Let me put in my rambling 2 cents here as well. First off, I was trained as a physical educator which I did for 16 years before moving on so I could afford to raise my kids. As such I have a perspective on how to present skills and knowledge sets. Secondly, I was a Y instructor for 6 years as well as a PADI instructor. Thirdly, the curriculum I had to live to at 2 universities were based upon the Y standards when the course was created. I think I have a bit of a perspective on both programs and how teaching is presented. Oh and last, I was certified as a Y instructor in 1979, and by PADI in 1980.
For those that think PADI has made it faster to get certified, that all an instructor does is give a quiz, you are wrong. The PADI system is based on repetition, repetition, repetition. The student reads the material in the textbook. Then they complete the Knowledge Review at the end of the module. Then they watch the video, either at home, or in class. Then the instructor elaborates, then they get quizzed. By the time the quiz is done the student has seen the info at least 3 times, in 3 different ways: reading, seeing, hearing. Son of a gun, this also attacks the three basic ways someone learns: seeing, doing, hearing. The progression is very educationally sound.
The modules are also for a reason. As an example I spent the last 8 years as a corporate trainer, and treaveled alot. If I was to be out of town, I could tell the person taking my place that I was on Module 3, and I would know exactly what was covered. No ands, ifs, buts, ors, or nors.
We also have freedom to add things as well. Just tonite my class (all doctors)doing Module 1, we were playing catch with a Toypedo, blowing air rings, and break dancing on the bottom. When we do Module 4, I add a drill for fun, if it's a small class. While we are snorkeling I ask How many times can you flood and clear your mask on one breath? Not in standards but it gives them an idea of breath control and just how much air their lungs do hold and how to ration it. When we do hovering, we try to see who can hover in the wierdest position. One gal actually was able to recline on her back! The combo of what we add by being ourselves, and the standards makes a comfortable, safe diver.
The PADI system, from an educators standpoint, has excellent support in the form of textbooks and videos, as well as indepth teaching outlines. Can we add? Heck yeah. My DM class I had a personal injury attorney teach the Risk Management lecture. People were RIVETED!
Which brings me to another reason the PADI system is a quality program. Defensibility. I've seen some scary things in my almost 30 years as a diver, and 22 as an instructor. Station breathing with no mask, or fins. How can you defend that if a student embolizes?
Now, to address "dumbing down" SCUBA. Let's get off our horse here. SCUBA is not rocket science. You do not need to know Boyle's Law as an Open Water diver, you just need to know the effects of it. You do not need to know Henry's Law, just so you know how to use dive tables. If I remember correctly from my History of the Y program lecture, the original Y class was close to 100 hours long. With the equipment we have today, we don't need that much time. PLus, with travel being the cost it is today, where do many people dive? Warm, calm salt water. In those areas where other conditions prevail, the instructors cover those skills necessary. Jiminy Christmas, it helps them to do that as well. When I learned to dive we did not have pressure guages. We used J valves for crying out loud! When I got certified as a sophomore in colleege and bought my first set of gear for $195 at The Aquatic Center in Newport Beach, my dad made me buy a Sea-Vu, and I was the laughingstock of my club. Things have changed, we gotta join the 90's here.
The last thing PADI does and does well is address that Open Water is not the be all and end all. Living in Indy now, the reference I make is a drivers license. Just because my 17 year old son has one does not mean he is ready for the F1 race this month. He needs more skills and experience as do all new divers.
Now, as far as instructors becoming instructors too early, that has been a problem as long as I have known. In 1980 I helped a Y institute, and a husband-wife couple started their instructors institute in January after getting certified in June of the year before. Their dives were almost all training dives. It is still a problem today. Realistically, who is to say my 100 quarry dives are less important than your 100 shore dives off Laguna Beach if I do my teaching in a quarry?
Blaming PADI for being a for profit organization is short sighted. Let's face it, without a critical mass of divers there are no manufacturers making gear. No gear; no dive shops; no dive shops, much less training. No other organization does as well at supporting the retailer. Then, due to the money they receive they have created first rate materials using the latest technology, the latest gear and current presentation techniques. They have adapted their courses for todays diving enthusiast and wannabe. They did the research and found who was taking classes; what their dempgraphics are; and how to get them in class. Is that wrong?
Lastly, kids in diving. I come on both sides of this. I was teaching before 1986 when there was no minimum age. Also before then, DAN was either non-existent or a neophyte. Little research had been done so they decided to make minimum 12. Now they feel they can have a minimum at 10. Hmm. True it is not rocket science, but the most important skill in SCUBA is nothing we teach. It's the ability to be calm under stress. That's something life teaches, not a SCUBA class. By 10 have they had that? Hmmm. In the old days I did teach a couple 10 year olds. They dove with their Mom and Dad, an eye doctor and a nurse. The kids did well. How much was rote, and how much was learned? Hmm. However, my kids learned at 12. They have excellent skills in the water. They drive me nuts with etiquette issues and planning issues, but they are teenagers, they do that around the house too. But, in defense of PADI, they say you do NOT have to teach the kids. Some people should not teach kids, for both of their sakes. However, I do question the emphasis on this. Is the industry hurting so bad we need to do this, or is this a trend the industry sees that this poor PE major cannot?
It comes down to the instructor. A good one is a good one, no matter what organization they are with. A poor one is poor, no matter what organization they are with. I've seen good and bad in all orgs. There are some PADI instructors I will not work with again, as there are some Y and Naui instriuctors I would LOVE to work with. The instructor supercedes the organization.
