But, what do we do with that conclusion?
I think a lot of us would agree, but it is reaching OW divers everywhere, and making that concept stick, or making it clear to DM's all over the globe that this is not acceptable practice, that we have no way to accomplish.
or, have yet to accomplish.
I don't see how DMs (and novice divers, for that matter) don't have access to the required guidance. Every open water students reads and signs a copy of '
Safe Diving Practices'... so it's right there, clearly presented, before they ever receive a c-card for diving. PADI have that, so do SSI... I'd guess most agencies do.
"Engage only in diving activities consistent with my training and experience. Do not engage in cave or technical diving unless specifically trained to do so."
It seems that some people can't accept advice - at least, not without a detailed explanation. I don't understand that way of thinking... and I see it as nothing more than
ego. A sense of self-importance or superiority that leads people to disregard a prudent recommendation, until the grounds for that recommendation can be proven to them with detailed evidence.
For those people, nothing short of full-cave training will be sufficient to reinforce the validity of that basic open water recommendation. Until that time, if it happens, they'll disregard it -
willful ignorance.That's why I wrote my earlier post - I don't believe it's a case of "getting the message out".... but rather, a case of "getting people to heed the message".
I see enough examples in real life and here on Scubaboard of people not heeding those messages... normally exhibiting one of the factors I already mentioned - often coupled with some 'sense of resistance' against the 'scuba police' i.e. they don't like being told what to do (even though, in truth, it's only advise or a recommendation).
Thus, I don't see it as a 'failure of education', but rather a failure of the individual to apply that education. I see that as a common problem that tends to raise its head in most avoidable scuba incidents.
Where I see an opportunity for improvement is in the agency over-sight and standards attached to divemasters supervising certified divers. At the moment there is none - save a retrospective sanction against them when someone's already died.
There is no scuba police - but agencies can, and should, be more pro-active in shaping the behavior and conduct of
their authorized diver leaders. Standard of conduct and operation could/should be attached to 'supervising qualified divers', in the same way they are enforced for teaching activities. After all, any contact between a DM and a qualified diver IS a form of teaching (role-modelling, development of experience).
DMs should be held accountable - to their certifying agencies - for how they do their jobs. If that conduct breaks established 'Safe Diving Practice' recommendations, then the DM should be sanctioned.
