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> From: HeimannJ on Tue, Feb 23, 1993 6:44 PM > Subject: Put Another Dollar In? > To: techdiver > > Dave Waller's note, which identifies him as a YMCA instructor, reminds me of an > unrelated issue. That is, to what extent do readers feel that the profit motive > (which is presumably important in for-profit organizations like PADI, NAUI, and > now IANTD and ANDI, but less so in nonprofits like YMCA, NSS-CDS, and NACD) > detracts from the safety of technical training? A slight correction: NAUI is also non-profit. Interestingly, NAUI's and YMCA's programs are very similar, and stress safety ALOT. This does not mean that these programs are necessarily better than the PADI approach (however in the opinion of this author, they are, which is why I pursued my Instructor certification with YMCA). One effect that profit motive _seems_ to have on an overall SCUBA program is the sectioning of the material into smaller units of certification; in general, YMCA and NAUI basic open water programs are longer and include more information than the PADI program does. Students that complete OWII with NAUI or YMCA are generally considered to have equivalent training to the PADI Advanced certification, but will usually have spent considerably less $$ (note that this is simply my own experience here in the SF Bay Area; it is not always the case that equivalent PADI certification will cost more). > Moreover, the standards > they adopted for recreational diving came from the nonprofit time, when the > principal motive of these organizations seems to have been to establish some > self-policing within the industry and thus avoid government regulation. Interestingly, the YMCA was intimately involved in the formation of these standards that were later adopted by NAUI when it came into existence. YMCA was the first national certifying agency in the U.S., so it is probably natural that they were involved. The first YMCA standards were very derivative of the L.A. County (Fire Dept.?) certification standards that were in use locally. Also of interest to those of you not familiar with the YMCA program is that we still teach use of the abbreviated Navy decompression tables as part of Open Water certification. The entries for 40-130 feet are included on the back of the YMCA plastic tables (which I find very useful). Of course, this information is taught with heavy admonishment that decompression diving is a highly advanced technical procedure, and should not be intentionally engaged in with an Open Water certification. Nonetheless, we teach this material because of the basic YMCA SCUBA philosophy that knowlege is safety, and should a sport diver inadvertantly find themselves in a situation where they have exceeded the NDLs, we want them to know how to compensate to maximize their safety. It is the responsibility of the diver to stay within the NDLs, as it should be. Very libertarian. Perhaps *that's* why I'm a YMCA Instructor :-) Dave Waller YMCA Instructor davew@hp*.pt*.hp*.co* "This ain't your father's YMCA :-)" (408) 746-5324 Hewlett-Packard Co.
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