Who is responsible for what?

[Jim Lapenta]

I want to thank everyone for their kind words. I really want to thank everyone for the discussion resulting from this. That was my intent all along. To get divers to think about what they are doing and look at their role more closely when it comes responsibility in the water. I was not sure where to resume this discourse until I read Julie's post. She wrote:

"A few 30 foot dives in great conditions isn't always possible. Dives to 30 feet may make them comfortable at 30 feet but then what? Having a DM present while trying new dive locations is a great thing. Should that person be responsible for every aspect of your dive, no. But new divers like myself can not possibly learn if we don't have a DM or mentor to show us the ropes.

I am all for training - I've taken quite a few classes since OW in July 08. Do I feel comfortable in the quarry where I dive a lot, sure. Do I feel comfortable in the ocean? Not at all. How do I gain that experience - I've done it by diving with a group. I don't expect them to protect me but I do look to them for their experience."

This is what I am talking about when it comes to responsibility. She knows her limits and her comfort zone. She wants to dive outside of that but realizes there is a right way to do that. This attitude of seeking out mentors and looking to them for their experience and knowledge is much different than expecting them to hold your hand.

In todays world of instant gratification seeking, scuba instructors are faced with a sometimes daunting task. Train people to dive safely when being pressured by agencies, shops, resorts, and in some cases personal financial pressures to get as many students as possible through the OW program. Not all agencies, shops, or resorts do this. Unfortunately they are becoming fewer and farther between. The equivalent of puppy mills turn out instructors by the dozens. Some with no experience other than what they received in the so called school. The focus of many of these is marketing. Students lose points for not pushing other courses enough. Things like gas management tale a back seat to getting new divers to spend money on useless specailties and convincing them to buy gear they do not need.

A responsible educator puts the needs of the student ahead of the shop, op, or resort and as a result produces divers who are competent, more likely to continue diving, and by generating this kind of interest makes it pretty certain that they will be back for more training and most likely equipment. Whereas the 2 weekend wonder is likely do a dive or two on vacation, perhaps locally, and discover that they did not get everything they should have in training and maybe come back for more. More likely though they will not enjoy the dives as much as they could have and rarely if ever dive again.

Is this the fault of the diver, the instructor, shop, agency, or resort. I believe this scenario is the fault of all of the above. Pushing students through for the sake of profit has to eventually have the effects we are seeing now. Divers who really do not know their limits and are only vaguely aware of the seriousness of exceeding those. They do not know the basic things that could keep them alive in a less than optimal situation including when to say no and thumb the dive or not do it at all.

While divers are responsible for their safety, as an instructor I am responsible for giving them the tools to dive and the tools to know when to not dive. I teach independently, I am not under anyone's thumb. I do my best to make every student aware of the dangers of being complacent, not paying attention to details, exceeding their limits, and not keeping their skills current and sharp. I let them know that these things can kill them. Their responsibility is to remember these things and pay attention to them on every dive.

I also let them know in class and thru pool exercises that they need to be prepared to save themselves if the crap hits the fan. The buddy is there to assist not insure. Ideally they'd be diving with a regular buddy they know who knows them. Even then stuff happens and thru miscommunication, lack of attention, or unforseen conditions the buddy is not there to save them. So they better know how to save themselves.

Again thanks to all of you. I have a course to write now.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

In response to the number of people who have Pm'd me to ask permission to post this on their club or shop site, I'm letting everyone know that if you wish to repost this on another site or forum please feel free to do so. All I ask is that you PM me a link so I can check out your site and if you would be so kind as to link to my website at Welcome to UDM Aquatic Services I'd be happy to reciprocate by promoting your site with a link from mine. Thanks again to all of you.

A thinking diver is a safe diver. Keep asking questions and make your instructors think as well by holding them to their task of teaching you to dive safely.

 

[InTheDrink]

Jim,
Want to express my thanks also. This is a great post and may well save lives. Apart from being sticky, it would be wonderful to get it or something like it into agency training manuals. That would likely save even more lives.

Thx,
J

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Like that will ever happen with the swipe your card and you get a card agencies! I am going to submit it to my agency for the next newsletter though and I've decided to make a handout for my classes.

 

[BioLogic]

Sometimes I don't mind following the crowd, as in: Hear! Hear! on the ideas in the thread starter. And thanks for saying it plainly; this is not something that should be left to inference.

I do come at it from a slightly different angle. When I dive, I'm 100% responsible for my own safety. (Frankly, I can see some issues being time-sensitive enough that even an attentive buddy might not be able to 'save me'; so I need to be self-responsible.) On the other hand, I also consider that I share responsibility for the safety of my buddy. He's 100% responsible for himself, and shares some responsibility for me too.

I know that the math here isn't working -- 100% plus a share -- but that's the point. Redundancy in important systems is wisdom, to my eyes.

 

[Riger]

Sometimes I don't mind following the crowd, as in: Hear! Hear! on the ideas in the thread starter. And thanks for saying it plainly; this is not something that should be left to inference.

I do come at it from a slightly different angle. When I dive, I'm 100% responsible for my own safety. (Frankly, I can see some issues being time-sensitive enough that even an attentive buddy might not be able to 'save me'; so I need to be self-responsible.) On the other hand, I also consider that I share responsibility for the safety of my buddy. He's 100% responsible for himself, and shares some responsibility for me too.

I know that the math here isn't working -- 100% plus a share -- but that's the point. Redundancy in important systems is wisdom, to my eyes.

Perhaps a different way to look at it is like this;

On the surface, breathing 1ata, I make all the decisions myself. I choose the location, the operator, buddy, depth etc.. Of course we still have access to information and the opportunity to ask questions, take advice and so forth, but this is on the surface, you still choose to take the advice or not, make the dive or not and so on.

Under the water, I am more vulnerable, but I am still responsible for myself, however as a redundancy I have a symbiotic relationship with my buddy, we agree to watch out for each other and to help each other if needed and possible.

The way I see it; If I do not wish to depend on a buddy underwater for redundancy, then I should have my own redundancy built in (sling tanks etc..). This assumes of course that I am still trying to minimise the risk.

Just my 2c

Best Regards
Richard

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Below is the final version in two parts.This is what I am handing out to all my students. It is the result of rereading and finding some errors in grammar, punctuation, etc. It is also a result of the thoughts that your comments and PM's have had. I am always open to comments and criticisms. I look to others for inspiration and support. And finally it is the result or my own recent experiences in life after the original post that seem to mean more since writing it. As with the original post you are free to repost this on your websites, blogs, etc. I do ask that if you do use it please send me link and please post it in it's entirety as to not do so could change the context of it.





WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
An Instructors view of the state of dive training and the effects it seems to be having on new divers.

I hope to convey to new divers and those considering taking up this activity just what it is you are getting into. This article is the result of reading and participating in a number of recent internet discussions where new divers have died. I am giving careful thought to this as I write it in order to not be overly alarmist but still convey the seriousness of dive training and the sport of scuba diving.

First of all I sincerely hope that it makes one think and ask questions of their instructor, dive master, boat operator, resort, and fellow divers. It, in my opinion, can not be overemphasized how easy it is to become so enamored with the idea of diving that things can be overlooked that can and has resulted in the deaths of many new divers over the years. It is also my opinion that a great many of these deaths could have been prevented. This post's purpose is to look at how that could have been accomplished.

First of all we need to look at where these incidents actually began. Many times it began before the diver even entered the water. Perhaps as soon as the decision to begin training was made. At this point the divers chose a shop or instructor to train with. At this point we should look at why they chose this shop/instructor. It could have been because of a friend, relative, ad in the yellow pages etc. But in any case it is likely that until that time they had not done any research regarding agency, training method, time required, etc. In short they did not know what they didn't know.

Everything they know or knew about diving most likely came from that one person or business. As such it is all too common for a new diver to be astonished to find out just how many agencies, training methods, and programs there are. I myself had no idea what was available to me and my instructor was careful to avoid discussing the subject of different methods of training. I was clueless. Had I known what I know now my path to instructor would most likely have been very different.

But in any case it came down to, that in my early training, believing that someone other than myself was ultimately responsible for my own safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. Up until I received my c card it is true that the instructor was mostly responsible for my safety. And during training, even to this day, that is somewhat true when undertaking a new course that involves new risks and challenges. Once that card is received however it is an entirely different story. At that point it is the diverÃÔ responsibility to look out for their own safety. As certified divers we should be capable of diving with a buddy of equal skill in conditions similar to or better than what the training was conducted in without the assistance of a DM, A/I, or Instructor.

If this is not the case then that diver should not have received a c card. The diver should be fully capable of planning the dive, doing all the necessary pre dive checks, executing the dive, and exiting safely from the water. This is the responsibility of the diver along with being able to make the decision to NOT DIVE should conditions or the dive plan be beyond the skill, training, or comfort level of the diver. In cases where a Divemaster or other guide is employed it still falls ultimately to the diver to dive or not. Many times this is not conveyed to the new diver by his/her instructor. As a result the divers again do not know what they do not know. They end up doing what are known as "trust me dives". Many times nothing untoward happens on these dives. But unfortunately the odds are against this being the case every time. And when something does go wrong it may go so wrong as to result in serious injury or death.

Now we enter into a realm where the lines of responsibility may become blurred. Perhaps the DM should not have let the person dive or taken them on the dive? Perhaps the op should not have let them on the boat? Perhaps the divers buddy should have said something or maybe other divers on the boat who may have known of the lack of training or skill level of the diver? In any case the results do not change. A diver is hurt or dead.

This sport is fun, exciting, educational, relaxing, and if practiced within the limits of one's training and experience- SAFE. BUT to go beyond one's experience level, training, and even comfort level too fast or too far is inviting disaster. Every instructor should impart to their students that this sport can kill and do it in some very nasty ways. You were told or will be told to not hold your breath. But was it stressed as to why and what could happen if you did. Terms like lung overexpansion injury or pneumothorax or embolism were or will be used.

But do you really know how serious these things are? Do you realize what happens when a lung rips and air rushes into the chest cavity or sack around the heart and bloody froth comes out of the mouth. Or an air bubble enters the blood stream and travels to the brain resulting in a condition similar to a stroke with all the after affects of a stroke such as paralysis, loss of memory, loss of muscle control, and death.

Who is responsible for an occurrence like this? The diver is! They were told not to hold their breath but did anyway, why? Maybe they panicked. But if they panicked why did they panic? Most likely they were in a situation they were not ready for. Who is responsible for that? In this instructor's opinion it falls on the instructor to test the student with tasks that will help to determine the students tendency to panic. What these tasks would be will undoubtedly vary with agency, instructor, and student. They need not be dangerous or complex. But simple task loading exercises such as having the student remove and replace a mask several times while swimming if this appears to be an issue with them. In short what appears to give them difficulty should be repeated until that is no longer apparent.

If on an OW training dive, the instructor should have realized the diver was not ready and postponed it in lieu of more time in the pool or classroom or both. But maybe the diver was ok until they hit OW and became nervous. But if they said nothing of their apprehension then that was the divers fault. If they communicated their nervousness and the instructor did the dive anyway then that still falls on the instructor. Should the student become so nervous that the instructor feel additional time is needed, certification should be withheld until the training is complete. If this results in the student losing interest or deciding not to dive it may be for the best. In the long run it would be better for them to lose a little time and money as opposed to getting seriously injured or worse. But once out of training it is the divers responsibility to dive or not dive.

When a diver for whatever reason elects to do a dive beyond their level of training and experience and this is known to the op, DM, boat captain, or instructor who may be guiding but not instructing on the dive, they should not let the diver dive or insist that they be accompanied by a DM or other pro. But even then had the diver received proper training it is likely they would have enough sense to follow that training and not do the dive without making arrangements for further instruction or a guide.

It falls to the diver to insist on training that will allow them to do the dive. This mindset should have been instilled in them during OW training. If it was not then the fault lies with one of two people. The instructor or the diver. The instructor is responsible for making sure that the diver knows exactly what could happen to him/her regardless if it results in a diver perhaps electing not to continue training. If the diver does elect to go on then it should be made clear to them that they are responsible for all aspects of their diving from the time they receive their card. I also feel it behooves a responsible instructor to let students know that there are other agencies and training methods and let the student decide for themselves which is right for them. I have no problem with a student comparing my course with that of another agencies in terms of content, knowledge, and yes, cost. If an instructor is apprehensive about this perhaps they need to look at why this is so and make adjustments to their course regardless of agency policy. I canÃÕ see how anyone would be penalized for teaching a course to higher standards. Unless again it is a matter of quality vs profit.

The DM on the boat does not plan your dives. They give a briefing on the site, emergency procedures, boat etiquette, and times allotted for the dive. They may even get in the water. Many times they do not. In any case no matter what you may hear or assume, THE DM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for keeping you safe! Neither is your buddy! You are.

If you are not comfortable with this stay out of the water! If you are not comfortable with being responsible for yourself your training was seriously lacking, you were not paying attention in class, or you need more time in the pool and should not be diving in open water. At this point it is your responsibility to go to the instructor and communicate your concerns.

It is my contention that once a diver is certified he/she is responsible for their own safety. The task then of the instructor is to instill this sense of personal responsibility in his/her students. If this is not done the class needs to be reevaluated to insure this is the end result. To turn students loose in the water less than capable, with the idea that they will find out they need more training and come back to learn what should be basic skills, is a disgrace and a clear demonstration of greed.

Dive ops that allow unqualified divers to do dives beyond their ability are a disgrace to the industry. It would be better to choose more benign sites or require the divers pay for a personal guide or instructor than risk the headache of a coronerÃÔ inquest or police investigation. Not to mention the personal injury lawyers that seem to come out of the woodwork looking to make a quick buck from others tragedies. Being that there really is no governing body that regulates the industry, and should not be, it is up to the industry itself to insure that ONLY properly trained and qualified people are in the water.

This unfortunately is not the case. Programs based in profit or marketing and designed to get people in the water as fast as possible are the norm. There are still though, programs which offer a more comprehensive and thorough training program to divers. It is up to the diver to decide which they wish to enroll in. It is up to them to decide how much training they wish to get. It is up to them to do some research to find the best fit for them. They should spend at least as much time as they would choosing a new car. It really does come down to the potential diver to decide what their life is worth. And decide just how much training they feel is needed to preserve their safety.

And what are we doing when we dive? Playing in the water? Swimming around underwater without having to surface as often? Seeing cool new stuff? Doing something different than a lot of other people? Yes to all of this. But we are also doing this. We are entering an alien environment that is normally hostile to human life without mechanical means. We cannot breathe underwater. We rely on a few pieces of metal and plastic to keep us alive by allowing us to breathe a finite amount of air that we must also carry. Sounds a little more serious that way doesn't it. Did your instructor point it out that way to you? Chances are they did not. Why not? It might have caused you to rethink this whole business. If so, GOOD!

This is not a game. Your life depends on the training you receive, the decisions you make based on that training, and the decisions you make after training. You, the diver are responsible for your own safety regardless of what anyone else says. Your buddy could get lost, the DM may get hurt, lost, or busy with another diver. If an issue occurs, no one but you will be there to save your ass! Think about that! You may need to save your own life. If that does not make you rethink the idea of who is responsible for your safety you might want think about finding another activity. It is not fair to your buddy, the DM, the captain, the op, or the resort to make them responsible for your life. You don't pay them for that.

The boat is a taxi to get you to and from the site safely. The driver is no more responsible for you when you step off than the taxi driver who drops you at a hotel. You would not sue the taxi company if you exited the cab, walked into your destination, and fell down a flight of steps.

The op has no way of determining your comfort level in the water if they did not train you. They assume since you have a card or a referral that you are ready to dive or do your checkouts. If they want to take you to 100 feet on your first dives and you say ok and then die who is at fault? Did they hold a gun to your head and force you to do the dive? Did you exercise the option to say no and not do the dive?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Part II


The cave community has rule that any diver can end a dive at any time with no explanation given. Once the signal is given the dive is over. period. end of discussion. Too bad this is not passed on in many OW classes. Peer pressure, money, wishing to not look bad, all seem to take the place of intelligence and common sense. Divers not realizing how a new environment or type of dive can change things. It has not been adequately instilled in them that this is serious business and not as easy as many of us make it appear. Years of training and experience have taught us that nothing should be taken for granted.

Good instructors make sure that this is part of the training of new divers. Skills are done over and over until they become as much instinct as anything else. My greatest reward as an instructor is to task a student and see them react to a distraction or outside stimulus as a minor inconvenience instead of a big problem to the skill they are doing. I have recently had a student go from being unable to breathe from a reg with their mask off without water going up their nose to doing a no mask swim two lengths of the pool and then do a bailout with absolutely no issues at all. This did not happen overnight and was the result of much hard work on their part, patience on mine, a clear understanding of the skill to be done, and WHAT COULD HAPPEN if they were to have their mask kicked off at 50 feet and they freaked. The last had the biggest effect in them working through the urge to freak and finding out it's not that bad. Once a break through such as this occurs the student inevitably makes progress at a faster rate. Why? They have shown themselves that problems can be worked through when they have received the proper training, worked through an actual issue, and as a result have more confidence and are more comfortable in the water.

This is another diver responsibility. Developing a sense of confidence and comfort. These two items are essential to diver safety. They are not usually immediate but developed over time through not only training but experience. The diver has a responsibility to themselves to keep their skills current and their knowledge up to date. Not only as regards diving, but their knowledge of dive sites, resorts, and operations should not be left to a third party. Questions about safety, practices, procedures, and even staff should be the norm. Management changes, staff rotations, new dive sites, and sometimes boats change from one year to the next. Never take for granted that XYZ op is the same as it was last year.

To do so and then find out upon arrival that nothing is the same is not the resorts fault if it presents an inconvenience or challenge to the diver. Dive planning, when taught properly, is not only about getting in the water. It may involve the flight, the transportation to the resort, the hotel arrangements, etc. You need to be aware of this and plan accordingly.

Confidence is gained by working thru task loading scenarios or situations by degree. It is not to be confused with bravado. One who does all the necessary checks, has the right equipment, and does a 100 foot dive right out of open water class is not confident- he is a fool. This type of person has little regard for rules, recommended procedures, and safety and is a danger to himself and every diver in the area. The diver who does all the same things BUT does the 100 foot after further training, making a number of dives to ever increasing depths over a period of time demonstrates true confidence based on training, experience, and knowledge of their abilities. This is the kind of diver who other divers benefit from. They also have gained the knowledge that gives them a sense of comfort and allows them to dive relaxed and in control. As a result, by them taking responsibility for themselves they are more relaxed, more knowledgeable, and ultimately the kind of safe diver that others look to as examples of what to do right.

Taking responsibility for yourself therefore not only makes you safer but someone other divers enjoy diving with results in a true sense of accomplishment. When looked at in this way and carried over to life outside of diving it shows that as my agency says- "Scuba becomes a tool for personal enrichment and begins with instruction from someone who cares and demonstrates this same sense of responsibility to him/herself and their students.

James Lapenta
SEI Instructor #204

 

[jridg]

I don't agree with this - how does one become comfortable if they don't get in the water and dive?


A few 30 foot dives in great conditions isn't always possible. Dives to 30 feet may make them comfortable at 30 feet but then what? Having a DM present while trying new dive locations is a great thing. Should that person be responsible for every aspect of your dive, no. But new divers like myself can not possibly learn if we don't have a DM or mentor to show us the ropes.

I am all for training - I've taken quite a few classes since OW in July 08. Do I feel comfortable in the quarry where I dive a lot, sure. Do I feel comfortable in the ocean? Not at all. How do I gain that experience - I've done it by diving with a group. I don't expect them to protect me but I do look to them for their experience.

Hire a local DM to be your guide - OR - find a local DM on a place like ScubaBoard who is willing to just dive with you and help you in the new area you find yourself in. It's all about being comfortable and safe. Within the US (and most other areas of the world) you should always be able to find a DM who is willing to get in the water with you to ensure you both enjoy the experience and learn something more about your abilities and limits.

 

[HJeffreyM]

Jim,

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of kudos for your post. I was fortunate to have OW instructors who stressed personal responsibility at all times when diving. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Dive safety is always the divers’ responsibility.

You said two things in your post I'd like to ask you/comment about.

1) "I myself had no idea what was available to me and my instructor was careful to avoid discussing the subject of different methods of training. I was clueless. Had I known what I know now my path to instructor would most likely have been very different."

Please elaborate and include the names of the certifying agencies you worked with, the methods of training to which you refer and how your path would have been different.

2) "Programs based in profit or marketing and designed to get people in the water as fast as possible are the norm. There are still though, programs which offer a more comprehensive and thorough training program to divers."

Which agencies offer a more comprehensive and thorough training program to divers? In what ways are these programs more comprehensive and thorough?

Let's first accept the premise that diving is a business. Profit is essential to everyone involved. Without profit, no LDS or Dive Op could stay in business, no matter what the certifying agency.

My wife and I did our pool & classroom training with A NAUI instructor with 4 evening classroom and pool sessions. We did our 4 OW completion dives with a PADI instructor. I felt that both instructors were excellent. Both took the time to ensure that we knew our required skills, emergency procedures and about personal responsibility.

Had we attempted to assimilate the same information and learn the same skills in a couple of days at a resort, I doubt the training would have been as complete. It would not have mattered which agency was trying cram that much information into my head in that short a time.

I have seen these "learn to dive quickly" courses advertised at various resorts around the world from all of the certifying agencies.

My point being that good teachers are more important than certifying agency. When considering learning to dive or continuing your dive education, take the time to research the instructor. Ask to speak with him/her and find out what they're about. If they don't want to talk to you, or if they talk down to you, you'll know they just want your money. Don't give it to them.

You can get your ticket punched and get your c-card. But if you really want to learn, find a teacher who really wants to teach. Just as dive safety is the divers’ responsibility, getting educated at this level is the student's responsibility.

Jeff