Instructors as role models

[fabasard]

As far as role models. We have dived with a number of people. Two of wich were an IDC instructor (love that man) and his wife an instructor and a moderator for this board (love that woman too). When my wife and I were diving with them, we went through the cursory checkout for diving and watched them go through the steps one by one. Now they have dived more times than I probably ever will and here they are going through the steps one by one. We 9the wife and I) changed our position and now go through the steps one by one too. If its good enough for a PADI IDC and an Instructor to do then its good enough for me and the wife. They are great people and when they are not diving we have a great time, social libations and all, but when we dive we dive professionally. Yeah, if your gonna instruct, or that matter if your gonna dive, do it the RIGHT WAY EVERY TIME!!! Do your checks, don't molest the sea life and don't hang on the coral, you wanna do a bounce dive, go right ahead, but leave us out, your asking for trouble.

 

[Diver Dennis]

What happened to her Catherine?

 

[Cacia]

uhhh...I think Social Services hassled her. A real shame..she is a great mother and he is a super kid.

 

[RonFrank]

...I am really not comfortable reporting people...for scuba crimes.

We had a similiar issue recently. A friend of mine (and probably one of the best instructors I know, very consiencious) allowed her son to go very deep (165) on a dive off the north shore of Molakai, on a wall. I would not have done it with my child...and I was a bit surprised. Still, I was a little shocked at the way people felt justified in reporting this. I worry about where you draw the line, like do it easy.

I don't want people reporting me for things they don't agree with.

I think he was very rude.

There are various ways of viewing this. First I assume the child was a minor. So a point of view is that is it responsible to let a minor go beyond rec limits? From a legal standpoint unlikely. Another view is no harm no foul.

I tend to be more on the live and let live side of the equation. However as parents we must also take some responsibility for what we allow our children to do.

Is it responsible to let our children have a glass of wine? Have Sex? Experience life? There are no easy answers, and different cultures judge these things differently.

As for reporting these types of acts to authorities, that we agree on. IMO parents need to have more control. I'm SOOO sick of our PC non-spanking society. I personally believe that children today are NOT treated as they should be. Little punishment for wrong doing, little reward for being great. Adult punishments for being a kid. Get caught drinking underage, and loose the right to drive. Never mind that the definition of underage is old enough to die for your country, but not to have a beer. The USA is WAY out of their minds IMO.

In may day we had a fight a week at least between students who did not agree on subject that ranged from picking your nose to religion. Now kids are so bottled up, it's becoming common for them to snap, grab a shotgun, and go on a shooting spree. Maybe we were better off without our government and society telling parents how to discipline their kids, and allowing kids to express themselves in more physical ways, like god forbid, having a fight!

 

[Dive-aholic]

The problem with reporting instructors or DMs is that most agencies won't do anything about it. They may investigate, but the instructor just keeps instructing. When I was a DM I reported an instructor for failing to follow standards...several standards...during an OW class. He's still teaching. In fact, he never even missed the classes he was already scheduled to teach. Oh, BTW, he was also reported for sexual harassment around the same time by a student.

 

[Cacia]

I agree, Ron.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Me too Ron.

 

[JohnnyH]

It seems like this board has a good group of instructors that post to it.

Unfortunately, all instructors aren't created equal and personally I feel the quality of the individual instructor is more of a factor than what the certifying agency is. (Not to change the subject)

Regardless, all instructors need to abide by a higher set of standards and practices than those divers of non-professional certification, and should lead by example, whether or not they are teaching. ("Example" is the key word there, and one must exercise good judgment as to what that means)

Once you achieve "Instructor" status you are held to (and should be held to) a higher standard of care and have a moral (and potentially legal) responsibility to render assistance when needed.

We are not talking about teaching yoga here - and if scuba instructors don't understand the burden of responsibility then they have no business being an instructor.

As the Diving Safety Officer for a large aquarium I keenly feel that burden of responsibility. I just returned from DEMA where I attended a meeting of the ADPA (Assoc. Of Dive Program Administrators) where the topic of dive safety was paramount and stories were shared that exemplified just how fine the line was between an everyday dive and a tragic event. As an instructor that knowledge should never be forgotten, regardless if you are a passenger on a six-pack or conducting a class yourself.

John

 

[Stu S.]

The availability of scuba to the general public rests upon our safety and good behavior. Unlike some other activities, we don't need a government permit to dive. Maintaining this safety and good behavior is essential to someone making a living at it. No diving = no instructors. It is in the instructor's best interest to be the example.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

You'll make a great instructor, Lynne!

Yes she will. Took a riding lesson from her once and she taught me plenty ... although the horse threw in a few lessons of his own ... :shakehead

... Bob (Grateful Diver)