Since you are in the stance of NO diving for SDI divers without a computer.
It's not just me. It's the SDI agency. Check your instructor manual on this -- I do recall reading it that in order for an SDI diver to be qualified to dive, they must be diving with a computer.
What would your recomendation be for dealing with that circumstance from a training standpoint?
There are only two ways I can think of -- either require table mastery, or deal with this restriction. SDI looks at this as a "pro" on their side of the "pro/con" columns. It means more equipment sales, more equipment rentals and less work trying to teach tables.
I will be talking with the NW TDI/SDI rep within the next few weeks, maybe you have some suggestions that may make a difference.
I believe that SDI has made this a selling feature of their program, and as such will not be in a position to change it, unless most of the industry recognizes that these divers have no idea what they're doing without a computer on their wrist / console.
Diving is supposed too be fun, and not allowing a new diver too dive may just turn off a new diver too the whole experience of diving. Maybe instead of not allowing a diver or two too dive, you could instill in them that learning the tables would be benificial too them and take them under your wing and give them a quick once over on the tables and tell them that for a nominal fee you could teach them the ins and outs of table diving.
I could... but the liability on that one is huge. If they ran into problems, or later chose to blame me for a future incident, I'd have no paperwork to go back on to say "they proved mastery of the table" -- unless I was to have the PADI final exam on hand to have them work through those problems, complete with the usual medical and liability releases.
Perhaps a supplemental SDI "Table Diver" specialty would be in order?
Heck, who knows, maybe it would constitute a nice tip? And if not, we BOTH know it should have and if nothing else would probably get good word of mouth for your outfit.
The thing is that, while that is all great, they're essentially at the equivalent of the PADI Scuba Diver when they don't have a computer. (PADI Scuba Divers don't need to learn the tables, but must dive with a DM or Instructor and are depth-limited to 40').
So, yes, I could take them diving, if there was a spare DM/instructor that would stick to 40' or shallower with them... but that isn't likely to find approval either, when the other certified divers are headed to 80' to see the Hawaiian Garden Eels at Molokini (no, they're not found shallower than 60-80') or the shark ledges...
At that point, there are only two ways of getting them up to speed (staying within standards) on tables: PADI Enriched Air Diver or the PADI Multilevel Diver (includes training on the Wheel format of the RDP table). Note: neither of these are SDI programs.
I'll let you all know how it goes. Wish me luck.
