Blatant Challenge

[waterpirate]

Given the heated debate that took place this morning regarding training standards and how to proceed, a few great points were made. For those without the time to wade through 16 pages, here is whear the buck stops!

The overview
Agency's are corporate

Agencies all have standards

Agencies all think they have it all figuired out

All agencies have room to improve and change their standards

The challenge is this:
no matter what agency you are affiliated with
no matter what type of diving you do
no matter where you dive

Find someone that wants to be mentored or needs to be mentored in the type of diving that you do, and help them for 4 weeks. Check your egos at the door and really help guide someone to being a safer better diver. After the 4 week period hopefully some of the people who were mentored will chime in on their experience, and I would like to hear what the mentors take away from the experience as human beings.
Are you diver enough for the challenge?
Do you accept the challenge?
Are you open to meeting new people and learning from them?

The glove has been removed, and you have been challenged.
Take the discussions here out into the water and make a difference.
Eric

 

[bookboarder]

Well, I'm still learning, so anyone who wants to mentor ME is more than welcome! I WANT to be a confident, strong, and safe diver. I plan on furthering my diving education and diving as much as possible.

 

[waterpirate]

Bravo Bravo,
poke around your local LDS and see what you can learn and who you might meet!
Eric

 

[Spratman]

I'm sure you will have plenty of offers for mentoring...

Nice synopsis! I've had plenty of mentors through the dive club I joined. Accelerated my skills considerably, particularly with bouyancy, trim and equipment configs. You just need to shop around and find someone that you can get in tune with...

Not nearly enough mentoring going on. Probably because there isn't a certification for it...

 

[Thalassamania]

Well, I'm still learning, so anyone who wants to mentor ME is more than welcome! I WANT to be a confident, strong, and safe diver. I plan on furthering my diving education and diving as much as possible.

Find a way to volunteer at the aquarium and stick like glue to the instructor who ran your class ... sounds like an instructor that knows which way is up.

 

[philmayer]

Even though I haven't been diving long, I've mentored several divers. It doesn't take four weeks to make a better diver. If you've got a diver who's willing to learn and you're willing to help (without ego), you can make a huge difference in just a few dives.

By listening to the questions they've asked and really thinking about it, they've also helped make me a better diver.

 

[bookboarder]

Find a way to volunteer at the aquarium and stick like glue to the instructor who ran your class ... sounds like an instructor that knows which way is up.

Sadly my instructor is 2,000 miles away from me. She was a very thorough instructor, though, and I'm glad I wasn't just handed that C-Card. I definitely felt like I accomplished something when I got it.

I am going to head over to a LDS when I get an opportunity. Just wish there was more diving within easier access here.

Thank you all for your input and advice, and I do intend to stick with this--- as does my hubby.

 

[Thalassamania]

Sadly my instructor is 2,000 miles away from me. She was a very thorough instructor, though, and I'm glad I wasn't just handed that C-Card. I definitely felt like I accomplished something when I got it.

I am going to head over to a LDS when I get an opportunity. Just wish there was more diving within easier access here.

Thank you all for your input and advice, and I do intend to stick with this--- as does my hubby.

Try the aquarium anyway ... and have fun.

 

[TSandM]

I am always up for mentoring. I've made offers to a number of people who just haven't followed up on them -- There's one person I was talking to before the board crash, and this reminds me I need to get in touch with her again. There are two sides of mentoring -- You have to have someone willing to do it, and you have to have someone who wants to learn and improve, too.

 

[bookboarder]

Thanks for the idea on the aquarium. I'd imagine that they do need divers since there has been such a drain on folks since Aug. 05. I'm on the page now, and looking into it, quite seriously.

Now, you've gotten me excited. I'd much rather be in an exhibit than in Lake Pontchartrain...