Jeff - IMO you are definitely NOT nuts. My training was a joke lol. Hardly anything was covered. Literally I got the books, was told to go read it and do the the reviews, then come back and take the test. Which I did and passed. While there the instructor was like do you have any questions lol. True story. We then went and did all the water work. Watch me do this then you do this type of scenario. No tables, No dive planning, etc. After our dives we were told to use the erpd (?) when filling in the log books for the PG - after the dives. What ??
When I did EAN even worse lol. Got the books and video. Went home and read the book, watched the video, and went to the shop. They handed me a test, which I took and didn't miss any, and asked if I had any ?'s lol. They then they grabbed a Nitrox tank and an analyzer and showed me how it worked. End of class. No kidding. No tables, No dive planning, etc. I had to ask them about the tank stickers and they told me the wrong info about what goes on them. Neither class, nor AOW, taught Gas Management. As a matter of fact when I asked about it they had No Idea what that was ("you come up when you start running low on air" was the response I believe). I had to teach THEM lol.
So to say training today is lacking is a HUGE understatement. I feel really concerned for people starting into diving knowing that is the level of professional and education they are getting. They are walking accidents waiting to happen and it's NOT their fault, completely. I'm a BIG believer in the self study program. I have learned 25X on my own through reading books, listening here on SB, asking questions, not settling, and really taking a personal interest in myself and my diving career. I'm learning and growing because I am, and can, and am willing, to put in all the extra work needed, to be a better and a safer diver; for myself and my buddy. But it's a shame for those people than cannot do what I am doing, or do not have the extra time, to get better at being a diver.
They paid good $$ to a reputable agency to learn how to dive and more times than not the system has failed them and let them down.
I'm not saying ALL instructors are like this by any means, and not all shops and programs are like this either. I'm saying that this seems like the norm rather than the exception today and I feel like it is a huge indicator towards why we are seeing more and more tragic incidents dealing with diver injuries and diver fatalities.
I would like to become an instructor someday if I can (not sure with my physical limitations or not). I would like to teach new divers the proper methods and know that they hve been tight well, and right. And even if I can't be an instructor per se, I will always try to help people ANY way that I can.
When I did EAN even worse lol. Got the books and video. Went home and read the book, watched the video, and went to the shop. They handed me a test, which I took and didn't miss any, and asked if I had any ?'s lol. They then they grabbed a Nitrox tank and an analyzer and showed me how it worked. End of class. No kidding. No tables, No dive planning, etc. I had to ask them about the tank stickers and they told me the wrong info about what goes on them. Neither class, nor AOW, taught Gas Management. As a matter of fact when I asked about it they had No Idea what that was ("you come up when you start running low on air" was the response I believe). I had to teach THEM lol.
So to say training today is lacking is a HUGE understatement. I feel really concerned for people starting into diving knowing that is the level of professional and education they are getting. They are walking accidents waiting to happen and it's NOT their fault, completely. I'm a BIG believer in the self study program. I have learned 25X on my own through reading books, listening here on SB, asking questions, not settling, and really taking a personal interest in myself and my diving career. I'm learning and growing because I am, and can, and am willing, to put in all the extra work needed, to be a better and a safer diver; for myself and my buddy. But it's a shame for those people than cannot do what I am doing, or do not have the extra time, to get better at being a diver.
They paid good $$ to a reputable agency to learn how to dive and more times than not the system has failed them and let them down.
I'm not saying ALL instructors are like this by any means, and not all shops and programs are like this either. I'm saying that this seems like the norm rather than the exception today and I feel like it is a huge indicator towards why we are seeing more and more tragic incidents dealing with diver injuries and diver fatalities.
I would like to become an instructor someday if I can (not sure with my physical limitations or not). I would like to teach new divers the proper methods and know that they hve been tight well, and right. And even if I can't be an instructor per se, I will always try to help people ANY way that I can.