Best entrance requirement for scuba training

[fisherdvm]

Some of the current minimum standards, plus a few other suggestions.

OOPS, the underwater swim is 50 ft, and not 50 yards as stated in the poll. Can't be edited, so we'll leave it as is.

 

[spectrum]

Opening with a legitimate skin-diving program or prior experience.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

In the instructor forum they talked about doing a top notch turn out the best divers ever program.

Only problem I see is, if the costs go up, we chase them away, don't you agree?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

200yds, 10 minute tread, 50 ft uw one breath they should not progress to training with scuba gear. If they cannot increase this to 300, 15 min, and the 50 ft under water they should not get a card regardless of their other skills.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

In the instructor forum they talked about doing a top notch turn out the best divers ever program.

Only problem I see is, if the costs go up, we chase them away, don't you agree?

Some need chased away, methinks. Churning out people with poor/no skills does not make the sport better.

 

[fisherdvm]

200yds, 10 minute tread, 50 ft uw one breath they should not progress to training with scuba gear. If they cannot increase this to 300, 15 min, and the 50 ft under water they should not get a card regardless of their other skills.

Jim, I don't argue with the Y's minimum standard. However, I see more safety benefit in the demonstration of ease of rhythmic breathing in 100 yards, than 300 yards of back stroke, crawl stroke, or breast strokes where one's head is held high out of water. Surely, I've seen many folks who can perform 300 yards with their head and hair dry. But the ability to maintain calmness when you are bobbing in the water depends alot of the synchronization of your movement with your breathing. Just my 5 cents worth.

 

[psychocabbage]

hmmm.. so some of you want to make the sport elitist while others want to make it more popular.

interesting..

In BMX racing we want everyone to race regardless of skill with the thought that eventually you will get better if you practice it enough..

In auto racing we want everyone to at least know how to drive safely..

For scuba, I want the people to understand safety first.. their individual ability to swim not a factor at all IMO.. but I am noob and what do I know.. that being the case, I know I would not be a diver and neither would my kids.

 

[gypsyjim]

To begin with, a simple level of comfort and competency in the water seems like it should be enough to begin introductory Scuba training. It's more the level of skill and expertise achieved during the training, in order to certify, that is what's really important. As long as someone is not terrified of the water, or unable to swim at all, it's not what that person starts with, but what they, and their instructors are able to achieve that will determine what kind of diver they can become. Isn't the skill levels required to GET (that means truly earn by mastering skills) certification are much more important than where the person began? My opinion only

 

[Doc]

Minimum credit card limit of $15k free, and three weeks vacation a year, no kids under 21 and a wealthy S.O.

All that ability level and safety junk stuff above sounds okay, too.

 

[scubadale]

Did you mean 50 ft uw swim or 50 yd?????