I agree. The guidelines are starting to sound just like the GUE course...
I certainly am seeing quite a bit of reluctance on SB to strengthening many of the "normal standards." Why are we even bothering to attempt this if everyone is hooked on the current situation?
I have to admit that I'm both amused and surprised by many comments as to how hard or overkill the suggested swimming standards are. Far more difficult standards were common, when I completed them at age 12. Why is it that so many seem to think that such a change would take diver education in the wrong direction? It would emphasize fitness and that alone would be a healthy change.
I understand that a separate course should be designed for vacationing divers, the infirm or those that are blind or have special needs. I'm all for that, but the course we're designing (as I understand it) is to be the foundation for diver education. A course you would feel comfortable for your loved ones to take and not worry about their involvement.
My understanding was a course that would create a diver who would be competent to dive independently in a buddy team, who could help him/herself, as well as another. 20 minutes in a pool as long as constant forward motion was seen??? That's not a diver that I would want my loved ones to buddy with. Is it yours!?
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