There are some people who are really into collecting certifications, going quickly from class to class, assembling an impressive array of cards (or patches), without doing a lot of diving. The term patch diver refers to this sort of person, and its not a compliment.
I have also seen a few threads here about people who want to be trained just to the agency minimums to minimize cost and/or time, to get a certification card. Some divers are focused on getting the card without getting the training. In some cases, this is understandable - say, an experienced diver who has been solo diving for years, but who now needs the card because of the policies of a certain dive operator or training facility. But even in that situation, a professional can often suggest improvements to years of bad habits. So I would like to put in a good word for reverse patch diving - that is, getting training without getting a card.
I recently showed up at our local lake with some friends but no buddy. Rather than just renting a transponder and doing a solo tour of the facility, I asked Wayne Fisch (a popular local instructor, AKA "Wayne at Diveseekers" here on SB) if he had time for a coaching session. He was able to fit me into his training schedule, and we had a terrific dive, well worth it!
Coming out of the off-season, lots of my skills and procedures had become rusty, and Wayne made sure to abuse me enough with various drills and simulated catastrophes to shake off the cobwebs. I still have a way to go (dont we all?), but that was definitely time well spent.
So heres to Wayne, and the other local Instructors who have done similar things for me or my friends (Antonio, Trace, Justin, Don, etc..). No matter who you are and how much you dive, it always helps to have a pair of trained eyes watching you and giving you objective feedback. The worlds top professional athletes all need coaches, why should we be any different?
Training without certification is much better than certification without training!
I have also seen a few threads here about people who want to be trained just to the agency minimums to minimize cost and/or time, to get a certification card. Some divers are focused on getting the card without getting the training. In some cases, this is understandable - say, an experienced diver who has been solo diving for years, but who now needs the card because of the policies of a certain dive operator or training facility. But even in that situation, a professional can often suggest improvements to years of bad habits. So I would like to put in a good word for reverse patch diving - that is, getting training without getting a card.
I recently showed up at our local lake with some friends but no buddy. Rather than just renting a transponder and doing a solo tour of the facility, I asked Wayne Fisch (a popular local instructor, AKA "Wayne at Diveseekers" here on SB) if he had time for a coaching session. He was able to fit me into his training schedule, and we had a terrific dive, well worth it!
Coming out of the off-season, lots of my skills and procedures had become rusty, and Wayne made sure to abuse me enough with various drills and simulated catastrophes to shake off the cobwebs. I still have a way to go (dont we all?), but that was definitely time well spent.
So heres to Wayne, and the other local Instructors who have done similar things for me or my friends (Antonio, Trace, Justin, Don, etc..). No matter who you are and how much you dive, it always helps to have a pair of trained eyes watching you and giving you objective feedback. The worlds top professional athletes all need coaches, why should we be any different?
Training without certification is much better than certification without training!