Exhibit or Aquarium Diver Specialty

[Thalassamania]

The Virginia Aquarium has an extensive training program for the volunteer divers. This starts with tryouts and safety training in a swimming pool.

All new team members then have in-water training in one of the aquariums. New team members must be on the team for at least 6 months before trying out for one of the other aquariums.

To stay active on the team, we also require a minimum number of dives per year. We also require 1st aid, cpr, and in-water backboard training every two years.

Our dilemma is losing volunteers. At the Virginia Aquarium, some of this can be attributed to the transiency of many of our divers. We have a large number of team members who are members of the armed forces.

Our big concern is the number of hours we put into training a diver but we only keep them for an average of 100 hours of volunteer time. If we can offer an incentive for team members like a specialty course, perhaps we can keep them longer.

How about offering them a scientific diving course that meets AAUS standards? That would not only solve a liability problem for the Aquarium but would open the world of reciprocity for your divers and make them eligible to participate to dive at academic institutions and on UNOLS and NOAA research cruises?

 

[Dr Neil]

How about offering them a scientific diving course that meets AAUS standards? That would not only solve a liability problem for the Aquarium but would open the world of reciprocity for your divers and make them eligible to participate to dive at academic institutions and on UNOLS and NOAA research cruises?

Good idea.

Some of the AAUS requirements make this limiting.

However, new volunteer divers at the Virginia Aquarium now must have a minimum number of open water dives before they try-out. The aquarium also now requires team members to get a physical every two years.

 

[Thalassamania]

What do you see as the limiting factors? There may be easy ways to deal with many of them.

 

[seaducer]

What do you see as the limiting factors? There may be easy ways to deal with many of them.

Jumping in a little late here and short on time, I will probably post more on this later.

The aquarium I volunteer at just revamped their diver program and changed some things. They are now taking their cues from OSHA and science diving programs, I suppose that means AAUS.

The limitiations I can think of, well I have not read them yet but the PDF on the AAUS site is 80 pages long, I did see mention of a 100 hour program.

Many of the volunteers are retired and probably would not pass a physical to those requirements, or would not be interested in that kind of training either. For aquariums who need cheap labor that would limit the vast majority of eligible divers.

As far as the physical itself, I got popped with $800 in bills for tests my insurance company said I didn't need. These were tests the aquarium pulled off either a commercial diver list or a science diver list. If I cannot sweet talk my doctor into signing off that I am ok to dive without requiring all those tests again, I am out once my physical needs to be renewed. I love the work I do there but I can't justify the expense. I can't force my insurance to pay because this is not for a job, volunteers are in different classifications.

As for the course, again I haven't read the standards but speaking for myself I would go for it if:
It meant I was on a global type list and could be asked to dive in/with other institutions, in other words expanding my diving opportunities.
It allowed me to participate in OW studies and collections run by my aq and others.
My OOP expenses were reasonable OR payed for by someone else. I can already do just about any rec dive I want, so the world and diving such a program opened for me would be limited, so the expense to take it should be equal to that.

As limited as the testing was getting into Adventure Aquarium, some people still balked at that. Others are thinking of quitting the program as it becomes more restrictive, intrusive (we now are subject to random drug testing) and our responsibilities are being stripped one by one. If we were to go with something like a true science diver course requirement, my team, one of the largest, would go from 8 divers down to 2, maybe 3. It would cripple the diving program at AAQ, and we volunteers do the lion's share of the work, with the biologists only doing the hands on animals diving.

I am all for aquariums demanding a much more competent volunteer dive staff, the animals we work with/around are expensive and in some cases extremely dangerous. But I am in the extreme minority of volunteers that would go for it.

When I have a chance to look over the AAUS standards I will pull what I think would be the biggest problems, to see what you think could be done...

 

[seaducer]

That is like saying "all technical divers have no idea what a BCD is or how to use an octo" because they are trained on BP/W and long hose slt air sources. Therefore, all tech divers are *****d up.

Yeah, gotta say that was a silly argument. I am sure that I could find commercial divers who spend all their bottom time with no fins, "walking around", who might be short on bouyancy skills. However I should expect someone with that profession to be able to recognize shortcomings, and work hard to improve in those areas. If I were a DSO I would not hesitate to bring a commercial diver into my program.

I will say though, do not underestimate just how difficult diving in an aquarium can be. The task loading can spike to stupid levels in an instant, and IMHO it takes a diver with good skills and excellent situational awareness to succeed in such an environment. Often I am trying to dodge a blind hammerhead shark while keeping watch for turtles and bowmouth guitarfish, all the while trying to maintain attention on my task, my buddies, and the tank furniture and acrylic to avoid damaging it. We also dive in overhead conditions, confined spaces and with some large and dangerous marine life. People tend to think diving in an aquarium is no different than diving in a pool, but it is not for the timid.

How could you be in a quandry over the qualifications of a commercial diver?
Good idea having the volunteer divers watch/escort the commercial divers. I worked at teh Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and I notice most of the divers, volunteer or paid, had no since of situational-awareness, and a lot of plastic coral was getting damaged.

Yeah this comment kind of ticks me off...because it is true. Some of the people I have seen in aquariums probably should not be diving anywhere. The animals are fragile, the furniture is fragile, the acrylic view panels are easily nicked and marked up and can't be fixed or replaced without draining the exhibits and costs thousands of dollars in glass alone.

In addition to all of that we aquarium divers are ambassadors of scuba and the marine world in general. I take pride in showing my guests spot on buoyancy control, awareness of and respect for the creatures that live there, and I make sure to follow all the rules and take of the equipment provided for me to experience those fantastic animals every other weekend.

It does bother me that some of my cohorts either lack the skill or can't be bothered. And it really bothers me when I have to shake all the gravel out of the octos. I mean really? There is a rubber fastener on all bcds for JUST that purpose.

Anyway...

 

[seaducer]

What do you see as the limiting factors? There may be easy ways to deal with many of them.

Sorry for the multiple posts. I have just reviewed what I felt were the pertinent tests and requirements for an AAUS science diver certification.

Most of the in water tests I had to do in order to pass the exams to get into the aquarium. The only one I did not do was in water mouth to mouth. All the others and some of the ow skills, such as surface diving was part of our pool test.

The physics and theory may be taken care of by attaining certain rec dive certs? Such as nitrox and/or deep diver cert?

Data sampling does not strictly apply to us, nor does the depth certs and any gasses other than 21%.

For the most part what I had to prove was under AAUS guidelines. They are adding OSHA crap as well now.

It also does not strike me as over bearing or really stuff that any diver should not already know, too be honest. At least what I read.

I can't see why aquariums can not provide that certification to their divers, and require them to meet those standards. I think there are enough good divers to make up for those who would be asked to leave the program for skills issues.

 

[Thalassamania]

...
Many of the volunteers are retired and probably would not pass a physical to those requirements, or would not be interested in that kind of training either. For aquariums who need cheap labor that would limit the vast majority of eligible divers.

That's rather the point, if they are not medically qualified they should not be diving under institutional auspices. If that means that there are not enough divers, they'll have to be more creative or sweeten the deal, but in case should they put medically unqualified divers into the water.

As far as the physical itself, I got popped with $800 in bills for tests my insurance company said I didn't need. These were tests the aquarium pulled off either a commercial diver list or a science diver list. If I cannot sweet talk my doctor into signing off that I am ok to dive without requiring all those tests again, I am out once my physical needs to be renewed. I love the work I do there but I can't justify the expense. I can't force my insurance to pay because this is not for a job, volunteers are in different classifications.

Medical exams and who pays for them are a problem. An intelligent list needs to be prepared for the institution by a hyperbaric physician that understands the sort of diving that is to be done.

As for the course, again I haven't read the standards but speaking for myself I would go for it if:

It meant I was on a global type list and could be asked to dive in/with other institutions, in other words expanding my diving opportunities.

Very real possibility, it opens opportunities to dive with NOAA, off university and NSF research vessels, and to be support divers in the Antarctic, just to name a few.

It allowed me to participate in OW studies and collections run by my aq and others.

Yup.

My OOP expenses were reasonable OR payed for by someone else. I can already do just about any rec dive I want, so the world and diving such a program opened for me would be limited, so the expense to take it should be equal to that.

It would be a mix, in most cases getting to the ship is your problem, but the cruise is free, passage to the Antarctic is covered by the NSF.

As limited as the testing was getting into Adventure Aquarium, some people still balked at that.

I'd let them walk, I have no use for divers that do not understand the importance of protecting the institution from liability.

Others are thinking of quitting the program as it becomes more restrictive, intrusive (we now are subject to random drug testing)

Again, TFB. Random drug testing is mandated by many risk management groups and while I disagree with it, it is simply a reality of life today ... if there is a accident everyone is going to get tested, so let's get it out of the way now.

and our responsibilities are being stripped one by one. If we were to go with something like a true science diver course requirement, my team, one of the largest, would go from 8 divers down to 2, maybe 3.

Then you'd have to find creative ways to train new divers, I can't imagine that it is that hard, I usually had well over a hundred students battling to snag one of twenty slots.

It would cripple the diving program at AAQ, and we volunteers do the lion's share of the work, with the biologists only doing the hands on animals diving.

But an accident with "unqualified" volunteers could shut down the AAQ, not just cripple the diving program.

I am all for aquariums demanding a much more competent volunteer dive staff, the animals we work with/around are expensive and in some cases extremely dangerous. But I am in the extreme minority of volunteers that would go for it.

Well ... the rest of the volunteers should be shown the door, they have a unacceptable attitude and can be more easily replaced than you realize. A free training program advertised in "Friends of the AAQ," or whatever bumph is mailed to members would likely fill the gap quickly.

When I have a chance to look over the AAUS standards I will pull what I think would be the biggest problems, to see what you think could be done...

I'll be glad to comment.

Yeah, gotta say that was a silly argument. I am sure that I could find commercial divers who spend all their bottom time with no fins, "walking around", who might be short on bouyancy skills. However I should expect someone with that profession to be able to recognize shortcomings, and work hard to improve in those areas. If I were a DSO I would not hesitate to bring a commercial diver into my program.

I would, you need a commercial diver who understands the special problems, not all do.

I will say though, do not underestimate just how difficult diving in an aquarium can be. The task loading can spike to stupid levels in an instant, and IMHO it takes a diver with good skills and excellent situational awareness to succeed in such an environment.

This is absolutely true and is all the more reason for having well qualified divers. The excuse of, "but it's just a swimming pool" is horse puckey.

Often I am trying to dodge a blind hammerhead shark while keeping watch for turtles and bowmouth guitarfish, all the while trying to maintain attention on my task, my buddies, and the tank furniture and acrylic to avoid damaging it. We also dive in overhead conditions, confined spaces and with some large and dangerous marine life. People tend to think diving in an aquarium is no different than diving in a pool, but it is not for the timid.

Yeah this comment kind of ticks me off...because it is true. Some of the people I have seen in aquariums probably should not be diving anywhere. The animals are fragile, the furniture is fragile, the acrylic view panels are easily nicked and marked up and can't be fixed or replaced without draining the exhibits and costs thousands of dollars in glass alone.

In addition to all of that we aquarium divers are ambassadors of scuba and the marine world in general. I take pride in showing my guests spot on buoyancy control, awareness of and respect for the creatures that live there, and I make sure to follow all the rules and take of the equipment provided for me to experience those fantastic animals every other weekend.

Yep, my first dive in an aquarium was uncharacteristically dorkish.

It does bother me that some of my cohorts either lack the skill or can't be bothered. And it really bothers me when I have to shake all the gravel out of the octos. I mean really? There is a rubber fastener on all bcds for JUST that purpose.

Anyway...

This is one of the special cases. I'd suggest that an octo is a hazard in a tank, unless there is overhead work involved in which case it should be a surface supplied system with a scuba backup.

Sorry for the multiple posts. I have just reviewed what I felt were the pertinent tests and requirements for an AAUS science diver certification.

Most of the in water tests I had to do in order to pass the exams to get into the aquarium. The only one I did not do was in water mouth to mouth. All the others and some of the ow skills, such as surface diving was part of our pool test.

In water mouth to mouth may not be completely relevant to tank dives. I'd be more than willing to listen to arguments to drop it (and others) from a tank diving program and spend the time on critical buoyancy control practice.

The physics and theory may be taken care of by attaining certain rec dive certs? Such as nitrox and/or deep diver cert?

Rec diver certs are not applicable and should not be recognized. When in doubt think of yourself as a Human Resources Officer at a Commercial Diving company and ask yourself the same question ... you'll quickly see how silly the idea(s) is (are).

Data sampling does not strictly apply to us, nor does the depth certs and any gasses other than 21%.

Agreed.

For the most part what I had to prove was under AAUS guidelines. They are adding OSHA crap as well now.

We should not mix OSHA and AAUS, pick one and stick to it.

It also does not strike me as over bearing or really stuff that any diver should not already know, too be honest. At least what I read.

I have to agree there too, but the current view of what a recreational diver should be and should be able to do is what lead to the science community going it separate way while the recreation community concentrated, primarily, on meeting the needs of the once a year, escorted, tropical diver. But that's another discussion entirely.

I can't see why aquariums can not provide that certification to their divers, and require them to meet those standards. I think there are enough good divers to make up for those who would be asked to leave the program for skills issues.

The main problems are that recreational divers are often in place who have little or no understanding of the actual issues (see some of the posts above) are often already affiliated and part of the institution's corporate culture, and they are bound and determined (understandably) to protect their fun or their rice bowl.

 

[muddiver]

$800 for a dive physical! :shocked2: Time for a new doctor dude. I only paid $250 cash for a full dive physical from a local hyperbarric doctor.

The AAUS program is based on having a Diving Control Board made up of qualified people that have been involved in scientific diving, or diving medicine. That board set up the diving operations manual, training requirements and oversees the Diving Safety Officer's administration of the program.

Then the Diver Standards could probably be tailered to the aquarium program to provide a safe and simplistic program for the day-to-day diving in the aquarium. What Long Beach did was strip the full AAUS resciprical training out and required a full year of dedicated service before one could apply for the certification program. That added incentive for divers to hang in for a longer perios of time.

As far as the day-to-day bath tub divers, I would recommend a training program that is spread out over a year or so, after the initial entry training. Provide it in smaller bights instead of one big 100 hour course.

 

[seaducer]

That's rather the point, if they are not medically qualified they should not be diving under institutional auspices. If that means that there are not enough divers, they'll have to be more creative or sweeten the deal, but in case should they put medically unqualified divers into the water.

I was operating on the assumption that the medical requirements might exclude alot of people who are otherwise healthy enough to dive. If we are discussing general health I absolutely agree, but if we were talking about having divers who are physically fit to...say... military standards than I have to disagree. The medical standards should fit the type of diving to be done. We may be simply talking past each other here.

Medical exams and who pays for them are a problem. An intelligent list needs to be prepared for the institution by a hyperbaric physician that understands the sort of diving that is to be done.

I do not have a problem with putting the responsibility of the physical onto the diver, we all should have regular physicals whether we dive or not. My issue is with requiring expensive tests that are not IMO needed for aquarium diving. These are tests which insurance companies will not pay for unless a medical condition warrants the tests. In my case I believe I had lung volumes, and some type of VO2 testing done to determine gas exhange. I also needed xrays and blood work, those were covered as in my 30's those tests are recommended anyway. If I wanted to be on the list for a NOAA trip or Antarctica cruise I could fork over the cash for those tests, but I should not be required if I have no intention of diving anywhere other than the facility. My doctor should be able to clear me for normal shallow NDL diving with a call to DAN.

Very real possibility, it opens opportunities to dive with NOAA, off university and NSF research vessels, and to be support divers in the Antarctic, just to name a few.

Since I am a science geek with more vacation time than my wife is allowed, this would really appeal to me.

I'd let them walk, I have no use for divers that do not understand the importance of protecting the institution from liability.

I feel the same way, but many of these people have been dedicated volunteers for more than a decade, I think the cut away should be fair and for all the correct reasons, i.e. not applying new standards that are more strict than they need to be.

Again, TFB. Random drug testing is mandated by many risk management groups and while I disagree with it, it is simply a reality of life today ... if there is a accident everyone is going to get tested, so let's get it out of the way now.

I was tested as a random just a month ago. For me no issues, have never taken any substance they tested for although some painkillers have been prescribed to me years ago that were on the list. I have zero tolerance for illegal drug use, even if I agree politically that weed could be legal, right now it isn't so do joy if your hot for THC. My worry is that some of things they test for are legal with prescriptions and if medical professionals say this will not effect your ability to dive does the aquarium need to violate your privacy?

Then you'd have to find creative ways to train new divers, I can't imagine that it is that hard, I usually had well over a hundred students battling to snag one of twenty slots.

There is a backlog of people to dive on the weekend teams, the trouble there is coordinating facilities for testing and the time it takes for the DSO and curators to schedule interviews. I know, waaaaa. But weekday teams are a different story altogether, most people who are interested in diving here work Monday through Friday.

I would, you need a commercial diver who understands the special problems, not all do.

I'll have to take your word for it, having never dealt with commercial divers. One would assume that they would be as I described, but in any group there are those who refuse to fit the stereotype, whether it be positive or negative.

This is one of the special cases. I'd suggest that an octo is a hazard in a tank, unless there is overhead work involved in which case it should be a surface supplied system with a scuba backup.

Tell my DSO, I would rather not have the octo, although we do demonstrate it as part of the diving shows we do. I agree as a safety device it is overkill in the tanks.

In water mouth to mouth may not be completely relevant to tank dives. I'd be more than willing to listen to arguments to drop it (and others) from a tank diving program and spend the time on critical buoyancy control practice.

I agree, considering the size of the tanks we dive in, time in water is better spent evacuating the diver and watching for animal traffic rather than slow the whole process down for what might turn out to be in-effective breaths. We are a max of 90 seconds to exit.

Rec diver certs are not applicable and should not be recognized. When in doubt think of yourself as a Human Resources Officer at a Commercial Diving company and ask yourself the same question ... you'll quickly see how silly the idea(s) is (are).

What I meant was that the amount of physics and theory you would need to keep you safe and understand what your body is going through in an aquarium dive ought to be covered in OW, or nitrox classes on the outside. This part of the science diver course could possibly be skipped, or at least allow the diver to test out of it, thus saving some time and money for the aquarium. If the full cert was desired for additional opportunities then you could require the full course and test.

We should not mix OSHA and AAUS, pick one and stick to it.

I agree. This stems from two aquariums under one parent company, one was OSHA and the other modeled after AAUS, they picked what they thought applied. Now the parent company wants one set of standards for both facilities and nobody will back down...thus the hybrid set of rules we are dealing with now.

I have to agree there too, but the current view of what a recreational diver should be and should be able to do is what lead to the science community going it separate way while the recreation community concentrated, primarily, on meeting the needs of the once a year, escorted, tropical diver. But that's another discussion entirely.
The main problems are that recreational divers are often in place who have little or no understanding of the actual issues (see some of the posts above) are often already affiliated and part of the institution's corporate culture, and they are bound and determined (understandably) to protect their fun or their rice bowl.

Unfortunately I can't really argue. Some rec divers could demonstrate knowledge and skill enough to pass the testing, others maybe shouldn't even be allowed to snorkel in a public shower.

One point I would like to bring up as well. There are two sides to the volunteer coin. One side is that no one is being forced into the program, so if you are unable or unwilling to meet standards, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

The other side is that these people are not being paid, and, well like myself, a tank of gas(petrol) every other week and I schedule vacations, real estate closings and even my wedding around my dive day. I do think this type of dedication should be considered in any program changes...some people have been doing this for 17 years, that is a long time to simply be dismissed.

$800 for a dive physical! :shocked2: Time for a new doctor dude. I only paid $250 cash for a full dive physical from a local hyperbarric doctor.

Well, the physical and most of the tests cost me $15. However on the list of recommended tests for divers that the aquarium pulled off the AAUS page were a couple that my insurance company felt un-necessary for my overall health, and they refused to pay after the fact. My next physical I will either leave that list home or pull out my DAN card and have the doc call them to see if a 37 year old with good bp, hr adn cholesterol levels who participates in runs, rides and triathlons every year is fit to dive...without lung volumes and all that other stuff.

The AAUS program is based on having a Diving Control Board made up of qualified people that have been involved in scientific diving, or diving medicine. That board set up the diving operations manual, training requirements and oversees the Diving Safety Officer's administration of the program.

Then the Diver Standards could probably be tailered to the aquarium program to provide a safe and simplistic program for the day-to-day diving in the aquarium. What Long Beach did was strip the full AAUS resciprical training out and required a full year of dedicated service before one could apply for the certification program. That added incentive for divers to hang in for a longer perios of time.

As far as the day-to-day bath tub divers, I would recommend a training program that is spread out over a year or so, after the initial entry training. Provide it in smaller bights instead of one big 100 hour course.

Similar to the program I am in now. We have a DSO and dive committee made up of staff and volunteers that meet monthly. Testing is required to get in and we have training and retraining about emergency extraction etc. specific to our facility.

No certification though. That might be down the road as a lot of changes are taking place, but at the moment nothing like that.

 

[Thalassamania]

I was operating on the assumption that the medical requirements might exclude alot of people who are otherwise healthy enough to dive. If we are discussing general health I absolutely agree, but if we were talking about having divers who are physically fit to...say... military standards than I have to disagree. The medical standards should fit the type of diving to be done. We may be simply talking past each other here.

None of the AAUS standards relate to maintaining a elite level of physical fitness, they all have to do with limiting the medical risk of being exposed to hyperbaric conditions.

I do not have a problem with putting the responsibility of the physical onto the diver, we all should have regular physicals whether we dive or not. My issue is with requiring expensive tests that are not IMO needed for aquarium diving. These are tests which insurance companies will not pay for unless a medical condition warrants the tests. In my case I believe I had lung volumes, and some type of VO2 testing done to determine gas exhange. I also needed xrays and blood work, those were covered as in my 30's those tests are recommended anyway. If I wanted to be on the list for a NOAA trip or Antarctica cruise I could fork over the cash for those tests, but I should not be required if I have no intention of diving anywhere other than the facility. My doctor should be able to clear me for normal shallow NDL diving with a call to DAN.

No, I disagree fundamentally. Exams should be carried out by a Hyperbaric Physician, not your Family Practice Physician on a phone link to someone a DAN.

Since I am a science geek with more vacation time than my wife is allowed, this would really appeal to me.

I feel the same way, but many of these people have been dedicated volunteers for more than a decade, I think the cut away should be fair and for all the correct reasons, i.e. not applying new standards that are more strict than they need to be.

While it may seem unfair and in some cases even tragic, the fault basically lies with the institution not having the foresight to set up an appropriate program at the start; remember, Scripps Model programs that the AAUS standards are drawn from, go back to 1952. Being medically unqualified or lacking proper skills are correct reasons. The "new" standards that you refer to are not new, many of us have been living with them (and stricter ones) for over a half century.

I was tested as a random just a month ago. For me no issues, have never taken any substance they tested for although some painkillers have been prescribed to me years ago that were on the list. I have zero tolerance for illegal drug use, even if I agree politically that weed could be legal, right now it isn't so do joy if your hot for THC. My worry is that some of things they test for are legal with prescriptions and if medical professionals say this will not effect your ability to dive does the aquarium need to violate your privacy?

Testing positive for a substance that you hold a prescription for should not effect your status. The DCB determines your status and it should be informed of any potentially hazardous drugs that are prescribed and how you intend to not dive within a given window of use.

There is a backlog of people to dive on the weekend teams, the trouble there is coordinating facilities for testing and the time it takes for the DSO and curators to schedule interviews. I know, waaaaa. But weekday teams are a different story altogether, most people who are interested in diving here work Monday through Friday.

That's a problem, but should never be used as an excuse for putting an unqualified diver in the water.

Tell my DSO, I would rather not have the octo, although we do demonstrate it as part of the diving shows we do. I agree as a safety device it is overkill in the tanks.

I'd be happy to discuss it with your DSO and yourself on a conference call, or in correspondence.

What I meant was that the amount of physics and theory you would need to keep you safe and understand what your body is going through in an aquarium dive ought to be covered in OW, or nitrox classes on the outside.

I disagree, science diving requires informed consent to expose yourself to the hazards of a hyperbaric environment. Recreational classes, IMHO, are woefully inadequate to meet this specification.

This part of the science diver course could possibly be skipped, or at least allow the diver to test out of it, thus saving some time and money for the aquarium. If the full cert was desired for additional opportunities then you could require the full course and test.

A diver can "test out" of any and all parts. That is at the discretion of the DSO with the oversight of the DCB.

I agree. This stems from two aquariums under one parent company, one was OSHA and the other modeled after AAUS, they picked what they thought applied. Now the parent company wants one set of standards for both facilities and nobody will back down...thus the hybrid set of rules we are dealing with now.

I can't help you with problems with the corporate culture. I am happy to discuss this with the powers that be and point out to them how inappropriate regulations create more liability.

Unfortunately I can't really argue. Some rec divers could demonstrate knowledge and skill enough to pass the testing, others maybe shouldn't even be allowed to snorkel in a public shower.

That's why a system of written testing and checkout dives is also permissible to a course.

One point I would like to bring up as well. There are two sides to the volunteer coin. One side is that no one is being forced into the program, so if you are unable or unwilling to meet standards, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Yes.

The other side is that these people are not being paid, and, well like myself, a tank of gas(petrol) every other week and I schedule vacations, real estate closings and even my wedding around my dive day. I do think this type of dedication should be considered in any program

Why? The program does not exist to be fair, it exists to limit the risk of the institution.

changes...some people have been doing this for 17 years, that is a long time to simply be dismissed.

I agree, but what would you do? It would be rather bad procedure to permit unqualified divers who are, in addition, aging to dive under institutional auspices.

Well, the physical and most of the tests cost me $15. However on the list of recommended tests for divers that the aquarium pulled off the AAUS page were a couple that my insurance company felt un-necessary for my overall health, and they refused to pay after the fact. My next physical I will either leave that list home or pull out my DAN card and have the doc call them to see if a 37 year old with good bp, hr adn cholesterol levels who participates in runs, rides and triathlons every year is fit to dive...without lung volumes and all that other stuff.

As I noted before, your family doc's opinion is not enough.

Similar to the program I am in now. We have a DSO and dive committee made up of staff and volunteers that meet monthly. Testing is required to get in and we have training and retraining about emergency extraction etc. specific to our facility.

Sounds right.

No certification though. That might be down the road as a lot of changes are taking place, but at the moment nothing like that.

"Certification" is nothing more than a creation of a list of divers who are qualified to enter the tanks, it happens at an institutional level.