Choice, Challenges and Egos.

[Diver0001]

.....snip.....
The question is:

How do we break the chain or is it to late.

The diving-as-a-tourist-pass-time thing is too engrained to expect quick solutions. I do think, however, that the information flowing back and forth between people like yourself and the rest of us on the net will help *some* instructors improve by first becoming aware of the chain they're in. I'm sure, absolutely sure, I've improved as a diver and as a DM by reading this board and TDS.

R.

 

[jbd]

It’s like a domino affect. Poor divers with no experience take the 6-month C-card wagon to become poor instructors. They teach new divers who without their knowledge become poor divers. Some of these poor divers become course directors and board members for the training agencies. They create poor training material because they had poor training and no experience. The new diver purchases this poor training material and the whole process starts over again.

The question is:

How do we break the chain or is it to late.

The next question is:

How as a new diver can you prevent being linked to the chain or know when your taking poor training?

Diving is for fun, but if you dive the right configuration and take a few steps to become a better diver, your diving will become MUCH more fun and less stressful. You will see more and have more bottom time just because you’re better and more confident in the water.

I'm not sure how we break the chain. To an extent I think GUE is taking a stab at it. What I wonder is if they will be able to hold it together for 50 years or will they end up going the same way the other agencies have gone?

Your last paragraph is so true that it should be condsidered the gospel of diving.

 

[jbd]

I agree with Diver0001 about the internet and places like scubaboard helping with the flow of information especially between instructors. All instructors should be teaching whats on the list that CurtBowen posted. Its not that difficult to start diving students out with better procedures than what is being put out by many right now.

 

[kalvyn]

No fight here, you dont have enough dives yet. LOL (just kidding)

Hehehe, I wouldn't disagree with that comment, Curt! I'm working on getting that number up, though!

Thanks for the reply, I agree with everything you mentioned (I would go with a long hose primary and bungied safe second as the regulator config... just a quibble , though). I have no idea how to break the chain, unfortunately. I think it's more the attitude of the diver in question: are they willing to listen and learn or not? My father in law thinks he's a pretty good diver. Ummm, OK... I (very politely and nicely) tried to offer him some advice when we were in Bonaire but he really wasn't listening. His wife got certified in one of those 3 day quickie courses in Roatan a couple months ago and now they're diving together. Needless to say my wife and I are somewhat concerned about this! I've offered to take him to a pool and work on skills with him, perhaps I'll offer this to his wife now that she's certified. One of the two need to get it together, in my opinion.

On the flip side, I bought a regulator set for my wife before we went to Bonaire. She had no problems understanding or using the long-hose config, even doing a very nice modified S-drill underwater on our check-out dive the first day. By the end of the trip, she asked that we get her a BP/wing like mine as she really hated the jacket BC she was using. Linda understands about streamlining and cleaning up her gear, and she figured it out just by diving with me for a week in Bonaire. I guess I was a good example in this particular case!

Jimmie

 

[Snowbear]

I guess I was a good example in this particular case!

BUT - did you teach her the fine art of using your buddy as a scooter

 

[kalvyn]

BUT - did you teach her the fine art of using your buddy as a scooter

Nope, I just recently learned that! I'll have to do that when we go to Mexico.

Jimmie

 

[grouchyturtle]

How as a new diver can you prevent being linked to the chain or know when your taking poor training?

How about by discovering this board shortly after being certified and being a BIG dork who spends way to much time on line (mostly on scuba sites). Then ad reading JJ's book. And lastly finding a shop with some really great instructors who aren't part of the chain. And meeting a lot of local divers who aren't part of the chain.

I also waited about 1 1/2 years after my OW to do AOW. Why because I thought the experience was more important than taking another class. I learned much more in that time on my own (from reading this board, talking to other divers, and just diving) than I did in AOW.

I went to Aruba last fall for a week with only about 40 dives under my belt, before taking the AOW. Even still being a newbie, I was a much better diver than most of the other divers I saw. No ego here, I don't think I'm some great diver. There's just a lot of really bad divers out there. I was amazed at how bad some of them were. Speaking of ego, that's probably part of the problem. There are too many close minded divers with BIG egos, who think they know it all. And they're usually the worst ones in the water.

As far as collecting cards and gear:
Me and a few of my buddies are doing that, but as someone stated earlier, we're collecting cards to grant us access to something. And the gear is needed, because of our location and because of the diving wer're doing.

For example:
I would have been perfectly happy with my OW but most of the boats in the NE require the AOW card. I did Drysuit and Nitrox this past winter, because I wanted more bottom time, and didn't want to take a few months off from diving.

I'll probably do wreck diver. Why? DUH...I live in NJ!!!
May also eventually do Advanced Nitrox and Deco, to get even more bottom time on the many 120'-130' wrecks off NJ. And probably DIR-F and rescue.

BUT...I'm taking my time, and only taking the next class when I feel I'm ready.

Same goes with gear. For example: Just bought a new canister. Why? After a few dives with my LC-100, especially around here I decided having a choice between a light or a free hand stinks.

I had a few other examples, but just realized how long my post was!