Perhaps he thinks it's unsafe because the PADI system for training open water divers does not allow an instructor sufficient time to build up to this skill. I know. I went thru it. It's do this, ok, now do this, and now this. Ok check out time.
Every pool session we review what we did in the last one and build on that in the system I now teach. You could clear your mask fine the last two sessions? OK, now do it again and this time remove it while hovering off the bottom and clear it.
We start this skill by removing gear a piece at a time. fins, bc, weight belt, mask. Sitting on the bottom. Now take the reg out and replace it. Ok everything back on. Next session after doing that again along with a no mask swim, then a swim with no mask or bc while air sharing. Then come back put everything on. Then I demo the ditch and recovery drill. Then the students turn. One at a time with me within arms reach.
By the time they get to this it's not such a big deal. Of course it's also been said at least 20 times never hold your breath. I even exaggerate the act of exhaling while ascending SLOWLY and pointing to my mouth. This is in 10 feet of water. I'd love to be able to do it in an 18 foot pool. Would be so much easier to do with the extra pressure helping to stay down.
This takes place at pool session 5, 6, or 7. Depending on the student's progress, the size of the class, and my judgement as to whether they are ready for it. How many of you who say it's too dangerous do that many pool sessions and spend that much time building up to a so called difficult(by that time it's not) skill? How many of you review previously learned skills every session? I'm guessing that the ones that think this is dangerous do not do this. If not, why not? Too much time to be sure they have this stuff down?
