What region produces the most skilled divers?

[El Orans]

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On a more serious note im a firm believer in the harder the training and conditions the better the skill set gets. People from here diving abroad also liken the foreign dives (with little weight, thin suits, good vis, warm water, no currents) to diving in a swimming pool.

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What ive also noticed are general buddying skills tend to be better by people who regulary dive in poor visibility.

I often end up with a random buddy on a trip and nearly always someone thats dived in low vis and high current conditions tends to stick closer, be more alert and generally ne less in the way than a good vis/slack water diver (these tend to be further away and in my experience have a habit of stopping without telling you or wandering off).

I believe the harder the training and the more extreme conditions are faced during the regular course of diving the better the divers skill set will improve and refine.

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The Netherlands as well as the rest of Northern Europe have pretty similar conditions.

 

[Xman]

Well, I would have to agree with those who have suggested the UK (although this is from what I have heard. I emphasise I haven't dived there).
In a lot of ways, Kaikoura, in the south of New Zealand (where I learned to dive) is similar to the uk conditions wise.

Summer- Vis 1m (3ft) to 7m (21ft) on a rare occasion.
Temp, 17deg C (62F)
Winter- Vis 0m to 3m
Temp, 7deg C (42F)
Surge, Kelp, etc.. etc..

Oh, and here in New Zealand 99.99% of divers (including me)dive wet rather than dry, even in winter.

 

[PhotoTJ]

I think, after giving this some thought, that it's an unfair question. Each region produces divers that are the most skillful in the conditions found in that region.

 

[DutchDown]

The Netherlands as well as the rest of Northern Europe have pretty similar conditions.

and the incredible sea life! They'll all want to come dive here and take our parking places!

Phil

 

[El Orans]

and the incredible sea life! They'll all want to come dive here and take our parking places!

Phil

Maybe you have tried our Wacky Weeds a bit too much.

 

[padiscubapro]

Winter- Vis 0m to 3m
Temp, 7deg C (42F)
Surge, Kelp, etc.. etc..

Oh, and here in New Zealand 99.99% of divers (including me)dive wet rather than dry, even in winter.

OUCH!
I guess many of you guys get the nickname Spot!

I'll keep my warm, toasty dry suit....

 

[padiscubapro]

If 40 degree water and 5 foot vis was the norm, I think I would quit diving.

You'd be surprised, I find you actually see MORE when you have low viz.. WHen you can't see more than an arms length in front of your face you tend too look at everything very closely, and in the end see stuff you would have just swam past..

If you are lobster hunting you only need to see arms length to get dinner... If you are an artifact hunter... Well than you generally have NO viz since you are so busy digginf in the muck and everyone who isn't looking for artifacts and gets stuck downcurrent of you doesn;t have nice things to say

Occasionally I;ll go Ice diving where the water is just above the freezing point!

 

[caveseeker7]

Id say the UK (but then again i would say that, im from there and trained there!)

I'd say so, too. (and I'm neither from nor trained there!)

Not because of the UW conditions and environment, but because in that area training ususally is to BSAC standard.
And from my experience diving with Brits, that standard is higher than current US standards.

 

[Kim]

I'd say so, too. (and I'm neither from nor trained there!)

Not because of the UW conditions and environment, but because in that area training ususally is to BSAC standard.
And from my experience diving with Brits, that standard is higher than current US standards.

I believe the CMAS standards used in Europe are also very good!

 

[DORSETBOY]

I've been lucky enough to have done different parts of my training in most regions of the world, I always find it amusing to hear different regions slag eachother off as I've seen the good, the bad and the damn right ugly when it comes to training and I've seen the full range everywhere.

I also laugh when I hear how much better a British trained BSAC diver supposedly is, I've done a lot of their training and it's no better or worse than anyone elses!