I am happy with today's level of Diver Training!

[Web Monkey]

Sure, go ahead and teach all your OW students advanced gas management, and then most will just have even more in their soon to be forgotten short term memory. Unless one of my students shows the inclination / desire /ability to get it, why waste everyone's time.

Becuse they're paying for a class that supposedly teaches how to safely dive in Open Water with a buddy (not a guide) and "running out of air" is unsafe.

Terry

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Sure, go ahead and teach all your OW students advanced gas management, and then most will just have even more in their soon to be forgotten short term memory. Unless one of my students shows the inclination / desire /ability to get it, why waste everyone's time.

Out of curiosity, what is "advanced gas management". For the past few years I've been giving free seminars on gas management at dive shops and clubs around my area. I've had people at all levels attending ... from long-time scuba instructors to people who aren't even certified yet. And I've yet to have anyone tell me they thought the concepts were too hard to understand. Oddly, the seminar got so popular there are now a few other instructors who are including the material in their classes.

Obviously someone thinks it's useful.

I feel the OW Course when taught the way it's designed gives the new diver enough to do the dives intended for that level of certification.

I won't disagree in theory ... however, in areas where we don't have divemasters or guides to lead newly certified divers around ... where divers are expected to be able to plan and execute their own dives right out of OW class ... where those same divers may be subjected to unexpected currents, low visibility and other stressors ... understanding how to manage their gas supply reduces the potential for unpleasant experiences that may lead to injury, death, or nothing more serious than a diver who decides that this isn't fun and goes to find something else to spend their recreational dollars on ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Hank49]

I won't disagree in theory ... however, in areas where we don't have divemasters or guides to lead newly certified divers around ... where divers are expected to be able to plan and execute their own dives right out of OW class ... where those same divers may be subjected to unexpected currents, low visibility and other stressors ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)

That's stretching it a bit, isn't it? It wouldn't be wise for newly certified divers to go by themselves without more experienced divers who know local conditions even in our warm ocean here in the Caribbean. Going from ow graduation to diving in the turbulent Puget Sound, low vis, cold conditions that you NW, maniac divers deal with. That's bordering on suicidal.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Not if standards are followed that state a new certified ow diver should be able to plan, execute, and return from a dive with an equally trained buddy in conditions equal to or better than that in which they trained. If the training took place in the pnw then they should be able to dive there unescorted. This would be true no matter what the location. If the person cannot do this then there training did not meet the standards, the student was not putting forth the required effort, or all of this occurred. In which case they have no business with a c-card. And if the instructor still issues one then the instructor has failed as well.