MHK , Spectre and a few others are correct in that a diver with 100 so called logged dives should not be touching the bottom if they are expected to complete skills at 165 ft with any success. Many of the agency's instructors ,and not just PADI, have their students at the basic O/W levels do the crawling before flying method of instruction technique. Ok this might be the way to start while in the pool for the first ever session, first ever skill. But during THAT session they, the instructors should introduce neutral bouyancy learning. The student should have an expected level of bouyancy skill downpat before hiting the O/W dives and should be able to conduct fundamental skills from the neutral position. Lets face it neutral bouyancy and the ability to hold it at 5 ft doing skills should be the basic skills foundation for doing it at 150ft in that you are in the mid point of the water column with no bottom touching or surface sailing. Now work the task of replacing and removing equipment such as stage bottles and hold that bouyancy at a current depth without sinking or bobbing this is what is expected of tec divers. 100 logged dives is the current standard for most agencies for rating to become a instructor, at this number of dives bouyancy should not be an issue. Although this is not reality. I feel that a diver cannot afford to be looking for the bottom if the diver needs to add or remove equipment, deploy a bag, share air, clear a mask, whatever. It is nice to know that at a deco stop at 100 ft and another 250ft below, the diver can hold their position for the expected deco time then ascend to next deco stop and do the same. If the diver needs to manipulate equipment depth doesn't change. Tec Instructors of any agency should expect this and be willing to halt training if the skill level is not where it should be.To many divers are entering levels of diving to which they are not ready or predared to dive. If this program doesn't expect the students total profficiency and mastery of skills from a higher starting expected reference point then it will be no better than a O/W Diver class. Again the instructor makes the difference.
