I'd be interested in having that next level conversation.
Consider that this is just Cozumel. There are many, many places where divers, new or not, are actually left to their own devices. Imagine that. My dives 9 and 10 were on Vancouver Island, and the instructions went something like this: Here is your rental gear. Here is a wheelbarrow. Put your gear in the wheelbarrow and take it to that boat. On the boat, set up your gear. Now the DM gives the briefing: Here's where we're anchoring. Go down the line, take a heading of 60 degrees, and once you get to the pinnacle at the wall, go down the wall. Be back in 45 minutes. I'll be here on the boat waiting for you.
That's not an uncommon scenario. It imagines that certified divers are actually qualified to take care of themselves.
And as to your number 2, phooey. Programs don't rush divers through training: INSTRUCTORS do. Bad instructors. The agency that I teach with offers "performance based training" - not time based. So if I certify someone who is unqualified, don't put the onus for that poorly trained diver on my agency: it's MY fault.
First, for the record, Karibelle and I are not engaging in gossip or speculation, we are engaged in an erudite deliberation on generalities as there seem to be little in the way of fact or gossip to speculate on. Hence we are filling pages while we wait. I don't think we said anything about the actual incident or even if it occurred. (if it did)
And don't say hydrate to Karibelle. Its a red word....
I would not be at all surprised to find that DMs out there aren't trained above OW. I wouldn't even be surprised if they weren't certified at all. It Mexico. So many things are more like guidelines than rules. And maybe I should have said 'avoiding blame' rather than liability. Liability seems to be less important if you haven't hit someone with a car.
As for other place, I get that. Hey, I am not saying that divers shouldn't be that skilled, you know that. I am also sure you would take reasonable measures on your dive trips, which sound fabulous by the way, and make sure your crew is up to snuff.
However, the model in Coz seems to find divers getting more care from the DM. Those rusty one day or new divers thrown in current seems to often need attention and a little work. So they shouldn't have to, but what can a DM do but try and square them away, right?
And on training, you don't think that training agencies,
generally, have made it easier to get through
generally? I mean I only took each of my classes once, so I don't have the first hand knowledge that was just my understanding. Of course, YOU, I am sure, still teach courses that are as robust as ever and turning out well prepared divers; I was speaking in generalities, not specifics. Maybe I got the wrong impression on the direction of training?
Oh, I am relishing the chance to go down the personal responsibility road with you! THAT could be fun. Even Socrates might say, "Guys, really, enough already....."
Now, since someone requested gossip, I *heard* a DM saw a nurse shark with a harpoon or spear or something it is head on Cedral the other day. Apparently he tried to remove it but the shark took off. Anyone hear about this one?
