I've been instructing SCUBA for the past 43 years and my basic program hasn't changed very much (although I prefer a computer now over the chalkboard). Over the years, I've seen the 'Training Standards' for most diver certification agencies drop across the board (Diver through Instructor). When discussing this in the past, others have supported these changes. It's often felt that 'advances in technology' can now safely allow a person with questionable watermanship ability to dive. Stress is kept at a minimum and "the industry" readily defers to profit over education. This is not however the discussion intended for this thread.
My question was motivated by the following post in the Solo Diving area:
One more reason
I'm sure many of us have seen divers that they would not feel comfortable diving with. How prevalent is this? Do people disregard much of what they were taught, or simply were they not taught how to dive safely to begin with? Has the "Diver certification industry" lowered the standards too far??
Many may say that a diver (after their initial training) is encouraged to seek further instruction. On the other hand, I've maintained that there is no excuse to "certify" any diver that is a danger to himself and others at any time. Do you feel that a high percentage of new divers fall into the incompetent category? Is this a reason why people abandon the Buddy system in favor of diving alone? (I know that I'll choose to dive solo in many situations if buddy competence is questionable).
Is recreational diving heading in the correct direction? Should the direction be changed?
My question was motivated by the following post in the Solo Diving area:
One more reason
Sunday I went to an invitational dive and got parternered with a total ditz. I should have known better. Her navigational method was to surface and take a look!!! Once we submerged she proceeded to pull herself forward hand over hand and fin into the silt totally keeping me from any chance of seeing her. The vis was 5-7' at best before she hit bottom. She never looked back. I had the flag - duh - look for my bubbles, stop and look, just surface and take a look. Nope. Worse she found another group, with a flag, and took off on her own again. WTF! You are with a safe group and you take off on your own.
After searching for this moron I went back to shore (base) to see if she had returned (normal procedure). Nope. We spotted her about 400 yards away - swimming away from a flag. I geared up, did a long surface swim, did an intercept, and led her back to the base.
Any wonder why I dive solo?
After searching for this moron I went back to shore (base) to see if she had returned (normal procedure). Nope. We spotted her about 400 yards away - swimming away from a flag. I geared up, did a long surface swim, did an intercept, and led her back to the base.
Any wonder why I dive solo?
I'm sure many of us have seen divers that they would not feel comfortable diving with. How prevalent is this? Do people disregard much of what they were taught, or simply were they not taught how to dive safely to begin with? Has the "Diver certification industry" lowered the standards too far??
Many may say that a diver (after their initial training) is encouraged to seek further instruction. On the other hand, I've maintained that there is no excuse to "certify" any diver that is a danger to himself and others at any time. Do you feel that a high percentage of new divers fall into the incompetent category? Is this a reason why people abandon the Buddy system in favor of diving alone? (I know that I'll choose to dive solo in many situations if buddy competence is questionable).
Is recreational diving heading in the correct direction? Should the direction be changed?