>Popeye wrote:
>>
>> Excellent post.
>>
>> >From: "k6.66" kalinka666@free.net.nz
>> >Date: 12/19/00 4:18 AM Eastern Standard Time
>> >Message-id: <977217575.708680@news>
>> >
>> >Do not forget to have them run an assault course with
>> > a machinegun in their teeth while carrying their buddy...
>> >Maybe have them practice tired diver tows in a tank full
>> >of electric eels just to see how they cope with the stress...
>> >
>
>You, too, Popeye, a maven of mediocrity? Say it isn't so.
>
>

I said before, If I had an agency of my own, my OW would be a scuba boot camp
that lasted 8 weeks and cost a grand. I also said that no one would pay to do
it.

Look at the hassle GUE gets from the peanut gallery.

I also said the european structured dive club thing was good, but few
Americans would lend themselves to that system.

My three day course covered everything in the PADI OW manual, and left us
assured that if we wanted to do advanced dives, we had more learning to do.

After three days of school, I jumped off the back of the boat into 90 fsw,
three miles from shore. I was as prepared as any new diver could be.

I had gear fit problems, bouancy problems and air consumption problems, but I
recognized them for what they were. And some people conquer those problems in
10 dives, some never do. I was more than safe in my opinion.

We got some people here that have been diving for years, who can't rub two
nickels together.

Some people just can't learn some things in class, and you can't hold up the
fast learners to teach the slow ones. Give them the basics, kick them off the
boat. They can get back on if they want.

I didn't catch much of the PADI short course threads, but I support resort
courses, and think any way you can get butts into scuba gear is a good idea.

Since I'm rolling, teaching ten year olds to dive doesn't rankle me either.
Parents should make the call. If anyone wants to know what *I* think your ten
year old should or shouldn't learn, I'll be glad to expound. But since he's not
my kid, It ain't my decision. And it ain't hardly any of my business, either.

If people take a course of any kind, and abuse the intent or guidelines, it's
not the course's fault. Americans specialize in this, which is why we have
regulation instead of common sense.
If you want to spearfish gulf oil rigs with no hard bottom, OW isn't enough.
If you're going to Bonaire once a year, it is.