Opinions on LA County ADP dive instruction

[Mr Carcharodon]

I wouldn't say ADP passionate about skin diving and snorkeling, lol, I think the idea is to practice without the scuba gear first until you get the techniques right and then redoing it with scuba. They aslo want you to be strong swimmers. I do agree about the long hose, certainly something I can see myself adopting.

And yes, I do think ADP is an open minded group of people.

It sure seems to me that we did a lot of skin diving. And I expect you will be doing a lot tomorrow. Let me know at the end of the summer if you think they got the mix right.

But dont get me wrong. I took the class, am glad I did, and recommend others do as well.

 

[Firedive]

I wanted to mention one other thing that hasn't come up in these posts so far: ADP is FUN. So... rather than thinking of it as setting aside half the summer, think of it as SCUBA camp for grown-ups. I think, honestly, I'll be sad when it's over. I'm having a blast, even when my own lack of skill in certain areas gets frustrating.

 

[Dash]

I would enjoy a discussion based on Mr Carcharodon's comments so maybe we can start another thread? Is this forum ok?

If you are worried that I, the OP, would care that you take this thread off on to a different subject, feel free, my questions have been answered.

If the discussion can still be related back to the ADP instruction methods, then all the better to understand how/what they teach.

 

[Sam Miller III]

RE; LA Co ADP

Encouraging comments--even the ones from the cornfields of southern Indiana.

The ADP was the brain child of Chuck Petersen and others in the LA Co program. The year was 1966, all the other programs; NAUI and YMCA were essentially paper tigers and PADI and the rest of the alphabet programs were many years away.

The LA Co ADP was originally developed as a year long program along the lines of the BSA merit badge system, attend a lecture and a water session have the LA Co log book stamped and after a given number of events the individual was an advanced diver.

After a few months it was discovered the ADP in original format was impossible to administer, so it was determined that it would be a summer only program in its present format. It is truly an advanced program and unquestionably the best civilian program available at that time and certainly the present time with the very abbreviated "Advanced programs" offered through out the diving world.

Yes, you will lean to use and love the snorkel in the program. You will also be required to swim which for many is unheard of in the present diving world...You will learn to identify and grow to love various types surf...
You will also be required to log every dive in the LA Co log books--the first log book produced for the civilian market...
You will love every minute of the ADP!

Sadly this program does not cover southern Indiana corn field diving

How do I know?
Along with several others I was one of the architects of the program, but Chuck Petersen was the father. (FYI you can see a young Chuck in SDM Volume 1number 1, December 1951) I also presented numerous lectures at the program; Safety considerations and planning, Emergency procedures, Preserving marine life (aka Kreepen Kreatures) Orange county diving locations and several others long forgotten.

I also was the after dinner speaker at the banquet so many years ago.

But the most memorable event was being selected numerous times as a judge for the then annual ADP sea food cook out--

~Head hunter--Dick Stride! One of the all time great instructors and a dear and great friend from the past!

sdm

 

[headhunter]

Sam,

Thank you again for providing us with this valuable insight into the formation of the system that brought scuba to the civilian world.

I have not seen Dick Stride for many years and Dave Bunch mentioned to me that he moved to Tehachapi when he retired from Cal State University Northridge.

Anyone who knows Dick has many colorful stories to tell. I'm guessing you have more than most of us!

One of the things that I always remember Dick saying was that he started out diving in the limestone caverns of the midwest using a Model A water pump as a regulator. I think he mentioned that he got the plans from Popular Mechanics. If I recall correctly, he then went on to become one of the Navy's early UDT divers before there were SEALs.

Despite the fact that he smoked like a chimney, I have never met anyone as physically fit as he was, maybe with the exception of meeting Jack LaLanne at a party at Rudy Vallée's house. It was unbelievable how long he could hold his breath while performing tasks underwater.

I don't know if Dick's son Marty (I think that was his name) is still teaching diving.

Christian

 

[Sam Miller III]

Yes Dick was an UDT type

Most --no-- all LA County water instructors of that era were in great shape but Dick Stride was in the best condition of all the tribe-- and yes his muscles had muscles!

He was indeed one of a kind and certainly an asset to the LA Co program.

I am honored to have known him and called him a friend.

sdm

 

[scjoe]

Another UDT type from that era was Bob Scoles who was active in the Redondo Beach/Hermosa Beach area. As I recall he was also an Olympic caliber swimmer pre-WWII.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Yes, Bob and I were also very good friends. He and Homer Fletcher, who now lives in Utah team taught at USC. I sat in on seveeral of their classes, might even have lectured at one or two of them...can't recall. (CRS)

Sadly he passed on about 2 years ago at age 80..Prior to his death he was swimming laps every day. His ashes were taken out on a boat and scattered in the ocean he loved and spent so much time in. I had heath concerns so did not attend.