Learned it all on the Internet

[InkDiver]

One of my favorite cave instructors has said to me on more than one occassion - "Not sure why he needs training, he's learned it all on the Internet." It always makes me laugh, but it is so true. In just the past few days, I've read numerous posts by people who are not even certifed yet, but feel they are qualified enough to state that they are definitely going to solo dive, that they know they don't want to worry about a buddy, that they have already started to form the knowledge of their "underwater world" (?) by the threads here. Another just certified OW diver is already to become an instructor right out of OW. I'm not sure if I'm more amused or terrified.

Sure SB is a great place for information. It is a great way to meet dive buddies (I've met a bunch, including my regular cave buddy). It's a great place to learn about gear, how to handle various situations, great dive locations, great dive operations, local dive events, etc etc.

It will NEVER replace good solid training and experience diving. Example, you can read all you want about cave diving, but unless you have taken cave training, you will never know what it is really like to cave dive. Cave training is rigorous, challenging and it needs to be so. Yet there are still plenty of people who think that they know all they need to about cave diving because they read it on the internet. They enter the cave untrained and then they die. Of course, cave diving is just one example. Open water, rescue, wreck, public safety, you name it. You can read all the threads in the world, and it still won't prepare you to actually dive successfully (surface alive every time).

So, learn all you can from the wealth of information here, but if you've not even certified but already know you are going to solo dive, don't want to worry about a buddy, and are going straight from OW to the IDC, do yourself a favor. Log off, go get certified by a well qualified instructor, meet some solid dive buddies and dive all you can. Trust me, you have no idea of how awesome it can be, or how completely freakish it is to learn it all online.

 

[knotical]

You can get neither skills nor air fills on the internet.

 

[Dive-aholic]

The problem is most basic scuba courses don't give students all that much information. Sadly, the people that are learning from the various threads here on SB and other forums probably are learning more than they learn in their OW/AOW/Rescue/Specialty course. I didn't know about gas management until I read about it on the Internet. Fortunately, that was all before I became an instructor and now I teach it to all my students. Cave training is the exception. You can't learn to cave dive without going into a cave with a qualified instructor.

 

[TSandM]

There are three parts to most activities -- There's an intellectual understanding of what you are doing. There are the techniques or skills required to do it. And then there is the practical experience to lend judgment and timing and smoothness to the execution.

The internet can be a good place to expand your understanding, although you have to have enough sense to realize that some of what you are told is nonsense. Nevertheless, things like Erik Baker's papers are available on line, and I have read some superb discussions of decompression strategies, how regulators work, and the like, on ScubaBoard and other boards.

The internet can be a good place to get tips on technique, as well. I have gained a lot of information on buoyancy control from this board, and I think many new divers get a lot of information about proper weighting, trim, and non-silting propulsion off the boards, even though putting those ideas into action requires more than internet time.

And the net can be a place to collect information to improve your judgment. The Accidents and Incidents forum here is one such resource; I've learned a lot from the IRAP section of the Cave Diver's Forum.

It will never replace getting out and diving, but it shouldn't be dismissed as a resource for diving education.

No matter what discipline you're talking about, you're going to run into people who think that because they've read a book, or browsed the net, they know more than their instructor.

 

[InkDiver]

Rob, I don't disagree with you. Lots and Lots of good info here. But as an instructor, would you agree that someone who feels they have learned enough off the internet to know that they don't want to worry about a buddy and are going to dive solo, really needs to get training and dive before anything else.

Also, I don't necessarily agree with you that OW/Rescue/Specialty training in general mostly lacking. You are an example of an instructor that appreciates things like gas management, etc. I know more than one or two instructors who do as well.

 

[InkDiver]

Lynn, I don't disagee with you on any of your comments, either. I hope you weren't thinking I was dismissing the internet as a way of gathering lots of knowledge. But, as you noted, it doesn't replace getting out and actually doing the diving.


By the way, I love the IRAP section on CDF. Lots of food for thought

 

[Dive-aholic]

Rob, I don't disagree with you. Lots and Lots of good info here. But as an instructor, would you agree that someone who feels they have learned enough off the internet to know that they don't want to worry about a buddy and are going to dive solo, really needs to get training and dive before anything else.

Actually, I don't agree. I think someone like that needs to not get certified because an attitude like that will only get him killed. BTW, was this a post by luckikmc?

Also, I don't necessarily agree with you that OW/Rescue/Specialty training in general mostly lacking. You are an example of an instructor that appreciates things like gas management, etc. I know more than one or two instructors who do as well.

There are very few instructors that appreciate things like that. I know a few myself, but we're definitely in the minority. I know more instructors that don't even know that gas management beyond 500psi back on the boat exists. Most non-technical instructors don't understand, or care to understand, things like that.

 

[imasinker]

All I can say as a new diver, you won't see my a$$ in any cave, or diving alone. In a short time have heard many new divers talk about the adventures they about to embark on. Our instructors (mine) told us to keep in mind the advancing courses that we can take. My instructor suggested we go for the advanced diver and then possible resucue diver, but do these at OUR own pace and comfort. Keep practicing, dive as often as you can, plan your dive and dive your plan. I remember a few students talking after class, asking about deep dives, diving with sharks, double tanks, drysuits so forth. I remember the "good god" looks from the instructors in regards to the remarks and questions. You could just see the students who you knew we just going to do what they wanted regardless. Like the old saying, there is one in every crowd. During my classes I took the equipment course. I thought It would be a great idea to better understand my gear, how it works and basic preventative maintenance. After all I am going to trust this equipment with my life. When It came to my gear, maybe I went a bit over board. I bought gear that I felt would last me, advance with me, and yes I went right to the drysuit. When It comes to diving, I won't risk anything. It's common sense that tells me of the dangers, and how to respect this sport as It Is dangerous. Like fire, used properly you wont get burnt, horse around and you get a nasty burn. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make em drink!. The instructors teach their best, some students will just do as they want regardless. If they read post on a forum and decide that they know It all, that's up to them. There are some people that feel they know it better. Unfortunatley they are the ones we will read about, and hope to hell they are never your dive buddy. I came to the forum for opinions, read facts should they be presented and view what others think about gear, scuba and so forth. This Is a forum, not a class room. Again some people will just do as they want regardless.

 

[fisherdvm]

The internet is a great place to research information. I hate to admit it, I just took my recertifying exam for my specialty as a take home open book exam (one of the last year it is offered in this format, the next time it will be timed and proctored). I imagined that I'd have to spend a whole weekend in the library researching the answers for the exam. But guess what, Google allow me to access much of medline content and much of the current information out there that was accurate, and confirmed by my text books and other sources.

As inaccurate and biases as the internet is, and as filled with errors and inaccuracy as Wikipedia - there is no quicker and better way to access current scientific research and also alot of crappola on the internet.

Don't underestimate the power of the internet.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I think SB is a good example of where you have such a large number of divers who participate regularly that any misinformation is usually quashed quickly. I don't know if this would be the case on a smaller board, not pointing to any in particular. This is the only board I spend any time on so YMMV.