How do you feel about PADI bashing on this thread??

[Scuba Brian]

Well if we want to see standards raised or need to blame a certifing agency go to the root. Blame or contact the R.S.T.C. they are the ones who make the minimum standards all the agencies have to follow.

 

[RS]

i understand PADI is making a deal with the French government to impose mandatory CO² emissions control on all PADI centers in the world (including the US) or they will not let the centers keep their PADI affiliation

No, it's BS emissions control, isn't it? What? I'm just kidding!

Yeah, Baby!

 

[rakkis]

Well if we want to see standards raised or need to blame a certifing agency go to the root. Blame or contact the R.S.T.C. they are the ones who make the minimum standards all the agencies have to follow.

This is incorrect. RSTC is a Jedi council of sorts. Its members are the agencies themselves, not independent overseers.

RSTC guidelines are what the member agencies agree on.

 

[scubatomwetzel]

The associations set up the standards and guides lines to follow. It is the instructor that makes the program on what it is. Sample: Those who teach a class in one pool session, then teach everything else in the ocean. Giving the book to the students and say come back when you have completed the work book. This is just a few. I find it is not the association. It is the instructor on what he gets away with. Yes, some of it is the shop that say what you teach. Do they meet minimum standards??? It is only checked when an accident goes down. Note, I have over 30 years of instruction of multiple associations.

 

[Scuba Brian]

True, but since SSI, SDI, NAUI, YSCUBA, IDEA and PADI are all members and they agree on these standards, all the agencies are to blame for the watering down of training not just PADI. If they as a group would impose higher minimum standards the training would in-turn get better. These are minimum standards there is no law saying you can't add more to your class, you just can't go below. The problem is some instuctors don't go the extra mile or just don't care, and the new diver suffers from poor instruction.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well if we want to see standards raised or need to blame a certifing agency go to the root. Blame or contact the R.S.T.C. they are the ones who make the minimum standards all the agencies have to follow.

That's a bit of a misleading statement, to say the least.

The RSTC minimum standards are determined by its member representatives ... who happen to be a number of certifying agencies. Other agencies don't belong to the RSTC, and do not have to follow its standards.

The RSTC is not a regulatory body ... it's purpose is to make minimum standards that are compatible between it's member agencies ... in effect, to establish a "lowest common denominator" that all of the member agencies can agree to live with.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[RS]

Many people want to blame less than competent divers on the agency, more reasonable folks say there are good instructors and bad instructors in any agency, what I haven't seen is anyone who places the responsibility on the divers themselves. I have been teaching for 16 years and in that time I have trained some great divers and some that I have refused to certify. but not one of them finished the ow class as a great diver. being great takes time and practice. any adequate diver who chooses to practice can improve. what stuns me is how many people refuse to admit their own lack of greatness.

Thank you for pointing out the most important point in diving education. "This can kill you" is stamped all over most study materials. At least that is the way I read it.

BTW, will you certify me now??

 

[RS]

Oh ... and now that I've gotten through the whole thread, to address the topic ...

PADI bashing is a complete waste of time, we should stick to DIR bashing ... it's way more fun ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

:11:

DIR bashing?? HERE??

!

 

[TSandM]

Excuse me, excuse me: I am hereby ordering a halt to all your banter.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Excuse me, excuse me: I am hereby ordering a halt to all your banter.

:11: :11: :11:

Maybe it was the "banter wind from the west" that was blowing in Hawaii. Sorry you guys didn't have the best weather...