Have training standards "slipped"?

[Marvel]

I'm with you TRH. If I have 12 hours between dives, I will gladly just use another computer. I actually own 11 dive computers. OK, OK, six of them are on my student gear! The VEO 250 HAS to be the easiest dive computer to operate.

I could use a good backup...

 

[Steve R]

I'm with you TRH. If I have 12 hours between dives, I will gladly just use another computer. I actually own 11 dive computers. OK, OK, six of them are on my student gear!

So how many of those other 5 computers do you wear at a time?

I saw a guy with three on once............well two Niteks and a BT. He looked friggin' cool........

I think he was one of those tech-diver dudes, mind you he was doing a 20min BT at 110ft that day.

 

[bookboarder]

Wow, it seems like there is a lot of animosity towards learning/teaching tables. It's the only thing I know, and will be using tables until I can afford a computer. I'm surprised that anyone wouldn't want their students to understand how to use the tables. And this pounding of your chests about how you have a bunch of computers as back ups. It must be nice, and you must have students with a crapload of disposable income. Interesting.

 

[The Chairman]

Wow, it seems like there is a lot of animosity towards learning/teaching tables.

No animosity towards tables. Lots of animosity towards those who say I don't teach them due to being LAZY. It's just more mindless bashing of instructors.

It's the only thing I know, and will be using tables until I can afford a computer.

There is nothing wrong with learning tables, IF you use them. You do take them on the dive with you, right?

I'm surprised that anyone wouldn't want their students to understand how to use the tables.

I don't see the need if they will be using a Dive Computer. However, if they want to learn tables, I am MORE THAN HAPPY to do so.

And this pounding of your chests about how you have a bunch of computers as back ups. It must be nice, and you must have students with a crapload of disposable income. Interesting.

http://www.scubatoys.com/store/Scuba_Nitrox_Computers.asp?PAGE=3 There's a link to one of the easiest, and most comprehensive Dive computers out there. It's only $380 and I am sure that you can convince Joe to give you a ScubaBoard discount and free shipping to boot! As for students with disposable income, most who dive fit that description.

 

[TheRedHead]

Well, I can see both points of view really. I don't see why one wouldn't teach tables. If you continue your education to professional or tech diving, you need to know tables. But, OTOH, as Pete says, IRL, few people dive tables. It limits you to a square profile which limits bottom time. I haven't met any diver who hasn't eventually bought and extensively used a dive computer. I've even dived with ops which require them.

 

[captain]

Wow, it seems like there is a lot of animosity towards learning/teaching tables. It's the only thing I know, and will be using tables until I can afford a computer. I'm surprised that anyone wouldn't want their students to understand how to use the tables. And this pounding of your chests about how you have a bunch of computers as back ups. It must be nice, and you must have students with a crapload of disposable income. Interesting.

You "get it" even being a newly minted diver. Some on this board don't and never will.

 

[Mako Mark]

I think (and I believe that PADI management think) that SDI went out on a limb with the computers only thing. It was pretty innovative at the time and perhaps ahead of its time, but you can see their logic.

Dive computers are reliable and in common use in the dive industry. It is not that they are not dive tables, it is that they are electronic dive tables as opposed to flat plastic ones.

Why not say "dude, if you are going to get into diving you are going to need some equipment and a computer should be part of that equipment". Just as an alternate air source should be.

 

[bookboarder]

Yep, I have a set of NAUI and PADI dive tables that I bring on every dive. So far, so good.

I appreciate both points. I just felt like it was really odd that so many people seemed to be doggin' ma tables!

I will be getting a computer, eventually [read within the next couple of months]. My hubby got a really inexpensive computer with some gear he got, but until we both have a computer, we'll be diving tables.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

I'm quite curious as I was just certified last year. We did do emergency swimming ascent, buddy breathing (i.e. share one reg and pass back and forth), mask pulled off of face, take off all gear and replace it, and take off weights and replace all under water. We had to tread water for 10 minutes, and swim 100 yds.

Is that not the norm?

There is still some variation in the training, depending on agencies. But also depending on instructors. Some instructors add excersises that are not required by their agency. I know one instructor who is certified to teach from 2 different agencies. But when they teach, whether for "agency A" or "agency B" they always do everything the "agency A" way.

For the agency that I teach, for example, the "traditional" buddy breathing is listed as "optional" in the instructor's guide. So some instructors teach it, some don't.

 

[markfm]

I actually like having the tables, do carry them as backup, since I already wear a BT/depth watch.