cert requirement changes

[Shallow Draft]

I was NAUI certified in 1975. I was wondering what changes have been implimented in the current training programs [not just NAUI] in the past 30 years? I know there have been some improvements. Have there been any changes that have not been progressive?

 

[Walter]

Yes, not so much with NAUI, but some have made major changes that, IMO, have not been good. Discussion of those changes usually results in people getting angry.

 

[Gary D.]

Lots more money to start out.
A lot less training unless you pay extra for it.
Get more people passing so they can spend lot more money.

Today it's a money game.

The gear is greatly improved which has helped the sport.

Gary D.

 

[captain]

Like in a lot of education, scuba training has been dumbed down so everyone passes.

 

[adurso]

What they said

 

[huskychemist]

Having recently been certified, and diving with somebody certified in 1992, here's what we noticed in comparing our certifications:

His training in 1992 was a lot more detailed. More class time. More pool time. More rigorous tests while in the pool before getting to the open water. His training was spread out over quite a few weeks. This allowed him time to practice some of the breathing skills (with his snorkel) in between classes.

My training was in two weekends. The first weekend involved class and pool time. The second weekend involved our open water dives. My instructors were fine, but it was obvious the curriculum was pretty simplified. I felt comfortable getting back in the water when I was done, but mostly because I started diving right away to continue to work on and practice the skills taught in the class. The gear is better now, so diving seems to be more accessible. Some of the science behind diving has improved. So that's where we see progress. In terms of giving divers important skills, the "drill and kill" practice seems to be missing.

Just my two cents.

 

[Rick Murchison]

The changes have not been devoid of reason... For example, my original
Scuba Diver course included deco as just part of the dive tables; there were lots of harrassment drills, pushups with a tank on, buddy breathing, underwater distance swimming to your gear and putting it on, etc., etc. Using hang tanks for low on air/out of air was SOP.
Much of this stuff really serves no useful purpose as skills needed by the recreational scuba diver. But here is just a partial list of things not taught back then, mostly because they didn't exist:
Using an octopus
Using a SPG
Using a BC
---
One skill that has been abandoned that I think should be an essential tool for every diver is tank valve manipulation underwater. I also feel the basic watermanship requirements are overly weak now.
Rick

 

[dbg40]

I was NAUI certified in 1975. I was wondering what changes have been implimented in the current training programs [not just NAUI] in the past 30 years? I know there have been some improvements. Have there been any changes that have not been progressive?

Changes have indeed been made, and they are in fact progressive.
Progressively bad.

 

[Nemrod]

I was NAUI certified in 1975. I was wondering what changes have been implimented in the current training programs [not just NAUI] in the past 30 years? I know there have been some improvements. Have there been any changes that have not been progressive?

There have been no improvements. It has sunk literally to such a level it is beyond repair. Check out the thread in New Divers about the dreaded swim test. Maybe it is just me but I think a person ought to be a decent swimmer to scuba dive. By that I mean actually capable of swimming a few hundred yards in good form using a recognizeable stroke/strokes. Not floating on the back and kicking and dog paddling. I also think they should be able to do a survival float for at least 15 minutes or more. Do a breath hold dive to the bottom of the pool, perform a mask clear etc and return--easily for a few examples. Imagine, getting into the water and being a non swimmer. Yes, some persons who are physically challenged have become good divers but they generally need a dive buddy for at least some support. I have dived with such a diver and enjoyed it as did he. I should point out that while he could not walk he could in fact swim, very well. I am no expert on those sorts of things but I do absolutely think that if a person has so little interest that they cannot get themselves up to the level of a two hundred yard swim test then they must not have much interest in diving. I have been slammed by all the saferty talk on this board yet I suspect some of the people I have discussed safety with cannot swim a lick. If a person cannot swim, they are not safe as a diver. N

 

[MB]

There have been no improvements...

Well...
In addition to some of the safety measures that Rick mentioned... a huge change involves ascent rates. Instead of guessing about ascent rates based on bubble size, ascents have slowed to 30 feet per minute and slower. Another change: the inclusion of deep stops to assist in offgassing. Another change: gas management on deeper dives based on the rule of thirds. Another change: Oxygen is readily available, and divers generally know about it. Another change: many tables have been softened to become more conservative.

There have been some real dumb moves by some of the agencies, but there have also been some serious improvements.