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I'd bet a quarter that was an upstream second stage? There's a special place in hell for engineers that have designed such technical marvels.

Demo of a freeflow:Mbt0_bbBjDA

Start in shallow water where you can stand up, depress the purge button for max flow and pop it in your mouth. Yes, but more specifically we are referring to a free flow that will not stop. That's the idea, but the discussion is more about whether it goes all or half in in order to allow excess...

Given the context of the OP is one of instructing new divers within the confines of the PADI system, I'm going to guess there is only one way that is appropriate to teach the skill. I'm not affiliated with that agency, but I've gotten the impression they are pretty specific as to how they want...

I've done it both ways, but find it is more comfortable to use the half in method. I find the positive pressure created by the all in method creates too much effort on exhalation. YMMV

I never really thought about it, but I suppose I do consider myself an advanced diver. I can only base that assessment on how my skills, knowledge and experience compare to other divers which I would expect to be advanced. Master Instructor, DCSI, IT, IC are all ratings which would ideally be...

Not in my book. It's a review question from chapter 3 in the current SSI OW manual. It seems to me it is being presented as a viable ascent option.

Now, this really has no bearing on the debate, but I do find it interesting. "If you are confused or panicked and there is doubt about which ascent to use, ditch the weights and do a buoyant ascent." Anyone care to guess the source and date of this quote?

Yes, dumping weights was an option. Typically, it wasn't required nor recommended, but it was an option. 76,77 and 78 NASDS in 76, SSI 77 and 78 I don't recall. The standard rental rig was a SP horse collar and I believe they did have a CO2 inflator mechanism, though I'm not sure what the...

Now, that's just ignorant. I'm speculating such statements are based on what you might imagine would happen or what you may have been told would happen, but it's clear your understanding is limited in regard to the procedure and the physiological realities of a proper execution. Free ascents...

I could buy into that. In fact, I can think of two students I would have exercised that option with, so.... I think the idea has merit under ideal circumstances. Given current agency attention to QA, I still see it as a very slippery slope that would be abused.

I was taught "Never hold your breath", but I can't recall ever meeting a person able to equalize without doing just that.

If this is true, I'd have to guess you're among the top 1% of quality instructors. Cream of the crop....Congratulations! How do you see this working out for the bottom 90%? Personally, I see a bigger potential for shorting students. Your 180 minutes of BT is hardly the norm nor would it be...

Well, there's a helluva lot more divers now than any other time so things must be getting better already. If we put certs in every box of Cracker Jacks, we have a lot more divers, but I just don't believe the number of new divers is a sign of industry health

While I don't believe one day checkouts would be beneficial or even possible in my case, I don't see how altering its duration would "improve the industry". How would that work, again? I'm convinced the answer has to do with intent. When instructors become truly professional and shops focus on...

It already exists. SSI has a a "Scuba Diver" cert that is exactly that. I've issued two in the last two years.

Quality instruction that produces solid, entry level divers with solid foundational skills takes no longer than producing crap. I see instructors attempting to make instruction "fun" and I think that is a mistake. DIVING IS FUN, as long as you have the skill set required to enjoy the dive. I...

If a person can't commit to a weekend of checkouts, I don't give high odds on their continuing with the sport. For me, I typically leave the house before 7:00 am and am lucky to be home by 6:00 doing a max of 3 dives a day for each student. The drive sucks, but instructing is a commitment. If...

Sorry our schedules didn't mesh. I managed to get ten shore dives and three trips to Lanai. 77 is the temp I saw all week.

I think a lot of people read "mean" into posts that only exists in their own mind. Personally, I can't recall ever having anyone here be mean to me, but I pay more attention to content than delivery and I have very low expectations. :)