rstofer
Contributor
It is never my intent to blast anyone. Unless it is the 1000th posting about buying at LeisurePro or overfilling tanks.
New divers have a lot of issues. It doesn't help that the classes are so short. In a perfect world the OW course would be much longer and graduates would be much more comfortable in the water. But it isn't a perfect world and students are rushed through in an attempt to increase equipment sales. The training isn't about creating good divers, it's about selling product. Soon!
I think most divers can help themselves by thinking through the issues that concern them and coming up with a plan. I also believe that more supervised dives is the answer.
Last summer my grandson turned 10 and he wanted to dive. Before he started I paid to get his father certified. Then we decided he should take AOW and Rescue. My wife tagged along for both (she was certified in '94). Along the way my grandson took Jr OW. Since then my wife and son-in-law have taken a couple of specialties (Nitrox, Deep, Navigation) and are scheduled to take Altitude and Peak Performance Buoyancy. All of this training in support of my grandson who will probably also take Altitude and PPB. I wanted his father to be a well trained buddy.
I do understand the difficulties of the new diver. But when I say more education is the answer, I back it up by funding this entire program including all the equipment. I am absolutely serious about the idea that if you're going to dive you need to know how to do it properly.
Richard
New divers have a lot of issues. It doesn't help that the classes are so short. In a perfect world the OW course would be much longer and graduates would be much more comfortable in the water. But it isn't a perfect world and students are rushed through in an attempt to increase equipment sales. The training isn't about creating good divers, it's about selling product. Soon!
I think most divers can help themselves by thinking through the issues that concern them and coming up with a plan. I also believe that more supervised dives is the answer.
Last summer my grandson turned 10 and he wanted to dive. Before he started I paid to get his father certified. Then we decided he should take AOW and Rescue. My wife tagged along for both (she was certified in '94). Along the way my grandson took Jr OW. Since then my wife and son-in-law have taken a couple of specialties (Nitrox, Deep, Navigation) and are scheduled to take Altitude and Peak Performance Buoyancy. All of this training in support of my grandson who will probably also take Altitude and PPB. I wanted his father to be a well trained buddy.
I do understand the difficulties of the new diver. But when I say more education is the answer, I back it up by funding this entire program including all the equipment. I am absolutely serious about the idea that if you're going to dive you need to know how to do it properly.
Richard