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But I have also asked that there be no bashing ... I have the ability to either keep the subject on track, or ask a moderator to lock it.I'm glad we agree. However, my expectations are not very high. I've been reading scubaboard since 2002 and every single thread that starts out with a question about something that's wrong in the industry ends in PADI bashing.
It's like an addiction some people have. They seem to have a deep *need* to blame someone for mistakes....
But I gave no answer ... I gave a series of questions for you and others to consider. Some have provided excellent answers. You seem to want to focus on parsing my words and telling me what's wrong with them.I would agree with you that I wouldn't expect instructors showing the level of competence you described to be very good. I think you started out with a great question, "what constitutes professionalism in scuba training?"
It's just unfortunate that you gave us the answer too...
I think that's unfortunate.
That, at least, is a legitimate question. I held off providing my answer to give others a chance to chime in first.So what *do* you think is professionalism in diving instruction?
R..
Professionalism, to my concern, starts with knowledge. Not the knowledge to regurgitate a program as it's written in the standards and class materials, but rather to put context around what's being taught and the ability to explain to your students why it's important. A great deal of knowledge at this level comes from actually diving in a variety of different settings, such as you will expect your students to face once they've completed the class. In this respect, experience matters.
Then there's the ability to teach ... to impart knowledge in a manner that's not only easily received and parsed by the listener, but that gives it meaning in the context of the limited experience they will receive in the class. It's one thing to have knowledge ... it's another altogether to be able to pass that knowledge to others in a way that helps them understand the subject at the requisite level.
Then there's the ability to dive ... every agency requires what they call "demonstration quality skills". But what that term means seems to depend on the IE or CD who is evaluating the instructor. It must ... because I see instructors out there who are appallingly unskilled ... and not all of them are new instructors. Many have been teaching the same poor quality class for years. It's all they CAN teach, because they lack the fundamental diving skills to be able to do better. It's amazing how many certified divers I've run across who it never even occurred to that you CAN or SHOULD be able to clear your mask without first kneeling down on the bottom ... because that's all they ever saw their instructor do.
Finally there's the behavioral aspect that Lynne described so well ... scuba instruction is like a show that MUST go on. A professional instructor can deal with problem students in a positive, productive manner ... is prepared to deal with equipment problems ... manages class expectations and schedules predictably and effectively ... and perhaps most importantly of all, keeps the class FUN. After all, that's why people are taking it. And there's no reason why you can't set a high bar and do all of that ... the best instructors do.
Notice that nowhere in any of that have I mentioned money. Of course, a quality instructor should be compensated accordingly ... but there's no reason why any of us can't or shouldn't charge for our services what we believe they are worth. Not all of the renumeration will be financial ... I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping people learn to dive, and have developed a great many competent and reliable dive buddies in the process. That's worth a great deal to me ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)