Quote: (Originally Posted by
jkaterenchuk)
Dave
Thanks for your concern for my safety.
I think you are reading too much into my words. I was simply quoting the ANDI course standards. I have narcosis issues diving in the quarry past 30M with low vis and cold water. Would not even think about it as a possibility off your ship in those conditions.
What really would be useful would be to see a healthy discussion on Rebreather World regarding what is a clear definition of "Proper" training. That might show how, why and the relative value that each instructor and their experience brings to a course beyond the written standards and procedures.
With your extensive experience I would be highly interested in your perspective. Care to start a seperate thread?
John
Couldn't agree more, and I'll let others lead the charge. I have one foot in each world: One as a "Card Carrying Instructor" and one as a "East Coast Cowboy", so maybe I ought to keep my mouth shut and my ears open on this one.
The bottom line, though, not to step on any toes, is that normoxic diluent CCR trimix with reasonable deco limits is really no more complex than Nitrox. If you cannot learn anough about it in a half-day lecture, then you are probably a slow learner and ought to not be doing it at all. It's FAR safer than using air diluent anytime you're below about 30 meters... and with the truth being that 30-40 meters is an average 'shallow' dive here in our basic monofiliment fishing line encrusted shipwreck with 2 meter visibility environment, I'd rather not stand on protocol and prevent divers from being clear headed in the murk. As I said, we often give gas to non-gas-certified divers for 30-40 meter diving, by simply doing a good discussion, checking their profiles, and sending them off the side of the boat. We *encourage* later participation in formal class, but for the one-day period, I'd rather personally supervise them on gas than send them off with air. With a 1:1 ratio between "divers sent off the boat" and "divers brought back to the dock" we're fairly happy with the results...
Dave