As to me picking on PadI, they started it and I have a long ways to go yet.
Honest question - when did PADI start picking on you? R U referring to PADI the agency or PADI members?
As far as ripping apart agencies and their standards or business models, just about any experienced diver/instructor can do that to any agency. What's the point? Only by hitting their bottom lines are any of the agencies going to change. I'm not saying that changes aren't needed, but this is not a new subject on the board. Have all the forums on agencies needing to change brought about change?
Take care,
George
They, PadI, nannified the sport of SCUBA, it is a conspirocy I tell you, they are in my TV set too, spying on me to make sure I wear my snorkel correctly and that I am officially color coordinated.
Nah, y'all get back to the length of hoses and stainless vs aluminum and all that, of course you don't need to be water confident and drown proofed to SCUBA dive, nah, I am just being paranoid. The keystone skill is swimming, the rest builds on that and the confidence being a good swimmer provides.
I think a student should be able to learn in any gear they choose. If the instructor is not proficient with the students chosen gear then he/she being the professional should become proficient with it.
I am sorry, I was picking on y'all and causing a stir, carry on. I cannot help kicking ant piles.
N