Certification-Which One?

[drrich2]

I can see the rationale for requiring rescue skills for basic OW (although I don't necessarily agree with it; I can see that it is a rational position), but it begs the question of just how much is enough.

For example, what if we required people to certify in CPR and First Aid prior to receiving a driver's license since these skills 'might someday save a life' on the highway? People often drive with other people in the vehicle. Auto accidents often involve other drivers, which one is at fault or not.

I am not in favor of requiring CPR or First Aid to drive a car, or requiring rescue skills to get a basic OW certification. I do think it's wise to endorse the Rescue Diver certification training. I hope to eventually pursue it myself.

Richard.

 

[wilderydude83]

go with the one that has a "c" on the card.

 

[Crush]

I can see the rationale for requiring rescue skills for basic OW (although I don't necessarily agree with it; I can see that it is a rational position), but it begs the question of just how much is enough.

This might stir up some of the old timers - it is not "how much is enough," but "how little you can get away with." Ind the good 'ol days, what one would now consider OW+AOW+SRD was one course called "OW." Requiring "advanced" rescue skills of OW divers is not something unheard of - it used to be the norm.

For example, what if we required people to certify in CPR and First Aid prior to receiving a driver's license since these skills 'might someday save a life' on the highway? People often drive with other people in the vehicle. Auto accidents often involve other drivers, which one is at fault or not.

This is still the case in many European nations. I regret that more people don't have first aid skills. I recently arrived on the scene of an accident (the collision was outside my house) and was the first responder on the scene. I was not the first person on the scene - there were plenty of useless people milling about (perhaps 20), but I was the first one that was able to assess and take care of the most serious victim.

 

[DCBC]

In our PADI OW classes we were taught and we practiced a great many buddy procedures, including buddy breathing, air sharing, diver tows, assisting the unresponsive diver, and more. In our AOW classes we got more of this, and more still in the Rescue classes.

PADI prohibits an instructor from teaching buddy breathing in an OW class. No rescue is taught (unless you think that a tired diver tow is rescue) in OW or AOW. It is not a requirement for certification until Rescue Diver.

 

[DCBC]

If by modular you mean the idea that every Pool Session One is the same and every O/W Session Three is the same, the I disagree with that rather strongly.

Although this is how it's done in some organizations, that's not what I meant by modular approach. One skill is taught which builds on another. For example you can't teach doff and don (FMS) until the student knows how to clear a mask and snorkel of water; these are taught first.

 

[DCBC]

I am not in favor of requiring CPR or First Aid to drive a car, or requiring rescue skills to get a basic OW certification. I do think it's wise to endorse the Rescue Diver certification training. I hope to eventually pursue it myself.

Well Richard, suffice it to say that I don't think you and I will be diving together until you do...

 

[Thalassamania]

Doff and don is an exercise, exercises are made of of two or more skills, mask clearing is a skill, snorkel clearing is a skill.

 

[DCBC]

Doff and don is an exercise, exercises are made of of two or more skills, mask clearing is a skill, snorkel clearing is a skill.

Yes, so what's your point? I teach skill-sets which are first taught in an easier environment and progressed in a modular way to a more complex environment. Do you disagree?

 

[Mike Boswell]

PADI prohibits an instructor from teaching buddy breathing in an OW class. No rescue is taught (unless you think that a tired diver tow is rescue) in OW or AOW. It is not a requirement for certification until Rescue Diver.

Hi Wayne:

You are putting me to a lot of trouble here - I hope somebody appreciates it.

Near Drowning and the Unresponsive Diver. PADI OW Diver Manual. p. 161-162

Buddy Breathing. PADI OW Diver Manual. p. 213-214

Quote: “…Another option you may practice (at your instructor’s discretion) is Buddy Breathing…” p. 213

Quote: “…Your instructor may have you practice Buddy Breathing first in a stationary position, and then swimming…” p. 214

And yes, I think diver tows, tired or otherwise, are part of rescue. That is why they teach and practice diver tows again, in more detail, in Rescue classes.

And if I tow somebody all the way to shore, and they then tell me they weren't rescued, they are damn sure going to need to be rescued - from me!

 

[Thalassamania]

Wayne, just getting terminology straight. Of course you teach skills that are then combined into exercises (skill-sets). I guess I see the term "modular" as emblematic of the PADI rules that make skills (and exercises) be taught in specific orders at specific junctures in a course, something that I know neither of us supports.