Have training standards "slipped"?

[Thalassamania]

In keeping it in the frame of this thread, no. There is no debate (at least not from me) that extra training (AOW, rescue, etc) makes for safer divers.

The question that I (and others) have is whether or not extra time and/or skills within an OW class makes for a safer diver.

I fail to grasp your distinction. These folks had 100 hours of training in a single entry level course, call that a long OW class or a combination of OW, AOW, Rescue and a bunch of other stuff, that's just semantics.

 

[Hemlon]

I fail to grasp your distinction. These folks had 100 hours of training in a single entry level course, call that a long OW class or a combination of OW, AOW, Rescue and a bunch of other stuff, that's just semantics.

And what was the sample size?

 

[jeckyll]

I challenge all of the contributers in this thread to channel the energy wasted on these internet discussions and go make the difference in one, just ONE newer divers progression over the next 4 weeks.

Go be a mentor to someone and make a change in their diving career & safe approach to the sport.

That is all

 

[Thalassamania]

No sample, census. All research divers since the program at Scripps began in 1952. If memory serves this covered about four and a half million dives conducted by slightly more that 20,000 different divers.

 

[Hemlon]

No sample, census. All research divers since the program at Scripps began in 1952. If memory serves this covered about four and a half million dives conducted by slightly more that 20,000 different divers.

And there were no deaths/serious injuries?

 

[Thalassamania]

And there were no deaths/serious injuries?

Thirty-odd cases of ear injury/infection, that's it.

 

[Hemlon]

Impressive, Thal. Too bad there just isn't data to support it.

 

[waterpirate]

Jeckyll,
Hear hear, I second that 4 week challenge. Unfortunately post 134 describes my current pre-ocupation with the internet. Wed. afternoon I am scheduled to dive with a diver my senior for some ongoing continuing education of my own!
Pay it forward from where you are now.
Eric

 

[mdb]

....So, have standards "slipped"? Can you learn everything in 2 days? These are two complete different questions...

tep: I won't get into the "old days" etc. For whatever reason we are certifying fewer people today than we were in the 70's and 80's. Some say it is just the demographic. Other industry folks feel that the abbreviated classes have produced a number of "divers" who never really dive much beyond the vacation dive and the guided tour type diving they first encountered. They do not become active local divers, do not encourage friends, co-workers, etc. to become divers and end up with a "certification" but never really become independent competent divers.

I have attended countless meetings over the years where the theme was "We've got to make it quicker and easier." Perhaps that philosophy has backfired a bit.

 

[SparticleBrane]

The best way to get someone comfortable in the water is plenty of swimming and plenty of skin-diving skills. Then, add scuba.