I think this illustrates an important problem in how we think about overhead environments. We tell people that they aren't qualified to be in overhead environments without technical certification, and that is the rule. Period.
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I think the same thing would be true if we had more reasonable guidelines for overhead environments, and, BTW, I'm working on it.
This is an update.
I did work on it. PADI has accepted my Distinctive Specialty named Understanding Overhead Environments. It is an academic only class that discusses the different kinds of overhead environments and their different levels of danger. What is important about it is that the course accepts that some overhead environments are acceptable for divers without technical training, and the course has PADI's endorsement. This is a major change in thinking on the part of a recreational dive agency.