Reverse Patch Diving

[doctormike]

There are some people who are really into collecting certifications, going quickly from class to class, assembling an impressive array of cards (or “patches”), without doing a lot of diving. The term “patch diver” refers to this sort of person, and it’s not a compliment.

I have also seen a few threads here about people who want to be trained just to the agency minimums to minimize cost and/or time, to get a certification card. Some divers are focused on getting the card without getting the training. In some cases, this is understandable - say, an experienced diver who has been solo diving for years, but who now needs the card because of the policies of a certain dive operator or training facility. But even in that situation, a professional can often suggest improvements to years of bad habits. So I would like to put in a good word for “reverse patch diving” - that is, getting training without getting a card.

I recently showed up at our local lake with some friends but no buddy. Rather than just renting a transponder and doing a solo tour of the facility, I asked Wayne Fisch (a popular local instructor, AKA "Wayne at Diveseekers" here on SB) if he had time for a coaching session. He was able to fit me into his training schedule, and we had a terrific dive, well worth it!

Coming out of the off-season, lots of my skills and procedures had become rusty, and Wayne made sure to abuse me enough with various drills and simulated catastrophes to shake off the cobwebs. I still have a way to go (don’t we all?), but that was definitely time well spent.

So here’s to Wayne, and the other local Instructors who have done similar things for me or my friends (Antonio, Trace, Justin, Don, etc..). No matter who you are and how much you dive, it always helps to have a pair of trained eyes watching you and giving you objective feedback. The world’s top professional athletes all need coaches, why should we be any different?

Training without certification is much better than certification without training!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

One of the biggest reasons I offer non cert workshops. Still fill out the paperwork for liability if it is an actual coaching or teaching session. While I may know the diver and he or she be fine with an informal deal, I don't always know the family if something were to go wrong during the session or more importantly later after we are done and the diver is on their own. Depending on the agency instructors can do a lot of things under the protection of a tailored variation of an actual class that does not require a cert card be processed.

 

[Rossia pacifica]

As a new diver, I haven't figured out why so many people are down on card collectors or patch divers. There are other underwater activities such as photography, spear fishing, and bottle collecting that produce little trophies to annoy friends and family with. What is so wrong with someone who likes the challenge of learning a new skill and then receiving a merit m badge for it other than it being a little dorky if they glue their patches to their drysuit? I've noticed that of the students that were in my OW class, it is the ones that continued to take other classes that dive more often. Considering that I went through AOW and rescue in my first year of diving I m probably a patch diver. I still think it's worth it, especially the the rescue class. Each class has made me feel more confident and aware on my non class dives. I've already decided to keep collecting a few patches a year as I want to keep building skills. Oh, to the OP, a custom, private, class to work on what I need to personally work on sounds awesome too, even if there is not a trophy.


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[lowviz]

...//... I recently showed up at our local lake with some friends but no buddy. Rather than just renting a transponder and doing a solo tour of the facility, ...//... Training without certification is much better than certification without training!

This hits close to home for me. First, how exactly do you get a transponder at Dutch with just "OW, AOW, Nitrox, Dry Suit, Rescue" ? Copied from your profile I, too, would like to practice skills there. I took a shot at a high-end solo course for just that reason and didn't meet the requirements. So now I practice solo in the open ocean. Wayne was on the boat with one of his students last month, seems like a nice guy. Minds his own business.

All of my problems, every last one, stem from my inability to maintain static trim. There is no patch for correcting that. Couple of weeks I'll be at it again, seas and currents permitting...

 

[TSandM]

We did a bunch of weekends of training with Andrew Georgitsis, back in the day. No card was expected from it, although in the end, he gave us one.

In riding, we take lessons, sometimes for years. I don't understand why people think their diving education ends.

 

[Gren]

As a new diver, I haven't figured out why so many people are down on card collectors or patch divers.

I think the concern comes from people getting minimal training and thinking that they are capable. I've met people that only have one c-card that are great divers and I've met DM's and instructors that shouldn't be allowed near the water. The important thing is what you are capable of and that you know what you are/aren't capable of and that you get the appropriate training for the type of diving you do. Unfortunately, bad divers aren't only a liability to themselves.

 

[rongoodman]

All of my problems, every last one, stem from my inability to maintain static trim. There is no patch for correcting that. Couple of weeks I'll be at it again, seas and currents permitting...

There might not be a patch, but there is Fundies!

 

[lowviz]

There might not be a patch, but there is Fundies!

Yes, there is. Several fine DIR types (for this post: GUE and/or UTD ~ DIR) got me infatuated with the whole idea several years ago. I do my homework before putting my money down on the counter. The problem is that unless you present in something close to static trim, fundies will be a waste of time. There are enough class reports of ego-beatings that I'm beginning to wonder if GUE (a non-profit organization) is not just culling for the natural diver that will require less attention and resources. I am a very deliberate person and learn best over time and practice.

I've never taken fundies but the problem is real. "Real" meaning that it is either one of advertising or substance, doesn't matter. I refuse to take a course that requires I present with the very skill that is my goal. Yes, I would need to find an unpaid mentor. I just don't buy into this business model. Why not just take vector calc as a freshman and find some sympathetic upperclassman to mentor you? There just isn't enough time in a week to take an entire class of badly rigged students from bicycling to hanging in trim. GUE Primer looks close, but there is still too much in it for eight students.

I've said it many times, the DIR world needs a course that JUST gets one squared away with respect to gear, configuration, and body position. "Stable Platform" and nothing more. But by then, I'll probably have figured it out for myself...

 

[rongoodman]

Have you looked into the GUE Primer class?

 

[lowviz]

Yes, still too much.

It has been my experience that the higher the calibre of the instructor the more likely one is to get a skills assessment/redirection type of course. I truly would like to see a "Stable Platform" course. There would be no hiding from the reality of one meeting or falling short of the goal and the instructor would be forced to teach to a single outcome.