in general - after recieving diving certification in israel - you can dive on your own unaccompanied - i know this is not the case everywhere else in the world but i for one love diving on my own (with a buddy of course) without the constant headache of someone watching my back (i felt this way before i was certified as a dive leader).
a new regulation in israel states that a new diver is to complete his/her first 20 dives accomponied and cannot dive them alone. many people (myself included) feel that this ties down new divers and instead of contributing to their experience - it prolongs their lack of personal responsibility (if something will happen - well the dive leader will take care of it - but what will happen afterwards...?)
i personally feel that the appropriate way to deal with the inexperience of new divers is to write up a regulation in which they have to dive their first number of dives (be it 20-30 or whatever number) with experienced divers (also according to a drafted criterion) - that way they will be under the care of someone with more experience and the ability to handle underwater situations.
what has caused the controversy is that the regulation makes these new divers take accomponied dives which are very costly while not reaching the goal of safer diving - only a diving club dive leader can lead these dives - not even an instructor or a divemaster/divecon can.
well enough background - what do you think - should these dives be mandatory and through a club - or not (i feel that any divemaster/con or instructor is able to lead them).
p.s
on another note - if a diver isnt fit for diving unaccompanied - why is he/she certified???
please excuse my ravings - i just want a wider opinion.:doctor:
a new regulation in israel states that a new diver is to complete his/her first 20 dives accomponied and cannot dive them alone. many people (myself included) feel that this ties down new divers and instead of contributing to their experience - it prolongs their lack of personal responsibility (if something will happen - well the dive leader will take care of it - but what will happen afterwards...?)
i personally feel that the appropriate way to deal with the inexperience of new divers is to write up a regulation in which they have to dive their first number of dives (be it 20-30 or whatever number) with experienced divers (also according to a drafted criterion) - that way they will be under the care of someone with more experience and the ability to handle underwater situations.
what has caused the controversy is that the regulation makes these new divers take accomponied dives which are very costly while not reaching the goal of safer diving - only a diving club dive leader can lead these dives - not even an instructor or a divemaster/divecon can.
well enough background - what do you think - should these dives be mandatory and through a club - or not (i feel that any divemaster/con or instructor is able to lead them).
p.s
on another note - if a diver isnt fit for diving unaccompanied - why is he/she certified???
please excuse my ravings - i just want a wider opinion.:doctor: