We recently uploaded a video to our YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/user/lakehickoryscuba), pondering the question, "Has Diver Training Really Been Watered Down?" And it has had a great response. I wanted too pose the question here as well, for all divers, not just instructors, mainly because there are divers on here who were trained way back when, then took a break from diving. After a lengthy period of time, they made the decision to retake their Open Water Scuba Certification, and this time around did an online digital course. And we would like to know what are some thoughts on the quality of material being produced by the training agencies (all agencies that produce online training), and are they up to par with the previous materials produced (mainly text books). Is the material produced in a manor that its easy to comprehend and retain the information taken in, or is it lacking the information that only an instructor can give face to face with a student. Just a few things to add before we start, diving is appealing to most because of the adventure and fun aspect of it. When training students at what point do we cross the line and take fun out of it just to make sure they understand the material. And why is it so difficult for instructors to give students credit for being educated enough to read the material on their own and retain the information they read (or watch with online training), without the need for lengthy classroom sections. Keeping my personal opinion out of it, thus why I am asking for your guys opinions, for anyone that is currently certified, and took an online digital course, but yet feels their course was not up to par with someone who did a more traditional course, with hours upon hours of classroom, I would like to offer you a free audited course with us. Start to finish, it cost you zero. Then we would like your honest opinion on whether doing an online course is just as thorough as a more traditional course. And GO.
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