Definition of Open Water certification

[jimdiverman]

You can dive in 10 feet or less vis. I have dove in the mud hole on the Ayuruoca with 8 feet of vis at 150 feet. But if you are doing training dives with new students, you need to be concerned with keeping them all within sight, and being able to see them perform their open water skills. 10 feet of vis does not lend itself to accomplishing that effectively. I'm not going to say it isn't done, and if you train in that and succeed, that is fantastic. It makes you a better diver out of the gate. Maybe if everyone trained in that there would be better divers out there to begin with. Training in high vis with no waves and current takes away alot from "open water" training, in my opinion.

 

[Nemrod]

It's still not "open water". It's a "confined" space no matter how big it is. As a certified diver I would never go to such a facility, I prefer to dive in the "real" ocean. But, something like this I think might appeal to the non diving community as a way of experiencing what it "might" be like in the ocean. Kind of like a "resort dive". JMHO rca:

Since one of my post initiated this thread per the OP let me add that the springs of Florida, Ginnie for example, are hardly larger than a swimming pool and yet everybody--EVERYBODY--considers that a legitimate dive, cavern dive and even cave dive.

The "giant inland scuba theme parks" I was thinking of would be much larger, much deeper than a swimming pool, would have living eco systems and would certainly qualify as a real dive. I was no talking about a concrete tank, I mean a living eco system created for the purpose of diving including salt water. They could be built to utilize existing terra features to enhance the natural appearence.

Most of the inland lakes people dive are already man made, I just mean to make one specifically for diving, smaller of course and perhaps with a controlled climate. Imagine walking through a rainforest to a pool of water six times larger than Ginnie with a saltwater eco system. Oh heck, throw in a giant water slide, strap on your gear and zoom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A glass tunnel through the middle of the pool would allow forest hikers to walk through the marine eco system.

N

 

[adurso]

You can dive in 10 feet or less vis. I have dove in the mud hole on the Ayuruoca with 8 feet of vis at 150 feet. But if you are doing training dives with new students, you need to be concerned with keeping them all within sight, and being able to see them perform their open water skills. 10 feet of vis does not lend itself to accomplishing that effectively. I'm not going to say it isn't done, and if you train in that and succeed, that is fantastic. It makes you a better diver out of the gate. Maybe if everyone trained in that there would be better divers out there to begin with. Training in high vis with no waves and current takes away alot from "open water" training, in my opinion.

You stated:"10 feet of visibility is unsuitable for open water training because you cannot maintain a group of new divers and watch skills under those conditions. Even at some advanced levels of training, it is too low a visibility for skills.

So would you use that site to prepare an open water diver? No, you wouldn't."

Perhaps I was not clear. It is done all the time.

See this site for indoor open water training: °°° N E M O 33 °°°

NEMO 33 in Belgium is roofed and is used for open water training all the time

 

[tflaris]

I write this as a spin off from "The future of diving" and take a quote from the poster "Nemrod"... "Giant inland scuba them parks". I know of such a project in the planning stages but DO NOT want the details of that project to be on the discussion table. My question is this. Let's assume that this large aquarium is under roof. At what point will the agencies allow the OW certification to be completed in such a facility? It is allowed at Homestead crater in Utah, which might as well be under roof. I am curious of everyones thoughts. If one can learn to ski indoors (Dubai) I would think this as an acceptable practice, should a facility be able to meet certain requirements.

For the sake of argument let's assume this aquarium measures 100 feet wide by 250 long and a maximum depth of 70 feet.

Bruce

Best to check with the Training Director of the Agency issuing the Certification to clarify if the site can be used.

NAUI states the site has to be a minimum depth with clear access to the surface. Different places around the country allow for different type of checkout sites to be used. it states in the NAU training material that you will not be trained for every type of Open Water Diving just that which is of the same nature you were trained in.

Hope this helps.

 

[mrlipis]

Do you mean 10 feet of visibility or 10 feet of depth? Your post is not clear. 10 feet of depth would be ridiculous. You would not use that site to prepare an open water diver

.

Sorry, I was in a hurry when I made that post. I have seen some of the skill being performed in a 10 depth. BC removal, surface navigation etc.

The Living Sea at Disneys Epcot is an indoor site that has been qualified as an open water training site.

Thanks Steve, I forgot about that place and have heard positive things about the diving there. Did not know it was approved for certification.

Bruce

 

[John_B]

Then, a mere three days later, this thread shows up.

 

[Walter]

The Living Sea at Disneys Epcot is an indoor site that has been qualified as an open water training site.

Which agencies have lowered their standards to allow that?

 

[mrlipis]

It just goes to show you how far ahead I think. A real Nostradamus.

Bruce

 

[Lead_carrier]

The Living Sea at Disneys Epcot is an indoor site that has been qualified as an open water training site.

When did this happen and who allows it? And who would I need to contact to set training dives there? The last time I talked to the Living Sea you had to be certified to dive there.

 

[captain]

Other than perhaps greater depth I really don't see much to be gained in "open water" especially in quarries and springs that can not be done in a training pool. Open ocean is somewhat different as usually it involves conditions such as boat exit and entry, current, waves, and marine life usually absent in land locked quarries and lakes and also makes students deal with a higher stress factor.

My 1970 YMCA course did not include an open water dive, everything was done in the pool. Just like a lot of things in the scuba industry, in my opinion it is mostly a revenue generating activity because it is not usually included as a part of the cost of the certification course and in many cases the open water part cost more than the course itself because of travel and equipment rental.

Someone who did their "open water" dive in a spring or quarry is no more qualified for an open ocean dive than someone who did their "open water" in a pool.