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Bravo Tom! Being an expert diver does not make an instructor (and vice versa). Just = because someone is very proficient (or even the most proficient person = around) in some skill, does NOT mean that this person is capable to = effectively communicate on or TEACH that subject in a classroom setting, = and evaluate whether his teaching has been comprehended by the students. I speaks for your integrity that you know (and respect) someone's skills = and still insist that he be probably evaluated in *all* aspects of being = an instructor. Best Regards Andy ---------- From: Tom Mount Sent: Friday, March 07, 1997 1:31 PM To: cavers@ge*.co* Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com Subject: Re: gmi trimix certs Hi Jesse In Sept of last year George contacted Billy Deans and I at IANTd about=20 becomming an instructor. We did not give him a run around , we did spell = out the requirements he would need to meet (remember at the time he had=20 no instructor ratings at all), we even tooki his abilities into=20 consideration and presented him with a plan that would expidate his=20 certification to the levels he was interested in. It did require an IDC. Shortly after that is when you apparently gave him a trimix instructor=20 rating, without a formal IEC or multi person /instructor evaluation.=20 We (IANTD) have no problem with your awarding him a TDI trimix=20 instructor rating without having him first be a scuba instructor and=20 without having him do IEC's at the specified instructor levels, or=20 having co taught any of those courses. =20 HOWEVER within IANTD we do not have that degree of flexiability, thus=20 we required the formal environment of instructor training. I do not=20 think abiding by our standards constitutes, the comment of giving=20 someone the runaround.=20 Presently we are setting up an IEC program to allow George to crossover, = it is an IEC though and George will have demonstrated in a formal=20 setting all the teaching abilities in SCUBA and then in the Halcyon.=20 Part of this program involves his teaching a program(s). The main goal is to get him qualified as a Halcyon rebreather=20 instructor. I personally know his abilities on this unit and I have=20 dived it with him, he has more hours on it than I do now and most likely = more than Jack kellen (the designer) and Robert at brownies(the=20 manufacturer) however we will formally do the IEC and have him TEACH in=20 a formal course, which is different than an informal setting.=20 He will also do and demonstrate all the skills in the standards so it is = public record he did as much to earn his instructorship as anyone, with=20 the only break being he is expidated somewhat due to his experience=20 which we do indeed recognize and reflect this in allowing him to come=20 directly up to a Halcyon RB instructor in coinjunction with the overall=20 IEC/IDC. It also verifies what I as an individual already know in that=20 he has the knowledge, skill and capability to teach and fitness level to = handle emergiencies.=20 IANTD is bound by its standards and priniciples to this course of=20 action. George does not seem to mind at all. In fact I think(opnion) he=20 rather enjoys the chance to demonstrate his skills and knowledge, and=20 that his certification will be solid and not open to questions. Tom Mount Jesse Armantrout wrote: >=20 > Since there seems to be little interest in facts on these lists, many = of you > may wish to disregard this post. However, the following are the facts = with > regard to the trimix instructor certification of George Irvine, III. >=20 > I certified George as a TDI Trimix Instructor. After hearing that = George > was being given the run around by another agency, I suggested that I = might > be able to help. It was my idea. I called Bret Gilliam and asked him = if I > could waive certain requirements. Bret said that it was up to me, as = a TDI > trimix instructor trainer, and that I would have to document = everything. I > prepared the paperwork and faxed it to TDI headquarters. >=20 > The reasons I felt George was qualified to teach trimix were based on, = among > other things: > 1. My personal observation of George conducting over a dozen long = range > trimix cave exploration dives > 2. Diving with George on deep open water dives > 3. The fact that since I have known George, he has taught me more = about > trimix than I thought I knew. >=20 > George told me that the primary reason he wanted to become a trimix > instructor was for the training of WKPP personnel. Nobody in the = world is > more qualified to do that, and anybody that questions that needs to = come out > and visit a site over which George is presiding. >=20 > I did not think it was necessary to force George to go "step-by step" > through a formal TDI course, as I had already witnessed the execution = of all > requirements to my satisfaction. If anybody has a problem with this, = they > need to contact me. Not George. Not TDI. Not the lists. My phone = number > is included. >=20 > Jesse Armantrout > TDI IT#17 > 334-443-4695 >=20 > -- > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to = `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. > Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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