One of the best posts I've seen. My teenagers and I were products of a weekend certification course, and it wasn't until I began working as a DM that I really saw how training should be done. As much as I wanted that cert (patience isn't my strong suit...) we would have been better served by a longer course, with more indepth classroom work and more pool time. Skills were easy for all of us, and there were no anxiety issues. My daughter plans to expand her college videography studies to focus on underwater film, and my son enjoys diving with me (loves hiking more, sad to say). Fortunately for us, there were no safety issues, no panic, no ego that would push us to dive beyond our capabilities in the early days. But I have seen those problems in others I have been around, and it is a huge concern.
I don't want to see recreational diving limited to those who can do pushups with tanks on their backs and formulate their own dive tables. It's wonderful that the sport is now open to such a wide range of people. Among other things, it spreads the word about ocean conservation as new divers see what it is they are being asked to save. There's nothing wrong with being a "vacation diver" who likes to add dives to a yearly trip, and doesn't do much the rest of the year. But even those divers need more serious training than they are currently getting, and it has led to accidents and deaths that are tragic and unneccessary.
I don't have all the answers, but it seems that as a community who shares a passion for the beauty of the underwater world, we owe it to those who want to join in this passion the commitment to provide them with good training, a high awareness of the reality of ignoring safety rules, and dive ops who are committed to providing quality opportunities to enjoy the sport. Yes, certified divers are responsible for their own safety. No, we don't need heavy regulation that requires a lockstep approach to what you may and may not do after "x"# of dives, with scuba police to enforce the rules. We do need more emphasis on honesty and reality during the training phase that gives newly certified divers the tools to make smart decisions. Want to continue your training, dive as often as possible, learn everything you can? Great; this is how to go about it. Only want to dive on vacation? Great, these are the things you need to consider when booking your trip, and these are the limitations you need to understand. And never forget who is responsible for your safety, even if you hire a dive guide: you are. If you aren't comfortable with this, maybe diving isn't for you.
It's hard to consider telling a potential customer that he/she may not be suited for the sport, especially in this economy, with so many shops out of business or barely hanging on. And the equipment has changed so much, making diving more accessible to the average person. But bad press is a huge financial black mark (for those who are driven by the bottom line), and accidents and deaths always get bad press.
I've wanted to dive for ages, and wish I hadn't waited so long to learn. I love this sport, and won't stop until I no longer have the strength to lift my tanks. But I want it to be a sport where safety and personal responsibility take precedence over profit.
