Part time pro feasibility

[Trace Malinowski]

Yes I do teach only what I'm told. That way my insurance is always valid. When PADI took the decision to change the skills for the AOW deep dive (that is to compare colours at depth, rather than do a Narcosis test) I complied. I didn't agree with it but I still followed standards.
There equally too many instructors out there who teach their own course and then pick from a series of certifications to give to the student. Tech instructors are the prevalent practioners of this. One example when a student could not complete physical skills for an IANTD Normoxix trimix course the Instructor gave him a TDI license instead. That is not teaching, that is a dangerous mentality.
I have skills and experience way above what is needed to teach the OW level, after all you can become an instructor with only 100 dives. How much of my own dive history comes into the course, only what is relevant to the course and only if it does not task load the student.
I teach my students how to dive,how to control their buoyancy, plan their dives and be safe divers all within the PADI framework.

You seem to have a poor opinion of TDI based upon your experience with one instructor from this post and your introductory post in T2T. Within the PADI framework you are right to teach that way. It is a highly regimented system. Other agencies allow a lot more flexibility. Flexibility respects the knowledge of the educator.

I'm an instructor trainer examiner for PSAI and PDIC as well as being a TDI instructor. I won't issue a dual C-card unless the student has met all the standards of both agencies. In fact, in many training agencies it is a standard that the standards of both agencies must be met for a dual certification.

My personal standards are high. I task load my students under the belief that the more we bleed in training the less we'll die in combat. Since the framework of the agencies for which I teach is flexible, I find it allows me to be a better instructor.

 

[Ste Wart]

You seem to have a poor opinion of TDI based upon your experience with one instructor from this post and your introductory post in T2T. Within the PADI framework you are right to teach that way. It is a highly regimented system. Other agencies allow a lot more flexibility. Flexibility respects the knowledge of the educator.
.

I wouldn't say I have a poor opinion of TDI based on 2 examples. It was just the first story that came to mind. The Instructor (also an IT for both IANTD &TDI) could have easily given him a DSAT cert instead.
The point I am trying to make is that for all courses follow the protocol of that Agency, even if XYZ may have a better gas-matching ideal, or signalling procedure. IMHO all tech course should have stamina skills a la IANTD, but I will not put it into a DSAT course because of my belief alone. If I wanted stamina tests for DSAT I would got through the right channels. Teach the course the student has asked you to teach, not a mish-mash of 2 or 3.
How are we too define agencies if we just homogenise the courses that we teach?

 

[Trace Malinowski]

How are we too define agencies if we just homogenise the courses that we teach?

Looking at the standards of PDIC, PSAI, and TDI I can't find anything that asks me to define them, but rather, use them as a tool to define quality in my students.

 

[Mayor]

My personal standards are high. I task load my students under the belief that the more we bleed in training the less we'll die in combat. Since the framework of the agencies for which I teach is flexible, I find it allows me to be a better instructor.

As one of Trace's students I can tell you he expects a lot from us. In one of the classes he got us to a point we were doing well with skills then started to mix it up a bit. From first stage failures, to missing bottles, primary light failures, missing back up lights, primary mask missing, OPV valve missing, and many OOA just to name a few.

During my water final I got hit with many these, one on top of another with out missing a beat. Never had a PADI / NAUI class that pushed me to become better.

 

[YoDadio]

First of all kids, you've hijacked my thread!

Secondly, while I am not a DM/AI/OWSI I believe you're both right. A "good" instructor is morally obligated to instruct as per the standards of the applicable agency(ies) requirements, so if a student can't meet ALL OF THE STANDARDS of one agency, but does for another then there's no harm using the "other" agency (assuming the student is onboard with the process). Secondly, a "good" instructor, IMHO, should do more than simply instruct to the the lowest common denominator and/or minimal requirements.

The instructor needs to understand that it is unlikely the same message/technique will resonate with all studens equally. Find a way to push them, based on there specific needs/skills. Generally I do this by throwing "curve balls" that have real world applications/ramifications (similar to those mentioned by another poster in this thread for diving) or simply find some creative ways to have fun (tell jokes, bring toys, or if underwater bring a tennis ball/raw egg on a deep dive, etc). Such curve balls should not, in and of themselves, cause a student to fail the course, but if done properly will likely enrich the entire experience while affording more learning opportunities.

No back to my topic, all squabbling aside I think I'll at least have a heart to heart with my local dive shop. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, if it doesn't go well I have other options, even waiting out the instructor...

 

[Crowley]

And this from somebody who has no teaching experience - and I mean this as a compliment! YoDadio, if you choose to go this route, I get the feeling you will make an excellent instructor.

Do not listen to the agency bashing - do not get suckered into the sort of conversation which runs along the lines of "to be an instructor you must have ten million dives and passed a GUE Tech course, wear only a back plate and wing and push your students so far past their limits that the curve ball hits them between their legs..."

Teaching to standards? Of course - this is what an instructor is required to do - any instructor can teach standards. A good instructor is somebody who can teach those standards with a good depth of knowledge and confidence beyond the simple requirement to teach.

A *great* instructor is somebody who instills so much passion in their students that they work harder to become better divers because of it.

Talk to your dive shop, discuss options, and if you need any help or advice along the way, just ask.

Cheers

C.