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Considering how poorly trained open water divers are, asking those who are in thick wetsuits and integrated weights (sometimes without weightbelts) to don/doff underwater is asking for an accident. You can pretty much guarantee there will be a number of students where gear stays down while they go up happen every year.
Yes. Maybe this is the origin of the diver's question....
Well, it is my opinion that it should be taught performed during open water dives. Otherwise forget it. Giving students the illusion that they will be able to perform a skill in the open water without having done it in open water (except easy stuff like free flowing reg - though I disagree with how I was taught in my IDC on this - I think students should do it in open water while ascending as they would if it actually occured) is setting students up for failure. Again my opinion. Not speaking for any agencies. See my signature for further clarification.
Absolutely agree. As I said, I did wonder why the doff & don was only done at the surface on the checkout dives. My guess is it is way more likely you would take it off and hand it up to someone than have to doff & don at depth, but who knows. Also, I guess there is far less time spent in the water at the ocean than in the pool, so only those skills PADI feels most important are done in the ocean.
Oh, and to answer the question, if Trace can do it, can't everybody?
