PADI and SDI are in the business of making money, not promoting reef conservation, dive group harmony, or much else besides producing minimally competent divers. They're in the business of coming up with new courses to sell to divers. Heck, many instructors still teach students to practice skills while kneeling on the bottom. What kind of message does that send to new divers? It is NOT okay to touch the bottom unless you are certain it's devoid of life. "Look but never touch" should be the photographer's mantra. Be able to position yourself at a precise point in space with respect to your subject and remain motionless while you take the shot. Learn to move backwards so you can gracefully back away from a subject without having to use your hands or turn your body, which are things that can really annoy other divers near you trying to have a look at the same subject.
It has been said that the "simple Open Water Cert" is to diving like a learner's permit is to driving. It's enough to give a new diver the basic tools to go out and become a COMPETENT diver. There have been many discussions on SB in which people voiced an opinion that having an Open Water cert does not necessarily mean that a diver is skilled enough to carry a camera responsibly, and that the best way to gain skill is to do a LOT of dives, maybe take an advanced buoyancy/trim/propulsion techniques course, and just become a great diver before occupying one's mind and hands with a major new piece of gear. Granted, these are just people's opinions. PADI and other agencies may have other opinions, but keep in mind that their business interest in selling courses has the potential to bias their opinions. Just because PADI says something is okay, is it really okay? It is okay for everyone? In every circumstance? You will have to decide yourself.
