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I agree with your other choices but it seems to me that #2 would preclude one from learning while using a stainless steel bp/w since quite a bit of weight is 'integrated' there.
Cheers.
-J.-
Not to say these gears are not pleasant to use. They are. That's exactly why they shouldn't be used in the initial demonstration of mastery of these skills.
If you are trained to drive only automatic cars, and went somewhere where only stickshifts were allowed. Would you be at disadvantage?
If the push button BC's fail or if you had to borrow a regular mask - can you use these gears? That's what the OW card should do - allow one to use most Bc's, most masks, or weight belts - without problems at the surface, or down under.
Not to say these gears are not pleasant to use. They are. That's exactly why they shouldn't be used in the initial demonstration of mastery of these skills.
If you are trained to drive only automatic cars, and went somewhere where only stickshifts were allowed. Would you be at disadvantage?
If the push button BC's fail or if you had to borrow a regular mask - can you use these gears? That's what the OW card should do - allow one to use most Bc's, most masks, or weight belts - without problems at the surface, or down under.
I second the OP. IMHO, the diving instruction should include real diving equipment, not resort certification toys.
In my opinion, a student completing OW training should NOT have the following gears:
1. Purge valve mask.
2. Weight integrated BC (at least until you've completed the donning/removal exercise; at least not using that feature until you've completed the drills).
3. Up/down push button BC.
4. One way inflator hose that comes with the up/down push button BC.
I second the OP. IMHO, the diving instruction should include real diving equipment, not resort certification toys.