If you could change one thing about dive training...

[boulderjohn]

Only one thing really thins out the herd so here goes.
Basic training must include mastery of planning a dive by hand. No computers. Track your depth, bottom time using dive tables. Surface interval, repetitive tables, Decom stops or safety stops and then next and so on. By mastery I mean understanding of each step and cause and effect.
Naui 1983

I have to admit I am confused about this. You are describing the OW standards for pretty much every agency over many decades until the decision to start including computers in dive instruction. You statement could have been shortened to "I believe instruction should be taught with tables (which almost no diver uses) instead of computers (which almost all divers use).

Whether a class is taught using tables or computers, students are required to plan dives, take surface intervals into account, and do safety stops. They are supposed to understand decompression theory, cause and effect, etc. Decompression stops are not included in OW training for all but a few agencies, but all agencies teach decompression stops for unintended (emergency decompression). Dive tables and computers are just different ways to track, measure, and plan dive.

 

[2stroketony]

If we are to rely on some or any computer primarily then great as long as the student understands what he or she is doing inside the computer and why with consequences if not done correctly. Sorry if I sounded neanderthal ish. That would be because I suppose I am.
Drawing pictures on a cave wall make me better understand the ways of scuba physics.
Ugh NAUI 1983

 

[Esprise Me]

I taught myself to use tables because my OW class was computer-only and I wanted to know both. I have never actually used tables to plan a dive, but that rough understanding in the back of my head helps. I'm not sure how much of a difference it really makes, but it's knowledge I like having.

 

[NothingClever]

Put more tooth in the WRSTC.

A certifying agency’s size doesn’t equate to inherent righteousness. Disproportionately-sized votes shouldn’t eclipse other smaller organizations that are trying to do the right thing.

 

[Pressurehead]

I know I am "off in Lar Lar Land" on this thought, and it will NEVER happen,dream on.
I was reminiscing with an old mate [as in nautical terms, Mate] about how we were taught to dive [when Megafauna roamed the Earth, or so it seems ], and the instructor had a face like a smacked arse, and the subject of the weight used in modern times for new divers, and not only new divers it was noted.
Long story short, we learnt to dive with no BCs , backpack, harness and weight belt only [Fenzy >18m] , being weighted correctly was critical , and worked out early for the cylinders used.
You can see where I am going....OK, back to La La Land.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Funny how DAN doesn't cite using a dive computer or tables in the top ten changes they'd like to see in their 2016 report.

 

[SlugLife]

One thing I'd fix about SSI, is the super-verbose online training sections.

 

[Blackcrusader]

One more thing is using hand propulsion when necessary. It seems that has been dropped and it's always useful to be able to use hand propulsion at times...

Was also brought up in this thread here

THE "PERFECT ( being horizontal ) TRIM" HOAX

 

[TMHeimer]

One more thing is using hand propulsion when necessary. It seems that has been dropped and it's always useful to be able to use hand propulsion at times...

Was also brought up in this thread here

THE "PERFECT ( being horizontal ) TRIM" HOAX

Absolutely. I don't like the "never ever use your arms on scuba" thing. There are situations for arm use. Also, using a breast stroke creates as little drag as possible, and can be very useful if one (or both) legs are cramped.

 

[SlugLife]

I have mixed feelings about the "no hands/arms for swimming" strongly-worded suggestion.

• Anyone who learns to scuba-dive and propel fins-only will be a much stronger and better equipped diver long-term. It will help motivate you to learn proper finning techniques, including how to turn, go backwards, and more. More importantly, it leaves your hands free for other things, like scuba-equipment (bcd inflator) and accessories (flashlights, compass, camera).
• Conversely, I also own and usually wear "fin gloves," which help boost the propulsion power from my hands. Recently I've mostly forced myself to avoid using them (for reasons in previous point, but still use them on the surface for propulsion, especially since I sometimes start to get leg-cramps towards the end of dives (maybe because of bad finning, which I'm working on). That said, I still find using your hands can be quite useful for reversing and turning, and to give me a break when I have cramps.

Ultimately, I don't think I ever got an adequate explanation of the (1) "why" around avoiding using your hands for propulsion and (2) what to do instead. I think most of the explanation I got was that hands were less effective for propulsion and that advanced divers usually don't use their hands. That's a rather useless explanation.