For instructors, standards are a road map for conducting a course safely and within the framework of the system their organization supports. For training agencies standards are a way to maintain instructional unity and eliminate instructors from their ranks for unsafe practices, failure to adhere to the organizational philosophy, or for professional and political reasons. For lawyers, standards either support our actions or crucify us in court.
An instructor would be wise to think about all three of these arenas when teaching any course. In cave diving, we also need to keep landowner relations in mind as well as the preservation of the caves.
When we talk about instructor prowess and "teaching beyond standards" that should start with professionalism. Cave instructors should strive to conduct themselves with as much skill socially as they have with their fins in the water. Because cave diving is always under public scrutiny, cave instructors should set an example for respecting the rules and wishes of the landowners at public and private dive sites. Instructors should strive to keep their students safe, represent their agencies well, avoid liability, and teach in such a way to make cave diving safer and more enjoyable for all, sharing and preserving our natural resources and fostering better community that will improve access to sites and help open new sites for diving.
