First off, I apologize for raising the issue of fitness, it was not my intent to muddy the waters. A swim test is simply just one in an array of things that we require from our instructors for both renewal and re-qualification.
To the more substantive point at hand: If a student participates in a class that that has not been run to standard, rendering the student under-trained, what would GUE do if confronted with a course completion form that indicates that the student has passed?
GUE would look to ensure the completion of the student's training--render them a safe diver-- without additional cost to the student. We would and have leveraged institutional resources to remedy student dissatisfaction where warranted and instructor shortfalls without additional cost to the student. We, however, would not ratify a certification--issue a card-- in full knowledge that a diver would be at greater risk of harm because of sub-optimal training.
Having said this, if such an oversight did occur I am very confident that the GUE instructor in question would seek to remedy the situation at no cost to the student. In effect, the oversight would be unintentional and when pointed out the GUE instructor would do what she or he can to make the student whole. GUE instructors are fully cognizant that they are renewed annually and that their credentials can and will be pulled if they fail to represent the best interests of the agency--no ifs, ands, or buts. Because they have undertaken a very costly and rigorous process of instructor development for the privilege of representing GUE, and because this process ensures as best it can that they identify with the principles of the organization, they will do whatever they can to abide by the letter of the law. If they make a mistake--and this will happen, though rarely--they will remedy the oversight. If the violation is intentional, then there is a disciplinary course that is followed. In such a case, the students will be made whole through the use of institutional resources.
