Online Nitrox and SDA??

[tc]

Well you're wrong then. Unless you have an unusual idea of what "understand" means.

Is that based on your review of the actual material and the testing process of the course?

 

[ffdiver]

No, it was not. It was as far as I could tell for the TDI course offered at american dive center.

 

[Thalassamania]

Well, that's the material that I looked at. I thought it said SDA on it.

 

[ffdiver]

This is the pdf you looked at correct?

http://www.americandivecenter.com/ni...ine/c_n2o2.pdf

If it is, then it has nothing to do with SDA other then the fact that it mentions nitrox. But you are right, the workbook is not enough to form a complete class. I don't think thats what the workbook was meant for and if it was american dive center did not put together a very good class. SDA did.

 

[peterbj7]

Is that based on your review of the actual material and the testing process of the course?

No, it's largely based on what's been said here plus simple logic, although I have considerable experience of TDI courses and I have discussed SDI courses with an instructor. My comment is largely based on semantics but it's a pet gripe of mine - few courses teach understanding, regardless of agency. In this case I am in no doubt that what is taught is to know how to use a specific computer, and to know what different screens mean when presented underwater. Understanding doesn't come into it, which covers why it's giving you that particular information at that time. The tables don't go a lot further, but they do a little.

 

[on_two_wheels]

OK, I'll say it. I have reviewed their workbook and their course is not, in my opinion, adequate. As one of the first generation of NITROX users/advocates, and editor of aquaCorps, one who is quoted by Gilliam in his books and by Hamilton in his papers and talks, I think I have the credentials to say that.

As such a respected authority on all topics, including respected by me, I could certainly agree without knowing the course....just your say so is enough for me. However, in comparison with PADI, would you say it's that inferior except for analyzing a tank? So far, I've done OW, AOW and nitrox and had three instructors. Two of the three gave a clear impression that they wanted to get me done as quickly as possible. The sooner they get done, the sooner they can start another class and it also calculates to more $$ per hour.

 

[Thalassamania]

... in comparison with PADI, would you say it's that inferior except for analyzing a tank? So far, I've done OW, AOW and nitrox and had three instructors. Two of the three gave a clear impression that they wanted to get me done as quickly as possible. The sooner they get done, the sooner they can start another class and it also calculates to more $$ per hour.

It is truly a shame that you got short shrift. Nitrox, because of the lack of required water work, really is one of those courses (like equipment specialist) that depends entirely on the Instructor, it can be wham, bam, $100 please or it can be the best damn diving class you ever took, just depends on who's teaching. I think think that its good to teach students how to analyze, but I don't see that as making or breaking the class. I was put off by two things, one (in the PDF) was the "I've been doing this for six years thing." which hardly makes the author an authority. The second is the very real, "it's the instructor" nature of a Nitrox class, when the instructor is a computer hooked to the internet running software designed to meet the broadest possible set of needs, I think the student gets short changed.

 

[on_two_wheels]

Yeah....I'm aware of the brevity of material in my class being so quick. That said, my awareness is what keeps me reading everything on can. I just reviewed some of my open water material last weekend just for kicks.

 

[tc]

Well you're wrong then. Unless you have an unusual idea of what "understand" means.

After attempting to understand your understanding of my use of the word understanding in my post on users understanding of the operation of nitrox computers I feel I now understand where the misunderstanding of the use of understanding may be occurring. Your understanding of my use of understanding appears to be a misunderstanding based on your understanding of my use of understanding. My understanding of my use of understanding in the post describing users understanding of the computer merely expressed my understanding the the user needed to understand how to operate the computer. If I understand your posts on my lack of understanding as shown by my use of understanding then you have misunderstood my understanding of the word understanding based on an understanding that the user requires a much deeper understanding than the lower level of understanding than I understood was needed in order to merely operate the computer properly. If I misunderstood your misunderstanding of my use of understanding then please elaborate on your understanding of my use of understanding so that I may understand your understanding without further misunderstanding.

 

[ffdiver]

hold on I don't understand something...What are we talking about again?