualified DM, she was allegedly acting as buddy to the victim. Based upon other discussions here, if Mrs. Wood got away from someone acting as a DM, the response would be pretty even between people thinking the DM screwed up and those who put it all on the diver. Based upon what we've been told, that's not th esituation we're working with. When you consider that the person in question was supposedly a professional buddy, the responses skew pretty heavily towards increasing the level of responsibility the dive professional has to remain proximate to the diver and guard her safety.
While the DM experience is important, talking about it in that light tends to confuse people about what the actual situation was in the case under consideration.
Isn't that all the more reason to become an instructor and enforce a higher level of expertise and learning for the students whom you pass? If there were more instructors out there with your conscience, maybe the overall picture of the industry would improve. No one says you have to offer a full cert in a weekend course. Isn't it up to the instructor to decide what courses they want to teach? Either that, or get a teaching cert with another group that will let you enforce higher standards if you can't do so through PADI.
Angie, I'm not gonna quote your whole story cause I hate when that is done. All I can say is I hope you tore them a new one back on the boat. Idiots like that deserve to be told in front of everyone how stupid, dangerous, and reckless their actions were. Those are the kind of people who should stick to swimming pools. He sounded like an idiot and she was obviously a beatch.
And I agree with Bsee about going with an agency that does not allow those kinds of people to get cards. Or allow weekend courses. PM me if ya want more info
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Mayor
Contributor
And I agree with Bsee about going with an agency that does not allow those kinds of people to get cards. Or allow weekend courses. PM me if ya want more info
As you might expect, you are exactly who I was thinking about when I wrote that. Definitely don't need any more drone "instructors" who just want cash for cards. Angie sounds like the type of person who could make a difference in a positive way. Between the concern for safety, ability to recognize good and bad, and the collection of stories she must have from DM'ing on "interesting" dives, there's potential there for a great instructor who can inspire newbies to want to do it right.
stevejaz
Contributor
2 things, first I don't recall the elderly woman's training or experience being disclosed.
Second, I'll freely tell you that I did the elearning you speak of. Now, I'll also admit I'm somewhat A.D.D. so sitting down and reading material that I (at the time) wanted to hurry and get through would not have worked well for me. If someone's not getting shot or it's not a true story I lose interest (real application study like SB is a different story). So, for me to do the elearning at my own pace, watch the videos, take pre-tests, chapter tests, a final test, and a final written test (that I scored 100% on BTW)...it obviously worked for me. That is the goal, right? If I had sat in a class and gone over stuff umteen times because someone didn't get the concept, or listen to what always seems to be that one person that has to argue every point to show how smart they are, I would mentally check out.
My point, everyone responds differently and a choice of media is a good thing. What I think made the difference is that my instructor for the application part of it was very good and somewhat strict so I had no illusions that I was not qualified to do everything after completing the course.
Now, I can't comment on any of the other courses but I can say, I have seen a few times on this board where people with 50, 100, or more dives don't recall stuff in the basic O.W. course....so what's the answer? I don't know, maybe periodic renewals? Required physicals.....doubt any of that will happen
Amazz
Contributor
Nope....what am I supposed to say to my students? Hi, I know that you can get your scuba certification anywhere else in a weekend, but I want you to really know what you are doing before I dump you in 80 ft. of water in a 3 knot current. Therefore, I will require you to pay me what I'm worth for the time that I need for you to complete the minimum requirements in the water to build yourself up to diving in the area where you live or choose to dive. It's a great idea, but who is going to take the time to do it right if PADI allows for it to be done in a weekend? If I personally knew my students and wanted to do a personal favor, I would exend the class. But for the average instructor, it's never going to happen. PADI is wrong here. My personal training involved hours and hours of pool experience at depths of 20+ feet. I don't remember the actual depth, but it was the area where they did the college platform diving. I'm not saying that this is necessary, but I have encountered new divers who can barely swim. :-(
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