Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
At 10:03 AM 4/14/96 +0100, you wrote: >Will someone enlighten me on the workings of the diving world, I'm still >thinking like a FNG. I was under the impression that the whole >certification business (a card for everything, or so it seems) is the way >the dive industry is trying to *police itself* so that the local state >and/or Feds won't do it for us. (or *to* us!). > >I flash my PADI dry-suit specialty card when I attempt to rent or >purchase a dry suit as a means to demonstrate to the shop owner that I've >had training in the idiosyncracies of diving with a dry-suit (that I'm >formally within the diving community's regulatory system). Rob,there are 2 issues here;prevention & profit.In the first place,yes,one of the very vital functions the certification agencies serve is to promote self-regulation vs. outside regulation.For the most part,I think they've been pretty successful in this;they have also had 1 major shortcoming,which I'll mention in a moment. The other aspect is the profit thing.Here's where you get the expanded- time low-content courses.There is virtually no SUBJECTIVE difference between a nitrox dive & any other decompression dive.A diver that has already learned gas & time management skills for decompression purposes doesnt get any real new skills during a nitrox dive. Ive seen some agencies offer courses in navigation,wreck diving,swift water diving,and charge separately for each.I've also seen one agency charge a flat fee for an advanced course which encompassed all of these.So,for some skills,maybe the itemized approach is best;these being ones that a significant portion of the diving community has no need of (drysuit possibly being one). However,the liability issue is addressed whether you charge a person $1000 for a full diving education or 10$/lesson for 100 lessons..The rest is a matter of marketing & profit. This brings us to what i see as the biggest shortcoming of the agencies;policing current instructors & enforcing standards.There is very little feedback or control over an individual instructor unless there's an accident or someone complains.Showing the shopowner a card saying you know how to use a drysuit may keep him from losing a lawsuit,but as mentioned,it wont actually prevent him from being sued,which can be as expensive as losing in the first place.The problems arise from people cutting corners,whether through inability,expediancy,or to increase profits.If an instructor gives someone a card stating they are proficient to this degree,it SHOULD mean that they can perform a particular skill without assistance and in a consistant manner.Often it does not;all it means is that the individual has paid an instructor a fee & has attended at least one lecture on the subject. Bottom line is something I think has been said here before; 1) it aint the certification agency that's important. 2) it IS the instructor,& how good a job he/she does and as for good instructors; 1)did they cover all the material(all is subjective..did you learn all the skills you need to do the type of diving you desire) 2)Do they explain WHY as well as WHAT? 3)Did You get frequent opportunities to APPLY what you learned (a circuit from orange grove to olsen to pothole to peacock counts as ONE opportunity,even if you surface at each & recalculated thirds.) 4) were you BOTH comfortable with your skill levels before he signed off on your card. 5) Remember,minimum standards are just that. John L. Dunk o Tallhassee,Fl. o screwloose@ne*.co* ______o_________
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]