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Quite a few years ago the one reg buddy breathing was eliminated from the PADI OW course, so I've heard. The reason I heard was it was too complicated for today's average diver to remember, so with all the "complicated" steps, it could lead to creating more problems. It is (was?) still a requirement in the DM course. As another poster said, many of today's divers are tropical "vacation" divers having their hands held, so to speak. Another line of thought is that traditional buddy breathing need not be known since the invention of the Octo. I still think it's a good skill to know--perhaps for some rare situation with this or that reg not working--as well as it simply being a "task-loading" skill, such as the DM course "equipment exchange". I don't think it is a good idea to "water down" courses with the idea that most divers aren't going to really practice the 20 (24 now?) skills once certified. Though that was the case with me and my OW buddy, I changed my tune after taking Rescue.Funny that you mention that. I recall doing the drills with an octo in OW class, but it was referred to as buddy breathing. I only learned about the "old" buddy breathing with one reg technique after reading about it here on scubaboard.
This is akin to my thread on Agencies forum regarding the elimination of rescue breaths (for non-water rescues) as part of the EFR (CPR) course.
In the case of buddy breathing and rescue breaths, I think this stuff is easy enough to remember if you just practice a little. Not rocket science.
Diving is serious business. I didn't get certified until we moved to the ocean, as I would have felt very uncomfortable diving one or 2 weeks per year in the tropics. And I had a lifetime of snorkeling/water activities before doing OW. It only makes sense to get the most skills you can and practice them, at least now and then.