I was watching this nice video about cave diving training and noticed that at one point during a blackout drill the instructor closes a student's valve. I thought that was a big no-no during training.
Like several others who have already responded, my initial open water course (NAUI/YMCA in 1986you could request either card from the professor/instructor) incorporated several pool skills involving black-out masks, regulators being ripped away, fins being stolen, divers being flipped around and upside down (as if in a turbulent shore exit gone awry), air being turned off, etc., etc., etc. Some protocols had to be strictly adhered to: You couldn't lose contact with your buddy; you had to signal out-of-air, wait a brief period of time (~30 seconds), doff your tank, bring it around in front of you, replace your regulator, turn your air back on, hold on as you endured more "intenseness." Of course, students weren't subjected to such harassment on day one. Students were *developed* over an entire semester. They were subjected to increasingly more intense skills as the semester progressed. We all were always briefed; we all knew in principle that "things" were about to happen.
Despite what some may think, this wasn't a macho thing. I don't recall any chest thumping or fist pumping. There were male students and female students (some of whom were quite petite).
I've written here before that I believe this type of training has real merit. I think it has made me a more competent diver. I believe I personally benefitted from having gone through such training, a couple of times in real life intense situations.
I know of at least two places where this type of thorough training can still be had.
Safe Diving,
rx7diver