gj62:
Dive Today is the resort "Scuba Intro" that's been around awhile. I know there are programs that attempt to pack an OW course into a weekend - not what I'd recommend, but not a large departure in philosophy.
No. The dive today philosophy is the PADI term for the methodology underwhich they have been systematically restructuring all their courses under the last few years.
Some of the key changes to OW for example includes things like...OW dive 1 can be done after CW dive one and before knowledge development. This makes it so a diver can come in off the street and jump in the water immediately after a briefing, to do a "resort course" but the whole thing can be credited towards the OW certification as CW 1 and OW dive 1. Allong with that change there are no skills required on dive 1. You see..."Dive today"
At one time all the classroom and all the pool had to be completed prior to any OW diving.
Of course what I could never understand as a PADI instructor is how you're supposed to take some one on an OW dive after CW 1 when neutral swimming isn't introduced until CW 3!
Any way that's the dive today thing also refered to for a while as part of "Essential Change" (another PADI term).
It would be nice if more care was given to diving skills overall, but I'd rather see safety come before other skills (such as not silting up the coral, etc).
Review the DAN report. What I'm saying is that lack of buoyancy control skills IS the cause (directly or indirectly) of many accidents. I personally have seen several divers hauled off in ambulances after rapid ascents.
I think these issues are quickly dealt with as the diver is exposed to new types of dives (for example, this isn't an issue in NorCal - no silt to stir up...). Some may never learn - but this is not an agency issue. And, this has not changed - there are just *more* divers than their used to be - not different divers.
It may not be unique to PADI but it is an agency standards issue. Using the PADI standards as an example because I was a PADI instructor until the first of this year and I know them pretty well...The PADI OW course requires a student to be neutrally buoyant for less that 2 minutes out of the entire class! In CW 3 a 10 meter neutral swim is required which can be done in less than 1 minute and a 1 minute hover in any position is required in CW 4. During OW 4 the student must get neutral some time during the dive for a now unspecified period of time. It used to be a 1 minute hover.
Less than 2 minutes total and the rest of the class can be done sitting or crawling on the bottom and be totally within the standards.
Beyond that, I guess we just disagree. Most of my buddies (new and old) dive with PADI, NAUI, SSI etc. cards in their wallet - I fail to see a significant distinction in knowledge or ability when exiting the class.
I never said that the other big agencies were significantly better. I think they are safe and reasonably skilled for brand new divers (4 dives). They understand (but have not mastered) the concept of perfect bouyancy control. Yes, they often struggle with this somewhat for the first 10 or so dives. [/QUOTE]
Exactly my point. I don't certify divers who are strugling with the very most basic aspects of diving. In fact I won't take them to OW for their very first dive.
Of course they get it a lot faster if they understand the basics of balance and trim which is nowhere in the class and have a little time to practice which also isn't required.
However, there is little evidence (at least on DAN) to suggest that it is only the newer diver that is at-risk, even from bouyancy issues.
Absolutely not true! In last years report (It think it was last years) buoyancy control problems were reported on somewhere around 60% of the dives that resulte in fatalities. It wasn't reported last year but the year before buoyancy control problems were reported in like 40% of the dives that resulted in injury.
Sorry but take away the hear attacks and for the most part it's the divers with poor skills who get hurt. Also many (don't recall numbers) are divers with little recent experience and or little training. Poor skills.
As I said though a diver can dive without any skills at all and likely not be injured. That's not proof of good training.
I dived for years before I ever took a class and never came close to getting hurt. Does that mean my training was good? If you think so, I'll point out that my first 2 dives were alone!
Breathing isn't that hard and surviving it doesn't prove you are well trained.
