Personally I find this worship of video to be quite humorous. Trust me when I say that I see the value of video in training...in fact I use it quite frequently.
I was videoed doing basic skills during my OW/Nitrox class and now ironically enough it's come full circle--I'm now the one who is taking video of new students. I never knew that video
isn't generally used until I saw classes at dive shops and was aghast when I found out. :11:
For those of you who get in lots of pool time--having mirrors on the sides of the pool are great as well. Video is great for 'monday-morning quarterbacking' but it does have limitations, mainly in that you have to get out, sit down, and actually watch it. Mirrors are great for instantaneous feedback on trim and buoyancy while you're still in the pool. Instead of watching yourself on video and having to wait until you get back in to work on whatever needs it, you can fix it right then...
After several semesters of taking and critiquing video, I find it
invaluable, especially for new students (and myself...if I can, I try and get shots of myself in the mirrors while taping the students
). I'm very glad that GUE uses video as an instructional tool; as it puts them one step ahead almost 99% of everyone else out there.
Congrats on getting the tech pass--that's my next goal.