Disturbing trend in diving?

[B N Coleman]

Pardon me, but I'm a little flabbergasted.
I haven't been diving that long, I only got certified in 1998, but we did learn tables and they hammered them into our heads. Granted it was a local course intended for local diving so they prepped us to be 100% self sufficient divers that could plan and execute a dive on our own with another OW diver without any guidance. Of course tables have been replaced by computers now, but the rest is still the same.
I'm just curious, is this part of OW training now at these locales to not need any personal data where you guys claim this is commonplace? Are they teaching "Just follow the guide"?
Or are these people just blowing off their training and not buying computers because they don't want to waste money on something they don't use anyway?

Hi - at DiveISC (currently not available in the USA), we ensure divers are trained in dive tables, their use, and the importance of staying within their personal limits. We emphasize that divers should never blindly follow a guide or divemaster, as many will push limits to impress or deliver a ‘better’ dive. Understanding depth and NDL limits is critical—because ultimately, every diver is responsible for their safety.

 

[boulderjohn]

Hi - at DiveISC (currently not available in the USA), we ensure divers are trained in dive tables, their use, and the importance of staying within their personal limits. We emphasize that divers should never blindly follow a guide or divemaster, as many will push limits to impress or deliver a ‘better’ dive. Understanding depth and NDL limits is critical—because ultimately, every diver is responsible for their safety.

What tables do you use?

Do you provide any training on using computers as well?

"We emphasize that divers should never blindly follow a guide or divemaster, as many will push limits to impress or deliver a ‘better’ dive."

What are they instructed to do in places like Cozumel where following a DM is required by law?

 

[dmaziuk]

See it on a lot of guided dives. Especially saw it in cozumel, ow divers doing repeated dives to 90 feet and not watching NFL at all.....

I don't watch NFL even when I'm not diving. Is I gone die?

 

[annoyingNudibranch]

Sadly, many yes. Ranges from all cert levels. But ive come a cross a number of vet Owcs with own gear and over 5k dives under their belts. They'd outdive many instructors i know. Its like when you have friends on a camping trip and theres one who smells the tracks and listens to cowdung

 

[John C. Ratliff]

You mention that water in your wife’s nose is a big problem (or I read it in another post). May I suggest a fairly large volume mask with a good purge valve in front as a counter to that problem.

Also, I think I related that I was diving for three years before ever receiving actual instruction. I was certified LA County in 1963. I really don’t feel that scuba diving is that hazardous, especially if the depth is limited to say 30-40 feet. I was diving rivers and lakes at the time, and shallow.

Take a look at my mask collection below, and note that the larger, tri-window mask by Scubapro in silicone, may be the best for this situation. The mask on the lower left, which is a TUSA “Hyperdry” Imprex, is my wife’s mask and she really likes it.

Tusa Imprex 3D Hyperdry Mask and Case ☆ See Pictures ☆ Fast Shipping ☆ | eBay

Tusa Imprex 3D Hyperdry Mask and Case ☆ See Pictures ☆ Fast Shipping ☆

www.ebay.com

Finally, I have experience in a number of fear-inducing activities, such as parachute jumping in the U.S. Air Force. My experience was that, even after two weeks of training in parachuting and parachute landing falls (PLFs), it wasn’t the first jump that was producing the most anxiety; it was the third. The first one was almost automatic, the second I started thinking about it after the jump, and the third parachute jump produced the most anxiety before the jump. Then, I survived that third jump, and I was good from then on, and could focus more on jump techniques, how I exited the plane, and the PLF.

Diving may be the same for some as parachuting; it takes some experiences (plural) to become more comfortable with scuba. And, it may not be the first scuba experience that produces the most anxiety. But over time, with more experiences, it becomes routine and does not produce that high level of anxiety.

SeaRat

 

[P-Dog]

They only place I've seen this is Raja Ampat. I couldn't believe it - the casualness taken by divers over their control and safety. On every single dive other divers on the boat would try to tag along with me since I'm a DM, had my own gear, and, generally, know what I'm doing. In the past few years, vacation divers have been having to make very long longboat rides to Sorong to the chamber. Not a way that I'd like to spend my vacation.

 

[Soloist]

Take a look at my collection below, and note that the larger, tri-window mask by Scubapro in silicone, may be the best for this situation.

SeaRat

Very nice. However, you may have to change your nickname from SeaRat to PackRat!

 

[therookie]

Take a look at my mask collection below

That's quite the collection!

You make a good point - the fit and style of her mask could make a big difference. The one she is currently using is relatively new to her and seems to fit well (professionals at the dive shop where we bought it helped her) but she hasn't had much chance to use it since due to very poor snorkeling weather our last few trips

 

[russ805]

I'm not sure, but if a dive operator knows the maximum depth and dictates the time and requires everyone to ascend with (or before) the divemaster, it may not be that big of a deal if customers simply play "follow the leader" - as long as they watch their own air supply.

I've done many, many dives where two 60 foot dives were scheduled with a 30 minute bottom time. As long as everyone follows the guidelines, they really don't need a computer to remain out of deco.

Personally, I don't dive without a computer unless it is super shallow and I might not turn it on just to save batteries.

Save batteries? Your well being is not worth the price of batteries? I change mine at 50% there is nothing to win by milking batteries until the are exhausted, unless your batteries are rechargable and non removable.

 

[EFX]

See it on a lot of guided dives. Especially saw it in cozumel, ow divers doing repeated dives to 90 feet and not watching NFL at all.....

So, for those of you who do not know what NFL means apart from the three hours of hysteria we just witnessed a month ago; it means No Fun Limit. It can occur at any time but mostly rears its ugly head when NDL has gone to zero and you realize you don't have enough gas for those mandatory deco stops.