What would you do?

[alwaysmoretolearn]

I have recently learned of a friend who completed their PADI AOW. During a conversation with them I discovered that their instructor did not have them complete, or did not review any of the knowledge reviews, and worse still, had them dive nitrox without them even reading that chapter in the book. They are a pretty inexperienced diver (maybe 12 dives before they started the course). Should this instructor be reported?

 

[Dsix36]

Make sure to get both sides of the story before doing anything rash. A reputation can be hard to rebuild.

If this instructor is in fact lacking in their training, Yes they should be reported. There are peoples lives at stake here.

 

[TSandM]

If, in fact, things happened as you say they did, it's a standards violation and should be reported to PADI.

If they did the e-learning, they wouldn't do the knowledge reviews. Diving Nitrox without reviewing the material on Nitrox would still be unacceptable, though.

 

[Bob DBF]

I would ask my friend to have a a nice long chat with the instructor and resolve their issues. If the friend still believes there were standards violations then he (she) should report the issue to PADI.

The problem with second hand information is that it can be quite biased for any number of reasons. I will give my opinion of the facts as stated and encourage others to do the right thing. A lot of times nothing happens because the facts are not quite as stated, the offended party is not all that offended, and the right thing to do is move on with your life.


Bob
-----------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[birdwrasse]

i would recommend you finishing the material yourself... as mentioned above, second hand information is notoriously inaccurate... how do you feel about the classes you've completed? if you feel that something important is missing from the lessons, then talk to your instructor yourself. at that point, you will get a feeling for why the instructor did what he or she did... sometimes things are taught but in a round about kind of way depending on the learning style of the student...

with that said, diving nitrox in and of itself during an open water class is not a bad thing or a good thing. it depends on the dive. again, we don't have that information. if the dive was to 60-85ft, and it was nitrox 36, the instructor could have wanted to minimize the potential for nitrogen narcosis. since ean 36 can be used to a depth of 95ft (1.4) , the gas would have extended bottom time or reduce the pp of N...

--c

 

[Diving Unlimited]

For the Padi AOWD the students do not need to complete and review the knowledge reviews with the instructor. The instructor may after the dive on his own time review the answers.
The instructor can instead assess divers knowledge and readiness verbally or with previous experience. The instructor is allowed to be quite flexible about this.

For the Nitrox part, what they did was Discover EANx. They do not need to view the video or book before the dive as long as they do the following using the dive today briefing:

Performance Requirements
1. Demonstrate how to use an oxygen analyzer to
determine the oxygen content in an enriched air blend.
2. Demonstrate how to verify cylinder content data and
sign the fill log.
3. Execute a dive within the no stop limits, maximum
68
Adventures in Diving Program
depth and oxygen exposure limits of the diver’s EANx
compatible dive computer, and within other limits
established during predive planning.

To answer your question, no this instructor should not be reported.

 

[birdwrasse]

OMG... i just said that...!!! LOL... i don't know what padi's guidelines are, but that's sounded appropriate for ssi (my CA)... you rock!


--c

 

[Karibelle]

For the Padi AOWD the students do not need to complete and review the knowledge reviews with the instructor. The instructor may after the dive on his own time review the answers.
The instructor can instead assess divers knowledge and readiness verbally or with previous experience. The instructor is allowed to be quite flexible about this.

My instructor manual indicates that the knowledge reviews must be completed by the student, which the OP indicated had not been required by the instructor...

 

[Diving Unlimited]

Keep in mind I looked at the Padi instructor manual 2011. In the Adventures in Diving section it will explain it does not need to be done before the dive.

You can find this on page 60.

 

[Karibelle]

Right, me too. Prior to the dive you must "review the information necessary to safely complete the adventure dive" which you COULD do by reviewing the KR. You can give credit for the dive only if the KR is completed and reviewed. Regardless of what the instructor did prior to the dive, if the KR is not completed and reviewed and credit was given for the dive anyway, the standard was not met.