Peak performance Buoyancy

[jepuskar]

I took PPB soon after OW with a private instructor. I had absolutely no control of my buoyancy at that point.

Andras

This comment alone could be a whole new thread.

 

[Blackwood]

Sure there is more than there should be of trainwreck ow divers that survive on pure luck, but that wouldnt be remedied with longer ... courses.

Really? In my admittedly limited experience, it appears that students who go through longer programs tend to be more complete divers straight out of class than those who go through weekend specials.

Speaking personally, I learn better when information is spread out than when it's highly compressed.

 

[halocline]

I have found that the PPB dive in AOW has helped alot of the students I've observed, especially those taking AOW right after OW. I never took it, but during my DM internship I assisted with a PPB class taught by a very good instructor and it helped my buoyancy control/awareness, let alone that of the students. So it can be very helpful.

Observing the poor buoyancy control/trim in some instructors, I'm sure it could also be a waste of time. It's very instructor-dependent.

Part of the issue is that buoyancy control is an on-going developmental skill, so the class itself is probably best thought of as an introduction and exercise in awareness, so that the skills can be refined through lots of practice.

Not having taken a GUE course, I can't comment about the idea of taking that instead of the PADI PPB, but I bet that the standard for buoyancy control is much higher in the GUE course. That would be great for a student that can succeed in that environment.

 

[Blackwood]

Not having taken a GUE course, I can't comment about the idea of taking that instead of the PADI PPB, but I bet that the standard for buoyancy control is much higher in the GUE course.

Is there a standard for PADI PPB (e.g do you fail the course if you can't hold your depth within a certain tolerance)?

 

[boulderjohn]

Is there a standard for PADI PPB (e.g do you fail the course if you can't hold your depth within a certain tolerance)?

If you are talking about nothing but the AOW dive, not the full specialty, here are the standard requirements:

Estimate weighting using guidelines
Weight check
Distribute weights for optimal trim
Visualization for relaxation and proper breathing methods
Controlled descent, adjusting for buoyancy with BCD
Adjust for neutral buoyancy as a specified depth
Hover motionlessly for one minute
swim in horizontal trim without touching bottom
Make depth adjustments using nothing but breath control
Demonstrate efficient kicking technique
Navigate an obstacle course without touching obstacles
Adjust weights and practice hovering in different positions--vertical, horizontal, feet elevated, and head elevated​

If your AOW course does not do that, then it is in violation of standards.

 

[boulderjohn]

If you are talking about nothing but the AOW dive, not the full specialty, here are the standard requirements:

Estimate weighting using guidelines
Weight check
Distribute weights for optimal trim
Visualization for relaxation and proper breathing methods
Controlled descent, adjusting for buoyancy with BCD
Adjust for neutral buoyancy as a specified depth
Hover motionlessly for one minute
swim in horizontal trim without touching bottom
Make depth adjustments using nothing but breath control
Demonstrate efficient kicking technique
Navigate an obstacle course without touching obstacles
Adjust weights and practice hovering in different positions--vertical, horizontal, feet elevated, and head elevated​

If your AOW course does not do that, then it is in violation of standards.

EDIT: The concept of "failing" is not used. A student who cannot do the skills is still working on it. The course is passed when the standards are met, however long it takes.

 

[Anti-Hero]

If you are talking about nothing but the AOW dive, not the full specialty, here are the standard requirements:

Estimate weighting using guidelines
Weight check
Distribute weights for optimal trim
Visualization for relaxation and proper breathing methods
Controlled descent, adjusting for buoyancy with BCD
Adjust for neutral buoyancy as a specified depth
Hover motionlessly for one minute
swim in horizontal trim without touching bottom
Make depth adjustments using nothing but breath control
Demonstrate efficient kicking technique
Navigate an obstacle course without touching obstacles
Adjust weights and practice hovering in different positions--vertical, horizontal, feet elevated, and head elevated​

If your AOW course does not do that, then it is in violation of standarsd.

I bolded the one item my PPB course accomplished. And it was taught by a course director.

 

[Tigerman]

Really? In my admittedly limited experience, it appears that students who go through longer programs tend to be more complete divers straight out of class than those who go through weekend specials.

Speaking personally, I learn better when information is spread out than when it's highly compressed.

If you combine say OW, AOW, PPB, NITROX and DS into one course, it wont be any less compressed than OW is now, youll just have more stuff to learn and need more days to complete it. Yes, it will make you a better diver to have all those courses than just OW provided its done PROPERLY, but an instructor that cert trainweck OW divers would sign the same trainwreck off on the longer course that taught him the exact same ammount - nothing.
The difference between all of them in one and blocking them up like PADI does now (and other agencies too, but they might start and end blocks at different places) is that now you can take each block when you have the time (and money) to do so, or you can go out and have a blast just with the first one if thats sufficient for the kinda diving you wanna do.

I do fully support to continue learning, but not so much "lets cram all the stuff every diver will ever need into one course with no options". Simply because what Im gonna need and what youre gonna need can be two VERY different things..

 

[Blackwood]

If you combine say OW, AOW, PPB, NITROX and DS into one course, it wont be any less compressed than OW is now

... not if you don't also lengthen the class as appropriate.

need more days to complete it.

Hence me calling them "longer programs"

 

[ScubaSteve]

I bolded the one item my PPB course accomplished. And it was taught by a course director.

+1 here. But then again, that is why I will never go back to that shop for any future service or training.