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Dan Volker said: >The instructor which is frequently chosen AFTER the purchase, is >then placed in the position that they either train this person, or this >person loses a fortune in their rebreather investment and with no recourse. > How can you train a person who doesn't take their training seriously? How >can you train a person not competent intellectually to learn the gas >physics? What do you do if they have come all the way from accross the >country or the world to learn the use of this new investment? And what if >you know after three or four days, that this person will die on whatever >system you put them on if the eposure is far beyond recreational in complexity? > >Not everyone can or should be a technical diver. Not everyone can or should >use a rebreather. Considering the increased complexity level of the >rebreather, and the big investment, I think the Tech Diver list needs to >agree on some standards to force on the industry, before a real incident >occurs. >Anyone have some ideas? >Dan I agree not everyone is appropriately suited to use a rebreather. Fortunately most technical agencies seem to understand this and take an entirely appropriate position that tuition pays for training and not for certification. This is appropriate for the student (safety), the instructor and the manufacturer (liability). The manufacturers must be willing to back up an instructor who will not certify someone to a level and the instructor needs to be paid for he certainly, by all ethical rights did his/her job (sometimes non-certification is the better approach). The manufacturer also has an ethical need to adopt some refund policy for such cases (RBC, the manufacturer of the Odyssey, does have a policy of refunding money less stocking fee appropriate to the individual case). There is I think another type of diver that is more prevalent than the non-trainable, for that type is rare if the instructor does not feel a pinch from the manufacturer to certify . The instructor simply remediates to whatever level is appropriate. That's more money to the instructor and more safety to the diver. The other type diver I allude to is the one whose attitude not skill level makes him/her potentially dangerous to themselves. They're the ones who are labeled "an accident waiting to happen". RBC, is considering use of the Meyers Briggs test to predetermine what type of diver the instructor is going to be dealing with. It is a test that is used extensively in the airline industry (not to exclude, but to coach individual pilots in their weaknesses). The specifics of this test are discussed in the 95-2 issue of the IANTD Journal beginning on page 35, authored by Dr. R. Sellars and Dr. B. Tillman. To quote, <During the past 20+ years of diving experience and research I am certain there are parallels in the human factor errors made by divers which lead to death and those of pilots who die or casue death due to their personality, i.e. human factor. Definitive research has identified the variables of pilot Personality and Attitude as being a major contributor to air accidents. My empirical and personal observation during diving research has lead me to the fact that these same variables are present and a causal factor in many diving deaths involving the human factor.>, and... <....The result would hopefully be a tool to help reduce deaths in the diving industry in the sport sector as well as its use in the commercial and military markets. For the divers who have taken the test and received the results there is consensus the test is a valuable tool and will reduce accidents in the industry. The self awareness gained by individuals is a very important preventive measure.> Using this test, once a buyer has put down a deposit or student has paid for initial training, would be an invaluable tool in assisting the instructor to tailor the course to the psychological / emotional needs of the student as well as their skill levels. As an instructor trainer for several organizations both technical and recreational I feel more confident in turning out a safe diver (no matter what level) when their attitude is appropriate and I would choose proper attitude over skill (almost) everytime for I feel I can develop skills but will have more difficulty in changing attitude. A recognized standard test would greatly aid me in turning the corner with a student of questionable attitude. Copies and testing is available to those interested. Contact me and I'll get you an address you can contact for info. What do others think of this?-Dave
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