Scuba_Vixen once bubbled...
The scuba nazis are running wild... Befor drawing and quartering Adj and his instructor, let's all ..Stop, Breathe, Think, and then maybe, act. We weren't there, 10 feet isn't a big deal if it means a protected sandy bottom area to stop and do the math problem, this instructor probably does this same scenario at least 100 times a year, knows how long it takes, knows there's a ton of time left over before closing in on the ndl, could do it conservatively even if the computer failed, from knowing where in the scenario he is and how much air he has remaining. "Everyone should have their own computer" is mitigated by being under direct supervision, the instructor will always keep a student shallower than himself. Adj mentions swimming around a while, the skills part of the dive take all of about 5 minutes, so you know they came up to 80 feet for a while and then progressively shallower, all the while the instructor watching for narcosis and loss of bouyancy or control. I seriously doubt Adj was put in any undue danger, and the statistics for training related accidents support me.
Darlene
Well, Darlene I suspect this student wasn't in any danger on this dive. However he might be on his next dive since he hasn't a clue how to plan or even log the dive. He wasn't tought anything but now has a card that says he can go to a recommended max depth of 100 ft. It was a guided pleasure dive not a training dive.
You are right the instructor probably does this 100 times a year and unless he has a written waivor from the agency to do it this way there should be punitive or corrective action on the part of the agency for each and every incedent. The standards exist to insure the safety and quality of training of the student.
The student is required to plan his dive according to his tables of his computer and log the dive before having the dive signed off PERIOD The OW text and the AOW text both warn against diving some one elses computer. I guess this instructor doesn't see the need to encourage his students to follow safe dive practices.
I hardly believe I'm seeing people called "nazis" for wanting to see the training standards enforced. Read up on what has been going on a Gilboa. Three EMS responses in three weekends, one dead. Am I ever glad I'm getting out of this.
BTW, why would you need a sandy bottom to stop and do a math problem. Such tasks should be performed mid water. While not required by standards sitting on the bottom isn't diving.