Should all instructors really have ALL their own equipment?

[drrich2]

It's my understanding from posts on this forum that Dive Masters usually don't make particularly good money. So demanding they provide their own set of expensive gear and subject it to dozens & dozens of highly chlorinated pool dives seems a bit much.

That said, back when I was training in late '05, I was interested in what products my instructor was using. Not because he pushed any brand (he was an independent; no LDS), but because I was overwhelmed by a huge array of choices for multiple gear types, for which one could find pro & con posts on retailer web sites, and I didn't have the background to make an informed decision. Is that budget XScuba reg. 'so close I'll never know the difference' to that Atomic Aquatics B2, or would the latter breathe easier & reduce SAC? Scuba gear costs enough money that many of us don't want to buy it twice (yeah, good luck with that...), so polling the one seasoned pro. we know at the time seems wise.

You can say what's right for one person may not be right for another, but I'm thinking most of you seasoned instructors could probably pick better gear for many of your students than they would pick for themselves (talking basic OW students here).

Richard.

 

[doctormike]

During my rescue course was the first time I encountered the Aqualung buckle as I was using a different brand then. It took me extra time to figure out how to open the stupid buckle, time the victim would not have had if I had been in a real rescue scenario.

I think that if it had been a real rescue scenario, you would have just had to deal with whatever brand BC the victim was wearing, no matter how much time it took, right? It's not like you can certify as a Scubapro-Only Rescue Diver...

I can't imagine that there is enough functional differences between brands of equipment so that it would be a learning problem for most students. Yeah, I guess there are minor variations, but pretty much all entry level dive kits have pretty much the same features. Maybe an instructor shouldn't bring a rebreather to an OW class...

Finally, I'm of the opinion that an avid diver should have his or her own gear, and that an instructor should be an avid diver, at the very least.

 

[bl6394]

Working through the DMC class now with a PADI shop.

Most of what I do is personally is tek diving and I own all of my gear (7 regs, 2 BP/W, an SMS 100, a gaggle of single and double tanks of various sizes, and lots of other kit) My fold-able snorkel... was dusty but serviceable. But I don't own a SINGLE jacket BCD - and haven't for some time. So I've been doing the class with a BP/W and STA.

Doing some of the skills in the pool have been fun / awkward... Some of the skills - demonstration quality - in a jacket BCD are completely different than with a BPW. Where the instructor might make an exaggerated demonstration of loosening all of the straps and cummerbund before undoing his quickreleases... I have one buckle at the waist - a custom fit harness - and no quick releases or adjustable straps...

For the gear exchange - none of the other DMC (who came from more of a recreational diving background) wanted to do the drill with my BP/W - and they asked me to borrow a jacket for the drill. It went fine that way. Rescue drills were also a bit dicey - as they tried to get me out of my harness.

Weighting is also different... I usually dive a balanced rig - with no ditch-able weights. So for some of the exercises to work - I've added an extra weight belt and tend to be over-weighted in class.

I've sometimes wondered how it would go over to DM a class with a BP/W when all of students and instructors are wearing jacket BCD's. My suspicion is that it might muddy the water more for new scuba divers than not. I'm inclined to buy an inexpensive jacket BCD to make life easier for all.

The LDS I'm working with now seems to be pretty reasonable about equipment - and that is one of the reasons I like them and work with them. Although they might prefer I buy a jacket BCD - no one is pushing the issue. And it was suggested I might use their rental gear - if available.

The LDS I previously worked with had a policy of making Divecon candidates buy all new gear from them - replacing what they already had - even if it wasn't necessary... Suffice to say that I'm much happier with my present LDS.

- Bjorn

 

[redacted]

It would seem I cracked pandora's box a little bit here.
Clearly not everybody agrees, especially LDC owners and their employees.
So, I'll go back to the original issue that brought up the topic, which is in the OP.
I feel a student and instructor should be wearing the same equipment for THE STUDENT'S sake (whether or not the instructor owns his own equipment). I could care less about what the LDC owner's profit margin is. That being said, I haven't seen a valid argument so far as to why and instructor should have his/her own equipment as a prerequisite to teach (besides an LDC not having enough equipment, but I wouldn't work for a company that didn't have enough equipment anyway).
Also, the stories so far about LDC's requiring particular equipment to work for them is EVEN LESS incentive for a young professional to start making purchases before landing a job they see themselves in long term. It feels a bit like the industry is detaching itself from its future instructors/leader.

I guess I just don't understand. How does it happen that a person is so into scuba that they are an assistant instructor and want to become an instructor and don't own their own a complete set of scuba diving gear?

If you are talking about owning the makes and models that a shop may want you to use when employed as their instructor, I can see that issue. The shop should help you acquire that gear through keyman discounts or provide it to you for classes.

But how have you been diving without owning a complete set of gear?

 

[tomfcrist]

What he said^^^^^*

 

[Aguablanco1]

While it's a poor workman that blames his tools, it is even an poorer workman that has no tools to begin with. Get some tools dude!
RichH

 

[FM1520]

I don't think it matters if there is a difference between the instructor and student's gear. When I did my open water all the instructors and DM used drysuits with a BP/W and the students all had wetsuits and jacket BCDs - didn't confuse anyone. Going through the drills you do in OW: "basic 6" or S-drills is the same regardless of the rig.

In my Advance class some students and instructors were using side mount but still no big deal.

 

[RJP]

Our shop requires STUDENTS own everything for any course except OW & EFR.

Really a bit silly, no?

 

[tomfcrist]

Not silly at all actually. As I said before, it's in the S&P of more than a few organizations.

 

[RJP]

I've sometimes wondered how it would go over to DM a class with a BP/W when all of students and instructors are wearing jacket BCD's. My suspicion is that it might muddy the water more for new scuba divers than not.

I've been doing so for years, as has every other DM I know, and most instructors. No problem at all.

It's funny how so many dive pros bemoan the fact that training has been "dumbed down" but then turn around and treat students like they are idiots. How on Earth will wearing a BP/W "muddy the water" for new divers?

---------- Post added June 7th, 2013 at 07:53 PM ----------

Not silly at all actually. As I said before, it's in the S&P of more than a few organizations.

So, a student wraps up OW this weekend and enjoys it so much that they want to take a Nitrox class next weekend... and the shop says "Sounds good. That'll be $1,700." ??

Which organization says that student must own their own gear above OW?