Thought provoking. But back in the day.... and even now (as I am working with my daughter through her scuba education), the system I have seen still follows that you have achieved (at least) the basics, and now can continue to learn through experiences. If this is not universally being stressed, then there is a problem.
Its no different then the newly licensed driver.....
I applaud you for working with your daughter with her scuba education. I know some of my daughter's and my favorite times have been diving together.
I agree that at the time of my OW assessments I did achieve the basics (at least to my instructor's viewpoint); but that is not to say I truly learned them or was just repeating what I saw a few seconds ago. I did go on and build (and many times learned them to the point of full comprehension for the first time). While I think my point is similar to a driver's license scenario - gaining experience after the license, the difference is with the OW C Card I could immediately go on dives (and be expected to handle myself) that are way above my experience level with only a basic OW course vs. a 6 month drivers training (to gain practical experience before testing). How many times have accidents been reported and the dive died due to their own disaccords of the basic skills like surfacing when low on air, abandoning a buddy, etc.?
What I see is at least two types of instruction...
1) Instruction where the instructor takes an invested interest in their student's learning. They work with the student until the knowledge had been successfully transferred and the student truly has learned. John has called this subjective education.
2) Instruction where the instructor has the agenda to pass the students. Whether this is driven by time, money, management or whatever, some students might learn the required skills, some might not but all are able to demonstrate the skills at the time of assessment to the level that meets the instructor's goals. Whether they can do it on their next dive, tomorrow, next week, next month or next year or not is irrelevant...they passed at that moment.
Ultimately I know it is the diver's responsibility to safe guard themselves and dive within their limits...not the instructors, dive operators or guides. I just know my OW experience was fair and not what it could or perhaps should have been. I just hope that others who have similar experiences do not have that false sense of ability and seek futher training.
I am beginning to dive into waters I am not really qualified to talk about
diving instruction and certifying agency standards, objectives and requirements. I am not a dive instructor; I am only speaking from my own personal experiences. So I think I will back out of this thread and let the
SMART PEOPLE have it.
Bye
and happy trails.
~Me~
