Rather than beat around the bush in discussing "scenario based training" and such, OP -- here is the scoop.
By the time TSandM and I took Cavern/Intro with German, we had both taken GUE Fundamentals and I had also taken what would now be called UTD Essentials and Rec 2 (along with TSandM). In other words, we had both taken a couple of "scenario based classes" where the instructor increases your task loading while requiring the maintenance of both situational awareness of the team AND of your position in the water column. The Cavern/Intro class we both took did NOT have that type of task loading. It was very much aimed at teaching us the skills needed to follow a line, find a lost line (or lost buddy), run line, etc. Since we had the non-silting kicks already, we spent very little time on that (which meant we spent more time on what I call the cave specific skills). TSandM believed there weren't enough task loading exercises and so she went on to take the GUE Cave 1 class. I believed the training I received from German was sufficient to provide me with a safe entry to Cave Diving (Intro) and that the best way to continue my training was to go dive in caves, especially with more experienced divers (and I had that option).
6 months later, after having done a number (39) of Intro Cave dives and having a pretty intensive series of "OW technical diving lessons" which were ALL scenario/failures based, I took Full Cave with German. We discussed his style of teaching, mentorship/non-scenario based, and I happen to agree with it. In particular, I believe it was a very good fit with the training I'd already had -- take my mask and airgun my right post -- NO PROBLEM! What I felt I needed was more training in the cave issues -- navigation, technique, etc. TSandM had a different notion -- Your Mileage May Vary!
I believe that scenario based/failures training is very important for the technical/cave diver. You need to find out what stresses you can safely handle. OTOH, I don't believe that ALL your training needs to be of that type. I think (and who knows if I'm right in this belief) that having done the scenario/failure based training in OW was very appropriate since it left my cave training time for CAVE specific training.
BTW, did German throw some failures at me? Of course -- and he saw they were handled smoothly, efficiently, etc. so he told me there wasn't any particular need to spend much time on them.
TSandM and I have different opinions of how training should be done -- but then I was trained to be a trial attorney and she was trained to be a surgeon -- and we have the different mind sets that prove it!
By the time TSandM and I took Cavern/Intro with German, we had both taken GUE Fundamentals and I had also taken what would now be called UTD Essentials and Rec 2 (along with TSandM). In other words, we had both taken a couple of "scenario based classes" where the instructor increases your task loading while requiring the maintenance of both situational awareness of the team AND of your position in the water column. The Cavern/Intro class we both took did NOT have that type of task loading. It was very much aimed at teaching us the skills needed to follow a line, find a lost line (or lost buddy), run line, etc. Since we had the non-silting kicks already, we spent very little time on that (which meant we spent more time on what I call the cave specific skills). TSandM believed there weren't enough task loading exercises and so she went on to take the GUE Cave 1 class. I believed the training I received from German was sufficient to provide me with a safe entry to Cave Diving (Intro) and that the best way to continue my training was to go dive in caves, especially with more experienced divers (and I had that option).
6 months later, after having done a number (39) of Intro Cave dives and having a pretty intensive series of "OW technical diving lessons" which were ALL scenario/failures based, I took Full Cave with German. We discussed his style of teaching, mentorship/non-scenario based, and I happen to agree with it. In particular, I believe it was a very good fit with the training I'd already had -- take my mask and airgun my right post -- NO PROBLEM! What I felt I needed was more training in the cave issues -- navigation, technique, etc. TSandM had a different notion -- Your Mileage May Vary!
I believe that scenario based/failures training is very important for the technical/cave diver. You need to find out what stresses you can safely handle. OTOH, I don't believe that ALL your training needs to be of that type. I think (and who knows if I'm right in this belief) that having done the scenario/failure based training in OW was very appropriate since it left my cave training time for CAVE specific training.
BTW, did German throw some failures at me? Of course -- and he saw they were handled smoothly, efficiently, etc. so he told me there wasn't any particular need to spend much time on them.
TSandM and I have different opinions of how training should be done -- but then I was trained to be a trial attorney and she was trained to be a surgeon -- and we have the different mind sets that prove it!
