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I would guess that not all, but the vast majority of brand new divers don't need the Boat Course. Shedding light on that in this forum makes sense to me.
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Their value is relative, I made that clear. I would prefer that it is made clear that no diver will be denied a boat ride, night dive, drift dive or wreck dive because they don't have the appropriate card. This is why we get these questions, because the new divers believe they need them.
But there are the unscrupulous shops that continue to push these cards as necessary. One thing I would change is allowing instructors to invent their own specialties. If they find a gap in training, they should submit these courses for review and inclusion into the standard curriculum offered.
Is it worth it?
Do we really want to encourage more new divers to dive with supervision? They're certified; go forth and dive.Oh, yeah! It will give you the opportunity to learn more skills while under supervision. Great plan.
I don't think anyone has said their value was anything but relative. Relative to the experience, comfort and confidence a student might get from it.
I think this is widespread. To be sure, the vast majority of LDS's are honest, good shops that deserve every dollar of income they make. But there is the exception to every rule, and it's not limited to one area.Maybe it is just the demographic of people who post on the board, but it certainly seems that the operators and shops in Florida have a more than their share of unscrupulous shops and operators.
Do we really want to encourage more new divers to dive with supervision? They're certified; go forth and dive.
But until they take it, they have nothing to judge the value against. Any diver who's been on a boat will tell you the value will be low. That's what this forum is for; so we can let the new divers know that, no, you won't need your boat diver card to get onto the boat. Or a card to drift, dive at night or anything else. The only exception I can think to this is Nitrox, which is the only course I recommend for every diver.
I think this is widespread. To be sure, the vast majority of LDS's are honest, good shops that deserve every dollar of income they make. But there is the exception to every rule, and it's not limited to one area.
No, they don't.In case you haven't noticed, modern dive certification just trains divers well enough to be dangerous, not competent.It's a side effect of the corporate goal to make dive instruction as cheap as possible to get as many customers as possible. There is absolutely no way a "certified" OW diver with two open water dives is competent to tackle the world alone. Look at accident statistics - most of the fatalities occur in the group of divers who are newly certified.Continuing from OW straight in AOW (a poor term, I know) is great way for new divers to improve their skills under supervisor - and to stay alive while gaining new experience.Pinch me, just go for it!
That is a pretty brash statement. I disagree. Understand, I am not saying that every diver that steps on a boat will find value or need the course. I am just saying some will appreciate it and gain skills by participating.
I think the ones saying the shop screwed them are the exception to the rule. Diving is a small community, and those who are real ripoffs tend to not last.It seems that there is always someone saying they were screwed by a shop or an operator.