The Philosophy of Diver Training

[DCBC]

I'm suggesting that your opinion is biased to your own history including, if I recall correctly, commercial and military diving experience. As such it is possible that your own particular perspective for making these evaluations comes from a perspective that fails to fully account for the market place as it exists today, and perhaps more critically, the expectations of the majority of divers active in the market.

Although I would disagree, you are entitled to your opinion. The original questions have nothing to do with me, or what I think. I simply solicited the opinions of others.

 

[Crush]

[to DCBC]

Of course you did. You always do.

And if I"m not mistaken you don't teach recreational diving (any more).. You can't.
R..

[response]

Your mistaken Rob (there are more agencies involved in diver training than PADI which allow there instructors all the leeway they want, as long as the minimums are met). I have held active teaching status for the past 38 years and currently teach recreational diving. I'm an Instructor Trainer Evaluator and have also certified hundreds of recreational instructors as well.

Wow, Diver0001, I expected more of a SB staff member.

 

[DCBC]

I have given vacation-diver-training a fair bit of thought, and I have decided that I am not against it, with some provisos. At least one of my kids LOVES snorkeling and I hope to see him become a diver. The problem is that noone will certify a three-year old. When he turns twelve, should I make him do the same course that I took (ACUC) and require his OW cert to be in water just above freezing? The training is excellent, but will the cold OW dive put him off scuba for the rest of his life? I tend to think that this is too much for a 12-year old, but I will re-evaluate this in nine years. So, currently I plan to get him certified at some flashy resort with lots of warm water, but we will have a contract that will stipulate that: (1) I am his one and only dive buddy; and (2) he has an obligation to train to scuba rescue diver by the age of 18.

All I can say is that cold water didn't put me off when I was 12. I think that after I swam around in paradise, someone might have had a problem of getting me to go into cold water after that.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

It also depends on how he's dressed. The kids I saw doing dives in the tidepool at the Aquarium in Monterey were all in DUI dry suits and the youngest could not have been more than 10 or 11. Seems DUI made suits for the aquarium to use in their kids program. I swear if I'd seen em in a shop I'd have thought they were samples that were easy for a salesman to shlep around. There were kids no more than 3 feet tall in that group!

 

[Diver0001]

Wow, Diver0001, I expected more of a SB staff member.

Sorry. There is more background here than you might realize.

I'm pretty sure DBDC understood why I was pushing this point.

R..

 

[Crush]

It also depends on how he's dressed. The kids I saw doing dives in the tidepool at the Aquarium in Monterey were all in DUI dry suits and the youngest could not have been more than 10 or 11.

Whoa! I shelled out for a Signature Series TLS 350 a year ago. I am not sure that I want to do that with a growing kid...

 

[rstofer]

I have given vacation-diver-training a fair bit of thought, and I have decided that I am not against it, with some provisos. At least one of my kids LOVES snorkeling and I hope to see him become a diver. The problem is that noone will certify a three-year old. When he turns twelve, should I make him do the same course that I took (ACUC) and require his OW cert to be in water just above freezing? The training is excellent, but will the cold OW dive put him off scuba for the rest of his life? I tend to think that this is too much for a 12-year old, but I will re-evaluate this in nine years. So, currently I plan to get him certified at some flashy resort with lots of warm water, but we will have a contract that will stipulate that: (1) I am his one and only dive buddy; and (2) he has an obligation to train to scuba rescue diver by the age of 18.

Actually, a youngster can become a Jr Open Water Diver at 10. And, yes, cold dark water with near zero viz can be offputting. Especially during the OW dives.

I did my first hundred or so dives in warm water. Sure I liked it. When I came home to cold water, diving was easily forgettable. The only reason I am involved today is that the rest of the family is interested. They've never done any warm water dives and just don't know any better.

If I had cerified in cold water, I would have completed the program and walked away. I hate cold water!

Richard

 

[rstofer]

It also depends on how he's dressed. The kids I saw doing dives in the tidepool at the Aquarium in Monterey were all in DUI dry suits and the youngest could not have been more than 10 or 11. Seems DUI made suits for the aquarium to use in their kids program. I swear if I'd seen em in a shop I'd have thought they were samples that were easy for a salesman to shlep around. There were kids no more than 3 feet tall in that group!

My grandson started with that program when he was 8. What a terrific experience for a youngster. A real drysuit, real scuba equipment and a real environment. The only thing lacking is the weight belt. The kids can't sink even if they want to.

Richard

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

This topic has the most lopsided poll I have ever seen on ScubaBoard ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Crush]

This topic has the most lopsided poll I have ever seen on ScubaBoard ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

That's because vacation divers don't know what scubaboard is.