Thank heavens for PADI

[ElectricZombie]

-hh once bubbled...

"Back in the old days..." basic dive training included confidence drills, such as Ditch-n-Don, Remove-&-Recover, and the NAUI Bailout.

I still teach all these skills plus a lot of other composure/confidence skills. (I also teach breathing off the tank valve...good for composure really) I've never had anyone who could could not do these skills with some practice. Too bad most Instructors don't teach these anymore.

 

[-hh]

ElectricZombie once bubbled...


I still teach all these skills plus a lot of other composure/confidence skills. (I also teach breathing off the tank valve...good for composure really) I've never had anyone who could could not do these skills with some practice. Too bad most Instructors don't teach these anymore.

As NAUI, that's your perrogative.

BTW, I've been trying to get back in touch with Ray Jones (NAUI #926) for a few years...had been in Philly area. Any locator suggestions? Ping me PM or email if you want.

Thanks,

-hh

 

[Corregidor]

-hh,

Those confidence drills I spoke of were from the 'old days' - a late 80s PADI Rescue course; didn't mean to imply otherwise. At that time, yes, we had harassment in OW too although not a lot of it. But the drills in Rescue were intense.

Strangely, the course was actually run by a guy outside of PADI, some ex-military Rescue specialist type named Butch who had a business with his own Rescue course. I don't know what the arrangement was.

Jim

 

[Walter]

In the General Standards and Proceedures Section of the PADI Instructor Manual on page 10, you'll find in bold print:

"If you advertise a diver training course as a PADI course, you must conduct it following PADI training standards and issue a PADI certification to all divers who satisfatorily meet the performance requirements."

This doesn't say you can't teach extra skills/topics, but it does say a PADI instructor must issue the certification if all skills/topics required by PADI are met, the instructor cannot make the extra skills/topics a requirement for certification.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I can't think of anything in the standards that specifically states that you can't add skills, however, they made a big deal of it in the IDC. The argument was partly based on sticking to the system being easier to defend.

However, practice and just having fun is encouraged so I often combine skills. For instance hovering and clearing a mask. Both are required skills. Removal and replacement of the scuba unit at depth is also a requirement as is mask r&r and no mask swimming. Sounds like just for practice you could do a doff and don or a bail out. I guess technically you can't require it for certification but I don't really see why you couldn't do it.

Since I'm also an IANTD instructor and IANTD does list those skills my insurance will still cover me to teach them.

 

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

Walter once bubbled...
This doesn't say you can't teach extra skills/topics, but it does say a PADI instructor must issue the certification if all skills/topics required by PADI are met, the instructor cannot make the extra skills/topics a requirement for certification.

Walter, is there anything wrong with that?

As a Y instructor, can you add additional requirements that aren't in the course requirements and not certify someone because they don't perform the additional requirements to your satisfaction?

Marc

 

[Whirling Girl]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...
I can't think of anything in the standards that specifically states that you can't add skills, however, they made a big deal of it in the IDC. The argument was partly based on sticking to the system being easier to defend.

....

Since I'm also an IANTD instructor and IANTD does list those skills my insurance will still cover me to teach them.

Mike, isn't there something about teaching stuff outside of or beyond the PADI requirements creating potential liability, or something like that? I'm completely on thin ice here. This isn't the first time I've heard people say that PADI instructors are not permitted to teach extra stuff in their OW courses, but maybe that's like an urban legend.

Clarity would be good.

I've heard friends who are SSI instructors talk about differences between PADI and SSI which include their ability to write their own curriculum for SSI and get it approved, but not being able to do that with PADI. So for example, 5thD teaches openwater through SSI, but it also includes DIR stuff, because they were allowed to basically create their own course.

Margaret

 

[pwfletcher]

PADI is a great way to go if you want to make recreational diving a career.

 

[scubasean]

pwfletcher once bubbled...
PADI is a great way to go if you want to make recreational diving a career.

You are implying that you can actually live on instructor wages...cool!

Where?

 

[MikeFerrara]

Whirling Girl once bubbled...
Mike, isn't there something about teaching stuff outside of or beyond the PADI requirements creating potential liability, or something like that? I'm completely on thin ice here. This isn't the first time I've heard people say that PADI instructors are not permitted to teach extra stuff in their OW courses, but maybe that's like an urban legend.

Clarity would be good.


Margaret

That's what I meant by defensible. I don't remember it in the standards but what's tough in an IDC is that the the intention of PADI is that nothing be added. The theory is that if you make it up yourself you'll be responsible for it's educational validity.

Another major concern of PADI is to get people diving quick, which is what they want so they don't intent to have anything that isn't absolutly esential.

If an instructor really wants some latitude all they need to do is read the bold print in the standards closely and use what it says (or doesn't say) for the benefit of the class instead of an excuse. There is way more room to move than many think. For instance, combining skills (as I mentioned before).
The standards do say that you must teach underwater swimming but they don't say that you can't teach every kick that you know. Much of what's in the standards is to set minimums while other stuff is to define scope.

I go over some things that aren't mentioned at all like gas management. ok the book tells student to watch their gauge but it doesn't tell them when to head for home. I tell em. Sorry but if I ever have to explain that in court it won't bother me a bit. BTW, I started doing things like that because it came to my attention that many new divers were doing 100 ft dives at resorts. Maybe you can just watch you gauge at 30 ft but that isn't enough at 100 ft. If I'm wrong then I quit.

I also doubt that teaching students about trim or frog kicks will land me in court.