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>A few months back, someone (I think either JJ or Ted Cole) was telling >me >that an OW instructor was now putting all his students in DIR from >the >start - single cylinder, small wing, backplate and harness etc. He's >found >that his students pick up the core diving skills faster and are more >comfortable in the water than those who use "conventional" equipment. > >Regards, >John. I second (or third or fourth or whatever we are up to) that motion. When I was actively teaching 73-80 I was putting students in one or the other of the two original wings (as far as I know) the At-Pac by Watergill and the Scuba Pro Wing. The At-Pac had a thick (about 2 & 1/2") backpack which held lead shot with a drop bottom that allowed you to ditch the weight. I also taught breathing the long hose (even though it was only 4 feet long) and handing it off to the OOA diver and going to your second, second stage which was hanging around your neck like it was supposed to be, on the strap that came with it from the factory! As previously stated, nice an uncluttered with nothing but your tank straps accross your front. None of my students (to include my 95# wife) ever had a problem with it. This was a great improvement over the horsecollar BC. When the jacket BC's came on the market in the late 70's I thought "That looks dumb!" Just cluttered things up again. Haven't changed my way of thinking. When my son took lessons two years ago the shop used BC's. Once he had "graduated" I taught him to use wings and a backplate. His first comment, "This is great! Why didn't they use these in class?" It has been opined to me that the jacket BC provides a sense of security to the new diver who is not that confident or strong in the water. When I mentioned that comment to my son he said "Why would you try to teach someone to dive who is so uncomfortable in the water that they need to feel like they are wearing a "lifejacket". Chip off the old block, that boy! Dave Dalton ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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