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>> Volker
>> What is your problem during a dive sometimes a instructor leads part of it
>> and follows part of it at all times they give full attention to the
>> students. you obviously are not an instructor.
>> Respectfully yours,
>> Tom Mount
>Tom,
>
>If an instructor is being paid to teach a student on a rebreather, then the
>instructor should follow the students where he can observe "proper", or
>"improper" behavior by the student. Not to mention being there if a
>catastrophic problem occurred---if the instructor was following, like they
>were paid to do, they would observe this in the first moments of the crisis,
>and intercede to save the day....if the instructor was leading, they may
>well notice nothing until all they have left to do is the body recovery.
>
>Respectfully,
>Dan Volker
Gentlemen.
There is nothing wrong with an instructor "leading" a student or group of
students on a dive. Of course, I have to qualify this with the caveat that
the instructor must give the student/students their full attention, must at
all times be in control of the student/students, must be in close enough
proximity to prevent and or arrest any actions that may lead to
injury/incindent/accident, and of course closely visually supervise the
student/students. Also, the instuctor must be ready to respond immediately
to any stragglers or strayers.
I believe Tom assumed that if an instructor was "leading" that the
instructor would be observing these safety protocols, and Dan assumed that
if an instructor was "leading" that the instructor would not be observing
these safety protocols.
I often "lead" uncertifed divers ( Discover SCUBA ( resort SCUBA ) and open
water / beginner courses ) and "lead" certified divers ( any course beyond
these three entry level courses ). If conditions or environment or any other
consideration does not permit me to follow the above standards then I add a
divemaster or divemasters, or reduce the size of the group so as to enforce
these standard safety protocols. Safety first.
By "leading" the student/students, I can follow the dive plan, take the
student/students to an interesting divesite (wreck ) or locate interesting
flora or fauna that adds value and quality to their ocean training. I can
control depth and distance to the exit point and both alternative exit
points. I can modify the dive plan as the students progress on the dive,
such as heading for the exit point if there are heavy breathers or someone
indicates they are getting cold, or change the course of the dive if there
is an unexpected current or unusual visiblity factors not predicted by a
site observition before the dive. Also by "leading" it is far easier for me
at least to stop the group and "huddle" for a quick check of the their
guages ( gas or decom status, whatever ) or to point out an interesting
critter ( Hey we found a giant seahare, or albino sea cucumber, this is
really cool ! ).
By "leading" the group, I can look back every ten seconds, or more often,
and visually observe their actions and reactions ( rates of respiration,
clearing of masks, monitering of guages, buddy contact, buoyancy skills,
etc. etc. ). If I were to "follow" or "swim beside" I would not have this
excellent vantage point of being directly in front of the student/students.
Also, when I lead, I have disovered that by making gradual S turns at a
moderate pace I can supervise the entire group at all times. This is
radically different than most instructors who simply swim in a straight
line. Also, this lazy S turn pattern allows those that do not have the
strength or stamina to maintain pace with the group to simply swim a
straight line in order to easily keep pace or catch up, and allow the more
conditioned students to follow my course and get some serious swimming in.
What I have found when I allow a DDM to lead, or follow and just supervise
the students, I've lost a little bit of control. I realize we live in a
democracy, but on a dive in on of my classes, there is no democracy, I am in
charge. Hey the "safety" buck stops with me.
Although my limited experience with 'breathers is only based on a dozen
dives on an Atlantis, in my humble opinion the above mentioned would also
apply to 'breather training.
Kevin
" You'll never miss the water,
until the well runs dry . . .. "
as sung by Bob Marley
[\]
|
|
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
o o
o o
o o
_____ o o
(_/\_) o o o
=( )= oo
Kevin Rottner
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