Rhenry
Contributor
It is impossible to compare agencies, as there is not a standard reference to base any intelligible answer upon. When comparing dive standards it is a mixed bag, some say you need x some require y, and some require something else. Yes there are common denominators, not all teach the same thing, and there are large differences in instruction. We can compare universities, all must be accredited, they all must meet the minimum academic areas of instruction and so forth. Dive agencies, pop up out of nowhere, make up a test, and performance requirements. And then teach, after a few dozen students and no fatalities, every one takes the plastic and accepts them as a certified diver and away we go.
What we really need is a standard and an organization that all agencies must be held accountable to. All instructors will also be held accountable in so far as if they fail to teach the standards they can lose there license to teach. And yes, they will be periodically inspected as well with a mystery student or other formal inspection. Yes you must be licensed and yes there is one overall body responsible, but you will still have many different agencies that will have different distinctions.
When we have this standard, then and only then can we make meaningful comparisons.
What we really need is a standard and an organization that all agencies must be held accountable to. All instructors will also be held accountable in so far as if they fail to teach the standards they can lose there license to teach. And yes, they will be periodically inspected as well with a mystery student or other formal inspection. Yes you must be licensed and yes there is one overall body responsible, but you will still have many different agencies that will have different distinctions.
When we have this standard, then and only then can we make meaningful comparisons.
