Requirement to do night dives

[Edward3c]

I've not been prevented from doing a night dive even though I haven't got a night dive qualification/endorsement. My first one was navigating round a site whilst leading the dive.

 

[boulderjohn]

I don't think that is the issue. The issue as I see it is,,, Will instructors in a non training environment take non night diving certified ow's on a night dive. Professional standards.

There are no professional standards in play here. There is nothing wrong with a dive professional taking divers on dives that are reasonable steps in extending their experiences beyond what they have done before. In fact, that is just a different way of saying what divers are told to do in the OW course as they gain new experiences. Night diving is a very reasonable step beyond a diver's OW training experience.

 

[NAM001]

There are no professional standards in play here. There is nothing wrong with a dive professional taking divers on dives that are reasonable steps in extending their experiences beyond what they have done before. In fact, that is just a different way of saying what divers are told to do in the OW course as they gain new experiences. Night diving is a very reasonable step beyond a diver's OW training experience.

If you are doing what you say then the dive professionals are acting in a PROFESSIONAL capacity. A bit different than the premis of the post i made. Which inturn they should be making log entries for the divers log book stating that they were observed safely doing limited visibility dive or a deep dive ect. to properly document the dive as an bonified agency defendable EXPERIENCE dive. No log entry and it did not happen. Anyone can make up an experience dive story. Its another thing to prove it. Log books have course completion entries made to prove status. in event you need a new card you can submit your log page and get a new card. Why would an experience dive observed by a qualified training diver be of no less importance. Did deep dive witnessed by jim bob,,,, another OW diver with a dozen dives,,, is not a credible entry to prove experience.

 

[FinnMom]

Logs books are optional. Logging dives is optional. Signing log books by anyone is far less than universal, and one does not need to be an instructor (nor a reckless fool) to take you on your first night dive, or boat dive, or camera dive, or doubles dive, or carrying-a-pony dive and many other etc.

Many other threads have covered logbooks. They are a fine, useful and fun thing, but they are not required, not notarized, not indestructable. And just because something is written and looks real doesn't mean it's real. Remember the Hilter diaries?

In my life, I have signed one entry in one log book, and it wasn't for student, just someone I buddied with on a vacation dive. He made detailed entries about every dive, including sketches of the scenery and critters. I think he asked me to sign because he didn't want to admit that he couldn't spell my name

 

[cpace]

Most likely all they cared about was that you signed the waiver that relieved them of liability. The waiver most likely contained a portion that you agreed not to engage in diving activities beyond your training and experience. With out signing that you would not have dove. so yes they did scrutinize your training.

I reviewed the waivers we signed from both of the Roatan dive operators we dove with last May and neither of the them used anything remotely close to the phrase "agreed not engage in diving activities beyond your training and experience".

 

[Storker]

A lot of dives on the Scottish west coast are dark below 15m even during the day.

That might well be said about a few dives up here on the other side of the North sea as well. At least for certain values of "dark"

I love night diving, and I'm fairly well versed in low viz diving (although if it's less than 1m near the surface, I usually call the dive), but IME there's a noticeable difference between night diving and diving in low viz. Even when the sun is only a couple of degrees above the horizon. At day, there's a continuous decrease in light as you go deeper, so if you think it's getting too dark, you just have to go shallower. At night, it's pretty much pitch dark even at the surface (at least where and when I do my night diveing). Without a light, you won't be able to see your buddy or read your instruments. That's why I don't night dive without two lights, because if my primary dies and I don' have a backup I'm pretty much up the proverbial creek without any means of propulsion.

The biggest night dive challenge is kitting up, dekitting and then getting home with all your kit.

 

[Storker]

I think he asked me to sign because he didn't want to admit that he couldn't spell my name

Dang. Busted.

 

[TMHeimer]

If you are doing what you say then the dive professionals are acting in a PROFESSIONAL capacity. A bit different than the premis of the post i made. Which inturn they should be making log entries for the divers log book stating that they were observed safely doing limited visibility dive or a deep dive ect. to properly document the dive as an bonified agency defendable EXPERIENCE dive. No log entry and it did not happen. Anyone can make up an experience dive story. Its another thing to prove it. Log books have course completion entries made to prove status. in event you need a new card you can submit your log page and get a new card. Why would an experience dive observed by a qualified training diver be of no less importance. Did deep dive witnessed by jim bob,,,, another OW diver with a dozen dives,,, is not a credible entry to prove experience.

Interesting--I've never thought of that. I don't think the idea of having an "experience" dive confirmed by the professional with you has been mentioned in my time on scubaboard. Makes sense should someone ask to see the log.

 

[wildbill9]

I think the only requirement is not being afraid of the dark......

 

[DevonDiver]

Logs books are optional. Logging dives is optional. Signing log books by anyone is far less than universal, and one does not need to be an instructor (nor a reckless fool) to take you on your first night dive, or boat dive, or camera dive, or doubles dive, or carrying-a-pony dive and many other etc.[/QUOTE ]

Just as a c-card is 'proof of training', a log book could be accepted as 'proof of experience'.

For fun diving, many dive centers would prefer to see a diver's log book, but at the same time do not mandate it. However, without any verifiable 'proof of experience' (or training), it wouldn't be unreasonable to accept that the centre might err on the side of caution with what they permitted - until you proved your competency to them on simpler dives.

A log book (paper or electronic) would be required to satisfy prerequisite dive experience for certain training courses, especially the pro or tech levels...and for CCR with some agencies.

[QUOTE="FinnMom, post: 7838264, member: 186862"
Many other threads have covered logbooks. They are a fine, useful and fun thing, but they are not required, not notarized, not indestructable. And just because something is written and looks real doesn't mean it's real.

I'm quite cursory about c-cards and log books. Checking them (as training prerequisites) is more about satisfying agency standards than any real expectation that they'd guarantee actual ability.

I've seen faked log books. People who's claimed dive experience was in no way reflected by their competency. Here in SE Asia, there's even been reports of fake C-cards - either bought direct by 'divers' or issued by fake instructors after illegitimate training courses.

At the end if the day, I'll know all I need to know from one dive with an individual.