DIR Diver Specialty?

[Red Sea Shadow]

I'm a big believer in the "it's not the agency, it's the instructor" idea overall, though recognizing that for agencies like GUE or UTD "the agency IS the instructor" metaphorically speaking, so by chosing that agency you don't really have to worry about between-instructor variability.

Why do you think that for agencies like GUE or UTD the agency is the instructor? Is that because they have a very limited number of instructors so quality control is more effective (in addition to the fact that in a small community no one wants to be known as a "c-card vending machine")?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Why do you think that for agencies like GUE or UTD the agency is the instructor? Is that because they have a very limited number of instructors so quality control is more effective (in addition to the fact that in a small community no one wants to be known as a "c-card vending machine")?

That's partly it ... in almost any endeavor, quality is easier to control with a small group than with a large one. But that's only part of the reason.

The bigger part, to my concern, is the mentality of the people who would find teaching for a DIR agency attractive. They tend to self-impose quality, holding themselves to high standards, rather than expecting their agency to dictate quality standards for them. There are people like that teaching for every agency, of course ... which is why you can find quality instructors out there teaching for every agency. But the reverse is not necessarily true. Someone who only wants to put in the minimal effort demanded by their agency's standards wouldn't find the notion of teaching for a DIR agency particularly attractive. And in the odd chance that they did, they'd wash out long before they were ever considered for an instructor position.

Those who set a high bar for themselves will choose an agency that sets a high bar. Those who don't will seek an easier alternative. So in that respect, it's still not the agency ... it's the instructor ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)