What about the Overconfident, Sophomoric Effect?

[DandyDon]

Note: SB "Profile" info and "Dive Info" have been split and enhanced. Better than ever, but some info was lost on mine, which I have fixed. You might want to check your's.

Therein, you'll see a choice of number of Certification Level: List your current, active certification levels. ; Logged Dives: How many "LOGGED" dives do you have ; and Dive Classification: Your place within the dive industry.

I often look at new members profiles on Intros forum, and I shudder when I see:

Rescue - 16 to 50 dives.

16 to 50 dives - Experienced.

When I welcome them to SB, I suggest they get to know our forums, and direct them here to New To Scuba.

don - 200 dive :newbie:

 

[eponym]

Good heads-up, Don, thanks.

Just to chime in on classifications: I'm still working on perfecting the basics in my second hundred dives, and not ashamed to admit it. I feel a bit rushed by my shop owner, who wants me to take the Assistant Instructor course now.

But my most recent SSI cert. was "Master Diver." No, it doesn't make any sense in the grand scheme of things ("master diver" always reminds me of that movie about a navy diver who was determined to make master chief). I'd guess most agencies, at least the big ones in the U.S., are handing out the laurels way early, and I can't fault divers for taking them at face value. And this is the internet, where the temptation to put on one's best face (or inflate one's c.v.) is not uncommon--a normal human response to not being able to see those you're interacting with.

Fin on,
Bryan

 

[eponym]

PS: I forgot to answer the question you posed in your thread title.

I'm all in favor of it. In a Taoist, yin-yang, life-is-a-journey, what goes up must come down sense.

But in moderation, of course.

 

[smokey braden]

dear dandydon,
is it possible for you to help a computor illiterate diver with his profile?
regards,
smokey

 

[DandyDon]

dear dandydon,
is it possible for you to help a computor illiterate diver with his profile?
regards,
smokey

Ah - the nearly blind leading the nearly blind approach. It's okay; I've been this way before. Here's the computer-illiterate path that works for this puter dummy:

(1) Click User CP above on any page

(2) Click Edit Profile on the menu list. Fill in all the blanks, then click Save Changes

(3) Click Edit Dive Info on the menu list. Complete all the blanks, then click Save Changes

(4) Go to any post you've made, click your Username, then ckick View Public Profile to see what you've loaded.

Really, your current Profile (and Dive Info) are pretty complete. You might add what city in Virginia for possible dive buddies, and you might list how many dives you've logged, as well as taking advantage of other options.

If you'd like to, click my Username, then ckick View Public Profile to see what I've done with mine - which is but one example. :biggrimja

 

[DA Aquamaster]

When I started diving (early 80's) everyone took either a Basic or OW course and that was pretty much it. Additional learning occurred in the field as sort of an on the job training or apprenticeship with a more experienced diver or group of divers taking you under their wing(s). (and wings were in fact pretty common at the time)

Many, if not most, divers never bothered to take an AOW class as it served no real purpose in this system of things. I took an AOW class for college credit but saw no need to spend money for the certification and did not become a real live card carrying AOW diver until a few years ago - after well over a thousand dives. I learned nothing at all in the latest AOW course but the card comes in handy on dive trips with DM's who would be otherwise concerned about me descending below 60 ft.

The nice part about the apprenticeship/mentorship system was that you learned from experienced divers in your area with techniques relevant to your area. And psychologically, no matter how many dives you had, the more experienced guys in the group you dove with always had more. So while you were perhaps no longer the newbie in the group, your were also by no means "perfect" or in a position to feel you knew it all. That created a built in check against overconfidence and an over inflated ego.

Today, in contrast, a diver can quickly advance to rescue or master diver status and/or pursue various cool and macho sounding technical certifications. They can become very C-card heavy but have relatively little real world experience and none of the wisdom or judgement that comes with gaining that experience.

In my opinion, this can create a diver with the potential to exceed his limitations either individually or in the sometimes false sense of security that comes from diving in a group - where all the members may be in the same boat expecting the other members to compensate for their deficiencies in a crunch.

Certification, often even in technical aspects of diving, has become too much of a big business where applicants are accepted if they meet the minimum requirements with little or no thought or consideration given to whether they really possess the maturity, wisdom and basic knowledge and in-water skills to be advancing farther up the ladder.

I think in terms of safety relatively new divers are at increased risk due to what they do not know and to what they do not even know they do not know - regardless of how many C-cards and specialty courses they may have in their pockets.

On the other end of the continuum, experienced divers can place themselves at increased risk through overconfidence and complacency. A wise and experienced diver keeps this in check by always accurately assessing their abilities and conditions, creatively thinking up new ways that they can die in a situation and by reminding themselves that they do not, and will in fact never, know it all.

The new model of lots of training with little experience, creates the potential for a diver to exist in both ends of the continuum at once in that they are both inexperienced/unaware of what they do not know and overconfident/complacent. Not a great place to be.

 

[Wristshot]

The Overconfident, Sophomoric Effect is responsible for many regulations and limitations, and that stretches way beyond Scuba Diving.

Unfortunately most of the people that need "help" the most are those least likely to accept any, and some of the quickest to offer theirs.


Wristshot

 

[smokey braden]

dandydon,
thank you very much for that much needed lesson.
i appriciate your time and thoughtfulness.
regards,
smokey

 

[Amy B]

But my most recent SSI cert. was "Master Diver." No, it doesn't make any sense in the grand scheme of things ("master diver" always reminds me of that movie about a navy diver who was determined to make master chief).

You mean "Men of Honour" - brilliant film! I will be diving in one of those suits in S.Africa next week - a little worried, as it weighs a stone more than me, but hey! What an experience!

I'm all in favor of it. In a Taoist, yin-yang, life-is-a-journey, what goes up must come down sense.

Or, in a diver's case... What goes down, must come up!!

 

[hunter11]

Don,

While your obsevation may be right on, to ask someone to fill out the profile and then negatively editorialize seems to be counter productive.
Besides, There may be worse ways to get experience than to work on certifications.

And no and have not filled out my profile, so you can now criticize me too.

From reading your other post, I know think I know you to be concerned for new divers, but how is this helpful?

Note: SB "Profile" info and "Dive Info" have been split and enhanced. Better than ever, but some info was lost on mine, which I have fixed. You might want to check your's.

Therein, you'll see a choice of number of Certification Level: List your current, active certification levels. ; Logged Dives: How many "LOGGED" dives do you have ; and Dive Classification: Your place within the dive industry.

I often look at new members profiles on Intros forum, and I shudder when I see:

Rescue - 16 to 50 dives.

16 to 50 dives - Experienced.

When I welcome them to SB, I suggest they get to know our forums, and direct them here to New To Scuba.

don - 200 dive :newbie: