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I've had my weight pockets fall out TWICE. I heard the click, double checked for proper seating and had my buddy check me again. As soon as I hit the water one of my weight pockets fell out. Pretty embarrassing thing to happen to an instructor in front of students! Needless to say, I changed to...

I'm an SSI Open Water Instructor and use the same mirror on my wrist, so that I can quickly check on other divers while I'm leading dives without being forced to physically turn around. It works great and can double as an emergency signal mirror. I hope this answers your question!

I'm positive. SMB deployment is taught in Pool Session # 5 and is executed by the student in OWD # 4.

If your instructor was SSI, he violated course standards by not teaching you compass and how to deploy an SMB. It is a course REQUIREMENT!

No worries!

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a new OW Instructor. SSI has recently "recommended" that all OWD students be taught from the dive position. I agree with you that this is better protocol.

Kosta, My taking Stress and Rescue and becoming a DAN O2/ BLS/ AED provider and logging 75 dives before taking Deep Diving was a personal decision. We all know that if things go south while you're diving deep, things can get really ugly, really fast. I wanted to be prepared to take the correct...

Absolutely! At my shop we are required to finish all paperwork and print a physical card and printed certificate within 24 hours of course completion.

Based on 25 years of experience, my shop owner believes that it is too dangerous to allow a new diver with 5 dives (for example) to attempt a Deep Dive class before he or she has mastered the basics of SCUBA diving like maintaining neutral bouyancy, emergency proceedures etc. I agree with his...

While SSI only requires OWD to take the Deep Diving course, my shop requires a minimum of 24 logged dives before a diver can register for Deep Diving.

SSI Standards for AOWD: Complete four (4) SSI Specialty programs AND log 24 open water dives. Only two (2) specialties from another recognized certification agency may be credited toward the Advanced Open Water Diver rating.

I think you might have misread my post Michael. The OWD classes at my dive center on average takes 3-4 hours for EACH session. The owner of our shop is an SSI Instructor Certifier who demands nothing short of excellence from his instructors and our students. I agree with your assessment that...

From SSI Standards Manual: Complete Diver Stress and Rescue or its equivalent and four (4) additional SSI Specialty programs. Only two (2) specialties from another recognized certification agency may be credited toward the Master Diver rating. All non-SSI certifications must be entered into ODiN...

And this is the primary reason I see so many dangerous divers that are "certified" by resort areas.

The most challenging thing is trusting your equipment and trusting YOURSELF. If you don't master these two challenges, it won't matter how good your instructor is. Believe in yourself and your equipment, pay attention to your instructor, ABSORB the skills he demonstrates to you and you'll do...

We teach six confined water sessions (including snorkelling). With an average class of 4-6 divers, each session takes between 3-4 hours, including dive briefings and debriefings. Two hours for ALL 5 sessions? No way!

SSI requires 4 specialty courses, Stress and Rescue PLUS CPR. We normally have our Master Diver Candidates take the full DAN course that includes, CPR, BLS and AED.

I think that IDEA is also recognized in Croatia.

The only place I know of with that description is "Podvrska Beach" on Murter Island. You would be required to pay the 323 Euro solo-diver fee at the Lučka Kapetana: Lučka ispostava Murter 22243 Murter Butina 2 Tel.022 435 190 Present your OWD Certification, pay the fee and you're good to...

I never had the honor to meet Andy but always found his videos professional and entertaining. Blue skies Andy.