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On the issue of "public knowledge", I think that there IS a body of
knowledge out "there" for prospective tech divers.  The difference
between the recreational knowledge base and the tech knowledge base is
that any certified diver SHOULD be able to field a general recreational
question, while it may take a little more time and effort to find an
answer to a technical question (even a wrong answer).

As far as non-cave tech diving, I hope that the recruitment poster
scenario is rather rare.  While I have run into people who have planned
to dive doubles from the start (even before being certified), I would
think that most people go to doubles as a result of getting hooked on a
type of diving that almost requires them (ie. wreck or cave diving).

In this situation, the prospective tech diver would be exposed to
experienced tech divers just by participating in the type of diving in
question.  Prospective tech divers CAN ask around; and considering the
amount of money involved in moving from rec diving to tech diving, it
would be stupid of them not to.  The problem is that there are too many
opinions that ARE based upon ignorance.  

If you start qualifying experience I think you're going to run into
problems.  I know a number of divers who perform 300+ tech dives a year
using what would be considered stroke gear, and have been doing this for
much longer than I have been diving.  Could you realistically convince a
new diver that their experience was insufficient or that their diving
practices were unsafe?

The tech diving certification issue is probably not an issue outside of
caving.  For ten dollars anyone can walk into a dive shop and pick up a
set of Navy tables.  Then it's just a matter of figuring out how to read
them, and the next thing you have is a deep air candidate.  

Improving the quality of instruction should be a continuing goal of the
dive community.  Unfortunately, this aint rocket science.  The more
important goal should be improving the knowledge level and experience of
dive shop employees.  These are the people most likely to be fielding
questions about equipment and gear configurations. (I was going to say
"answering" but thought better of it.)  The onus here could be placed
upon the shoulders of the shop owners and the manufacturers.  After all
an informed sales force almost has to be a more successful salesforce.

The only realistic place for the physical screening of divers is in
certification related circumstances.  Obviously, tech diving is beyond
the bailywick of the PADI Police and another agency must take the lead
in this matter.  Even then deep air would be an alternative for the
physically "unfit".

just my $0.02, (well not really, more like $0.01, I left out my opinion
on the mental state needed to dive)

Shaun

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