Just my take on the subject....
If I was the instructor signing people for nitrox, I would like to be sure that what people had been told in the class was what they were actually doing.
How many times have we all seen divers jump in without a propper buddy check? without planning what they will do if they are seperated etc..?
For nitrox, not following the propper procedure can be a negative life experience, so having an instructor there for the first couple of dives to make sure that everything you have learned theoretically is put into action correctly is a good idea.
Don't think of it as you aren't learning anything on those dives, think of it as a safety net to prevent you missing things, and to develop better habbits.
Equally, the majority of divers *here* aren't typical of the average diver. Most of us are pretty technically savvy. There are plenty of other divers out there that will do the course, say yes at the correct moment, fill out the exam pretty well, and then not be able to remember what to do when the time comes. Practice is what is needed! We can't expect everyone to get everything right first time they try.
Just remember, agencies have to cope with the lowest common denominator!
Jon T
