What's the use in doing that?

[kent_1848]

I don't think agency has anything to do with it. they are obvious skills and practices with real value. That dosen't mean you need them for every dive but you should have those skills and practices to be prepared for any dive. I think I addressed this in post#15.

Pete

Well, agency either has something to do with it, or, the instructors with the other agencies that I have DM'd for didn't teach the skills & practices, which is entirely possible. I had never seen it before.

 

[Jason B]

I was Dive Mastering for the class, I have also done so with SSI and NAUI.

Why? I don't know anyone that sits at the surface with their mask on...it fogs up!

Serious question.
How do you reach DM status and not know how to defog a mask?

 

[Saipanman]

I haven't checked the Standards lately, and I could be wrong, but my understanding is that, unless you're a PADI Divemaster (with insurance), you weren't DM'ing the class, at least as far as PADI is concerned. So, if he was relying on you to increse the allowable student-instructor ratio, he seems dumb enough to talk through a snorkel.

But I could be wrong.

Not meaning to bash you or the instructor, but the lawyer in me thinks its prudent to have a PADI DM know about defog and snorkel-reg exchanges. In fact, to be a PADI DM, you must not only know they exist, but be able to DEMONSTRATE them to students an Instructor level.

 

[nessum]

We have students leave their masks on at the surface because we find that this keeps them from fogging up & it keeps things moving. Don't have to slow down for students fumbling with/dropping/continuously readusting/ getting hair caught in... masks.
Snorkel/reg exchange.... I think it really just familiarizes students with where their equipment is, how to use it (clear) & how to retrieve it.
I don't know about keeping regs or snorkels in. Maybe to keep them from talking, as was suggested. Maybe the instructor did it for comic relief... maybe the guy is a bit off. I don't know.

 

[aquamarin]

I was thrown off the boat ladder in 4-6 meter waves (4 according to me, 5 according to the dm, 6 according to the captain ) - and I was very, very, very glad that I'd listened to the dm and kept my reg in, mask on - only wished I'd also listened to what he said about keeping my fins on, rescue action might not have been quite so dramatic then........I do NOT take out my reg or take off my mask until I'm on the platform, unless the surface is totally smooth

As for the skills, I don't know, since I didn't do ANY skills when I got certified (SSI btw) - but that's a completely different story