Rant and rave

[rcain1]

I have been reluctant to take any dive courses.
So far I have: OW, AOW and NITROX
I feel like a good diver is a good diver. Training doesn’t make good divers. Before you rip my head off I will say that more training CAN make a person a better diver. It is just the same as going to college. I know some really stupid people with masters!
I would love to take all of the course and be a dive master but I really don’t feel like I need to. I feel like I would just be doing it to impress some one. I guess it just pisses me off to hear some one with 70 dives say they are a dive master and look down at me. Hell, I have over 400 dives and been doing it for 15 years. I do want to take the stress and rescue course for reasons other than saying I took it. I WANT TO BE A SAFER AND MORE PREPARED DIVER!

Now that I am done venting.

What courses have you all taken and do you feel like you gained knowledge.

 

[nauifins73]

Not from the courses themselves but from the diving associated. I agree with you - so many of the dives people have are from just taking classes. I don't have near enough dives (110 at last count working on that) and quite a few classes. I know there are divers out there that do exactly what you said - look down on a diver because of the cards "they don't have". I personally can't imagine doing that but it does happen. Stress/Rescue was the best class I have taken because it taught me about my personal diving style and where I needed to improve.

Just my $.02

Becky

 

[redacted]

I needed OW to get air. Then I needed Nitrox because FGB was kicking my butt on air. I read the AOW book & didn't see much interesting. I'm just finishing up the Rescue book now. I don't have any desire to collect any more cards than I need and, so far, I don't need any more.

 

[OE2X]

What courses have you all taken and do you feel like you gained knowledge.

Since you asked let me be the first on the block to talk about DIR-F.

I thought the same way as yourself about instruction until I took the fundementals class. Now I know I suck as a diver.

This was by and a way the best class I've taken. It's been a few weeks now and I'm still working on very basic skills. It has made me aware of how little I really know about diving. It has also shown me where the bar is. While I probably will never get into cave diving and for the most part will only be a rec. diver this class opened my eyes. I won't bash any other organizations, but, DIR-f is far superior to any other courses that I have done. I don't even want to think about how hard Tech 1 is and I have many, many dives to do before I even consider taking it.

BTW - the easiest thing about DIR is buying the gear. Walking the walk is the hard part.

 

[AtomicWalrus]

I know what you mean about newly certified divemasters who think they know everything. It's unfortunate that their instructors didn't give them a better attitude adjustment during their training. I think it's a common failing in people that they don't know what they don't know. A little humility would go a long way for these guys, and hopefully they won't get bitten too badly by hubris.

I think a lot of the dive classes offered become less and less useful the more experience you acquire. If you've done lots of night diving, a night diving specialty course isn't going to do much for you. A rescue diver course is probably not too bad - it teaches a lot about accident & problem management, and a good instructor will make the course tough enough that you really feel like you've accomplished something at the end of it. For really polishing your dive skills, DIR-F or another introductory tec course would be a good idea.

 

[oceancrest67]

RCain1:

Like you...I feel that multiple certifications/specialties might peak as diving experience wins over. It depends on the individual and what that individual wants to do in diving altogether...some want to stay recreational...some want to go more technical.

About those that flaunt their certification credentials...they have issues to begin with. It is like someone flaunting their new car or career status. People, divers, that need to do this are ultimately compensating for an inner insecurity and the need to 'one up' someone else. I ignore big talkers and dive gear hounds...I find them to be be dangerous to diving and I do not want one as a dive buddy.

I have been diving for about ten years now and I am presently going through the motions to finish off my DM...it has been a trek, but one worth the effort. I look at it as a personal quest and accomplishment...not, a platform of superior diving knowledge. Again, anyone that has to flaunt their DM or their Instructorship really ought to reconsider diving in general. For example, I have seen instructors with only two years of overall diving experience STILL mismanage overall buoyancy skills. Sad that some shops rubber stamp the need for instructors.

I also agree with one other posting that suggeted taking a DIR course or a beginning technical course. These kinds of courses can tighten up gear and diving knowledge. I did take cavern / intro to cave, and with the right gear set up and configuration...I got much out of it. The added knowledge and 'certification' did help round out where I might want to go next with my diving.

Just my O2

 

[bbiesenkamp]

I am in the middle of my AOW course, and I already have gained from taking it. I have learned more about dive planning, gas management, UW navigation, finning techniques, and other diving skills that I feel will help me be a better and safer diver... and I haven't even done the dives yet.
I had specific educational goals for the class, and I discussed these with the instructor who tailored the class to meet my goals. I am looking forward to turning the theory into practice, but I already feel I'm getting more than my money's worth from the class.
I think that if you define your educational goals and find a class that matches your needs, you will benefit from taking it. As you gain experience fewer classes will be suited to your level, but there is always something more to learn.

Brian

 

[Wendy]

Training doesn’t make good divers.

Ok I have to disagree with this statement. I think you should reword it to say, taking classes does not make good divers. Training however does make good divers in my eyes. At least if they are practising/training on dives, doing OOA drills, etc with a buddy and making sure that they know well what they were taught in the class. Just taking the class and getting card means nothing. But training and becoming proficient in what you learned in the class does make you a better diver.

 

[rcain1]

I am glad to hear I am not the only one with hair standing on the back of their neck.

I had not really thought of it in the way some of you put it. If I did take the underwater navigation I would not get too much out of it. But the stress and rescue I am sure some of the info would be totally new to me.

Now that it was mentioned (diving fundamentals) I will check into it. It sounds hard and very informative.

Just to give you some background: I started this thread because I saw a dive master candidate filling out his logbook. I admit I don’t know everything but….. I know I have a lot more experience than this person. I draw the line at him giving me ADVICE, not correcting me. (I will call it a DIVE KNIFE if I want to and I’ll put it were ever the hell I want to!) He had about 70 dives.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I have to agree with Wendy ... training makes you better. And with OE2X ... DIR-F is a class that is worth taking.

He and I went through DIR-F together ... and I think it's fair to say that we've learned at least as much by practicing together since then than we did by actually taking the class. The class showed us what we needed to learn ... practice helped us actually learn it.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)