Some thoughts on restructuring SCUBA training ...

[Web Monkey]

Can you provide a link to three of these courses? Since there are "a lot" of these courses, you'd think it would be pretty easy, but I have yet to find one.

Here you go.

"About 167,000 results (0.13 seconds)"

Terry

 

[rstofer]

True, that. I'd go so far as to say there isn't enough time in 40 OW dives to "perfect" buoyancy. However, I agree with Epinephelus that we should get students off their knees from pool session 1.
><>

Absolutely!

But there is a gigantic difference between buoyancy control in the pool without a wetsuit and in the ocean with a 7mm suit. Trying to maintain depth in the top 10' or so can be quite a challenge.

I learned to dive in wam water. What I learned about buoyancy control was meaningless when I came back to California; I knew nothing!

Richard

 

[boulderjohn]

Here you go.

"About 167,000 results (0.13 seconds)"

Terry

[Sigh]

Such a search is MEANINGLESS.

You did a search for scuba instruction AND 2 days. That means you get any site that has scuba instruction and the phrase "2 days" in it somewhere. Anywhere.

Let's take the open water instruction description for the first site you picked up on your search:

Minimum age to take course is 12 years old. 5 FULL DAYS are required for 30 hours of training in classroom lectures and water skill development. Students must have a CURRENT MEDICAL FORM signed by their doctor certifying them to be in good health for scuba diving. Course includes: (9) beach dives and (1) two tank boat dive. All equipment necessary. Books, dive tables, dive log and diploma. Children between 12 & 15 years old will receive a JR. OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION allowing them to dive only under the supervision of an adult certified diver.​

So, Open Water instruction takes 5 days. Somewhere else in the site something takes 2 days. It might be a macrame class.

As I said--MEANINGLESS!

Terry, you have been down this road before. Why are you doing this?

 

[*dave*]

I've googled several iterations of exactly that phrase, but following up the links yielded no course I could walk into on a Saturday as a non diver and walk out Sunday as a OW certified diver. I don't believe the two day OW course exists, except on the internet.

Here you go.

"About 167,000 results (0.13 seconds)"

Terry

just google "scuba certification in two days"
here are a few... there are hundreds listed.
FAQs ~ Learn to Scuba Dive in Two (2) Days, Tampa (Fl) Florida
PADI Scuba Diving Lessons and Scuba Courses in Belize
Avadon Divers - Placencia, Belize - Diver Training & Certification
SCUBA Diving Lessons
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[dwhthediver]

IMHO, most people getting certified want to get certified to do some vacation 40' look at the pretty fish dives, once or twice a year, if they have a DM or instructor leading the dives, even better, but those people aren't usually on SB, the people on the board for the most part are passionate about their education and their diving, and see more skills added to a class as a bonus, that is not the case with the majority of divers.

 

[*dave*]

IMHO, most people getting certified want to get certified to do some vacation 40' look at the pretty fish dives, once or twice a year, if they have a DM or instructor leading the dives, even better, but those people aren't usually on SB, the people on the board for the most part are passionate about their education and their diving, and see more skills added to a class as a bonus, that is not the case with the majority of divers.

Part of the problem is that many people think that's what they are getting. I did a drift dive last week with some folks who had just done a quickie certification so they could enjoy the reef and see some pretty fishies. What I saw looked more like fighting for survival, than what I'd consider enjoyable.

Perhaps, had these folks understood the value of a solid foundational training, they might of enjoyed the dives. Listening to the post dive chatter, there likely won't be a next time for a couple of them.

 

[OldNSalty]

I'm not a fan of the current layout of classes-OW, AOW, Rescue, DM or MD, AI and Inst. I would rather see somethign like Diver and Instructor...maybe one more thing in between.

Anyway, as much as people actually hate the idea, the only way to universally raise standards would be to get the government involved. I suppose like private pilot license now-you can go to an independent instructor but there is a very strict course he has to teach to. If I knew that they wouldn't make it worse, I would actually support such an idea.

 

[Web Monkey]

So, Open Water instruction takes 5 days. Somewhere else in the site something takes 2 days. It might be a macrame class.

As I said--MEANINGLESS!

Terry, you have been down this road before. Why are you doing this?

I'm bored and Google is fun.

Terry

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Part of the problem is that many people think that's what they are getting. I did a drift dive last week with some folks who had just done a quickie certification so they could enjoy the reef and see some pretty fishies. What I saw looked more like fighting for survival, than what I'd consider enjoyable.

Perhaps, had these folks understood the value of a solid foundational training, they might of enjoyed the dives. Listening to the post dive chatter, there likely won't be a next time for a couple of them.

Talk about a CF!

 

[Walter]

I do not have a problem with shops/instructors selling short courses (I suspect 2 day classes
are extremely rare, most short courses are 3 - 4 days). I do object to misleading folks into
thinking the short course is the same as the long course - especially, as Bob says, most will
opt for the short course even when they know the diffeence.

I do not want to control people, I have enough trouble keeping myself under control. I make
choices for myself. I choose to never teach a short course. Other choose differently. We
all must live with our choices. If you want to teach a long course, I would suggest checking
out SEI. If you want to teach a short course, there are lots of options available to you.

There used to be some complete training classes (YMCA, LA County)

There still are some complete training classes (SEI, LA County, CMAS, BSAC, and a few others).

I have not seen any statistics that would support a charge that divers
are being inadequately trained.

There are no legitimate statistics about diving. How many dives are made each year? How
many divers are there? You don't know? Neither does anyone else. Without knowing how
many dives are made in a year, statistics about diving are impossible to obtain. Look at the
photo *dave* posted. All of them survived. Many of them, according to *dave*, were pretty
miserable. I look at that photo and think they need help because they have not learned to dive.
You seem to think they have all been adequately trained because they all survived.