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On Thursday, May 21, 1998 7:29 AM, Christian wrote: >>I would think that Jane, (snip) like all the other >>relatively new divers I have known would have included her training >>dives with her recreational dives to a sum total of <100. Now Jane was, >>in this instance, doing a trimix course, which means that she would have >>previously done a EAN course, and before that a master diver course, and >>before that ... you get, I trust, my drift. All of these require >>training dives under supervision. (snip) >>Excuse me, but am I the only voice in the wilderness to suggest that >>less than 100 dives (including training dives) is not exactly a panacea >>for qualification for a demanding course such as this? >> >>I, for one, think it most unlikely that ANYONE has the necessary >>experience to undertake this kind of activity with this number of dives >>under their weight belt. NOBODY, not even the WKPP and I am sure that >>they would agree with me here, CAN TEACH EXPERIENCE indeed I much doubt >>that the WKPP would remotely entertain instruction at this level to >>people this experienced, or rather, to people with so little experience. I understand and appreciate the anger that, Alan in particular, Dan, George and the others involved in the search have towards the Instructor in this case. I know that the 'Experience' (and I use the term advisedly!), of the Instructor is instrumental in this incident, but exactly how do you measure the readiness and ability of a potential student wanting to undertake such a course? And how do you measure their experience? By the number of dives alone? By the number of dives at a variety of depths and in varying conditions? Or by certification card and log book evidence that they have completed the necessary pre-requite courses and subsequently completed a 'sufficient' number of dives using the methods/equipment taught on that course? It would be a tough call to make! I know people who have logged many hundreds of dives in a variety of conditions and who would still lack the mental competence to handle the task loading required for a tri-mix course - with comms equipment! (I'd be frightened to step into a swimming pool with some of these folk!) Likewise there are people with comparatively few dives, but who are able to grasp, and apply, all of the principles very quickly. Ultimately it must rest with the Instructor as to when a person is *ready* to undertake such training. The question is: Who decides the competence of the Instructor? And what qualifications do they have to judge the ability of potential students? Christian! I agree with you that there needs to be some measure of experience for potential students. But there needs to be even greater control over those people let loose to teach them! The problem is that by allowing market forces to decide which Training Agencies will survive - and many of them seem to adhere to the saying that, "In the valley of the blind the one-eyed man is king!" - there is even greater potential for more losses. That's when, ultimately, governments step in and lump everyone in diving into the same boat - including, for example, the WKPP and every other group that is, "doing it right!" Unless people like, Dan, Alan, George and others, like you, are vocal in their condemnation of current practices, diving will be the loser. I'm afraid I've offered no solutions, just questions .... Strike -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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