divers and smoking

[MaxBottomtime]

Ah, but there are at least two GUE instructors who still smoke outside of their classes, so having the card does not mean your lungs are clean.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Ah, but there are at least two GUE instructors who still smoke outside of their classes, so having the card does not mean your lungs are clean.

not that I should be shocked, but is the mothership cool with this?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Not at all. What Mama don't know, I guess...

 

[lakewinni]

Yeah it definitely must be a what momma don't know type situation because if you look at the prerequ's for all GUE courses one of them is that you have to be a nonsmoker. I'm honestly kinda shocked. I mean I could understand a few students but instructors? and with GUE being so uptight about thier standards? wow

 

[MaxBottomtime]

They've had an uneasy past two years with internal problems, some instructors leaving the organization and the training director being "asked" to resign because of differences in standards and what was actually being taught. There is a major house cleaning going on in GUE now and many involved are laying low to avoid the axe. Let's hope thay can get back to "doing it right".

 

[Tom Yerian]

Thats why GUE is so awsome, you cant take most of their classes if you smoke. That solves that problem.

I agree with GUE so much. Im a non smoker, and I may be a little biased, but health is very important to your safety in this sport. I have seen people smoke like steam engines, nearly die from overdoing it in diving, and the excuses for poor skill behavior, is anything but them .And the biggest disgrace to the sport of diving, is the instructors, and divemasters, That smoke in the shop, smoke in the field, and the jerks that run a dive boats as professional DM'S smoking on dive boats. If a real life threatning situation did occur on a boat, the divemaster stands a better chance of being the victum, rather than the rescurer! I worked for Billy Deans for five years, and can't count the number of crew that came and went due to smoking.I would trust a newbie in an emergencie than a divemaster who smokes !!! God, There in a position of trust for the safety of passengers, not to drown in a rescue attempt because of respiratory arrest!!....Capt Tom

 

[HarryWhisman]

I gave up smoking decades ago. One of the few things I've done right in my life.

With all the anti-smoking zealots these days, lawsuits and political wars I would venture to say there is not a smoker over puberty that doesn't know that some would be offended if they lit up in a classroom. Not in the US anyway.

Where are you from?

Concerning smoking, I feel it should be outlawed.

Maybe we should outlaw scuba too. Scares the fish, ticks off the fishermen, damages the environment and some very nice people have actually drowned.

One Scuba Board member (me) has a Mom who died of lung cancer complicated by emphasema, both caused by smoking. She died in her early 70s, and my Grandmom died in her early 90s. It cost my Mom twenty years of her life, and the ability to see her grandsons get their degrees, and go on to high accomplishments. In addition, it made this Christmas a bit lonelier.

I'm very sorry about your Mom. I lost my Father when I was 17 and I missed him this Christmas as well. Too bad we can't outlaw war.

 

[moneysavr]

Hey they smoke, MY DM smoked like a fire in a stove,Heck I did the bad deed years back!
Things have changed and yes it is seen less and less,But just cause they smoke dose not make the bad in training,they should quit!
If it gets you too worked up or you are in health related deal,quit !Im sure some new school young DM's out there dont smoke!
Brad

 

[moon_light_diver]

it's been 8 months since i last went to the dive center, i'm not sure if i want to go back there, i paid for the course, a lot of money, i'm sure they realise the smoking is not the best, but it's the owner of the center that smokes and at least one of his instructors, i can't remember if the others were smokers or not, many times he's told me that he prides himself on his outfit and that he wants the people he's taught to be the best that they can be, so how do i go about telling him that it's him and the other smoking that's put me off
my point is, i feel that i'm the one with the problem, i don't know how to go about going back, or what to say if i was to go back, and i supose they might not want me back there after all this time as i have ignored their attempts in contacting me, i'm not very good with words at the best of times, an i have no idea what to say to them
part of me i happy just to walk away, just to avoind having to go back there, the rest of me wants to become a divemaster
what am i to do ???

 

[coach_izzy]

I don't know where you're, so it's kind of hard to give advice, but I will tell you what somebody in the US can do. Smoking is NOT allowed in any type of instructional environment (indoors/outdoors). Regulations aside, doing so is also unprofesional and in poor taste. Most states do not allow smoking within 25 yards of a public entrance. Though the law is no enforced, if you ask somebody to move, they have to comply.

I think you'd be surprised how much better you'll feel after bringing up the issue with the shop. If they are not willing to do anything about the situation, they should not give you a hard time about refunding your money. I think you'll find out that most diveshops will be very accommodating with the customer. Keeping it bottled up to yourself will cause you stress, and the fact they keep calling you will add up to it. Be upfront, you'll be glad you did!

Congrats on quitting smoking. Shows a lot of will and character. You'd be surprised at how high the failure rate for most smokers is. You've done and don't let other people mess up your efforts. Good luck!