Are your skills up to scratch?

Phil Ennis

I was recently delving through old threads and came across one about minimum loop volume. While reading it I saw a comment that “Your Instructor should have covered this during your course”. I am not having a go at that person, as I believe that they are correct.

The point that I want to make is that sometimes-important issues are missed out, or glossed over, possibly due to time constraints or just spending too much time on other subjects. When this happens, after the course students are embarrassed to admit that they don’t fully understand the subject, either because the Instructor missed it out or, because they maybe had a lapse of concentration during the lectures.

It is important that these issues are resolved, many do it by continuing to read everything in sight, Forum’s being a favourite and very useful point of reference.

So, (yes, I am getting there) would it be useful for the more experienced divers and Instructors on here to compile a list of the important skills that should have been taught during the courses? This would be in the form of a check list, (maybe there already is one) that would allow anyone to check the ‘Important’ skills and ask questions on subjects that they may feel that they don’t fully understand or just wish to explore more thoroughly.

Maybe this is a crap idea and I should have hit the delete button.

What do you reckon then?

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Phil Ennis.



My Website

Mdemon

Actually, I think that's a brilliant idea. The Dive Mole site had a Mod1 variant, perhaps you should put together a Mod 3 variant?

There is also a Catch 22 with what you described; a really comprehensive manual would be invaluable as a reference, especially post-course. Unfortunately, I don't think the agencies can do one as it will just get passed around and people would stop doing courses...

Perhaps someone brave could do an independant manual?

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www.southwestmafia.com

It's as easy as abc;

a) "Carry adequate bailout"

b) "If in doubt, bail out"

c) "Always know your PO2"

If you find that hard, stick to crochet.

"Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"

decoweenie

I remember that Dave Thompson said something in the past to the effect that some people will be all right learning thru the Internet, and some will need a more hands-on direct supervision approach.

I have no problem with contributing to the cause, but I still can't get over the questions of...

"How does someone know which camp s/he is in ?"

and

"Who is ultimately responsible if this person gets in the wrong camp and get in real trouble by doing things learnt from the Internet ?"

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"...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..."

- Rebreather World PM

dive2dive2000

Phi,
The person IMO. The internet is a great place to aid in research, FAQ, and intelect bannter, but to rely on it as a total learning tool in replace of Instruction is down right foolishness on any level from OW to CCR diving. Its interesting to post and ponder on the web, but do people really believe...

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Safe Diving,
Martin

"but what's the fun of getting what you need, instead of what you want?"

Ken

Agreed. The internet can certainly provide some useful tidbits of info. here and there, but as Marty and Phi have mentioned riddled with inaccuracy and possible agenda. The best form of learning for Rebreather's occurs in a dynamic and collaborative teaching environment. This means learning through practical application in a relevant context with a good group of folks. Key to quality and success is the educator, educational materials and nature of student.

As per missing certain aspects of training, like minimum loop volume - it happens. I don't know any instructor who hasn't forgotten something along the way. That's why there are standards for all courses. Even better yet, is a standard checklist which both the instructor and student discuss and sign at the conclusion of the course. Anything forgotten, or poorly understood part of the training can be cleared up at that point. I would think a mod. variant would be helpful in the future, but then again it could be voluminously long winded too. I work with standards all the time and some things which are easy enough to get on one page can occupy an entire library.

Addtionally, if you wanted to see what the minimum requirements are for a dive course it's easy enough to get from the agencies, or from the instructor in charge. Transparency is another aspect about quality instruction/instructor.

caveseeker7

Stuart and I were discussing this not long ago off the board and thought it to be a very good idea.

Buddies or groups of divers could work their skill training around it, and some may even be encouraged to do so when they haven't.

We actually thought it might be a good idea to not just ask the instructors for input, but also the manufacturers.

Have all the basic skills on one side of a card, unit specific stuff on the other.

Lets hear some input and feedback.

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Cheers
Stefan



"It is still a good day if you are on the green side of the grass!

Su amigo Roberto!"

Sponsor Lou in Race For Life!

Chris

I believe every rebreather or wannabe CCR diver should have in their book case
Mastering Rebreathers and IANTD's Tek Closed Circut Rebreathers.

These two books should be the bible of every CCR diver before they even get in the water on a unit. Tek Diver covers pretty much every problem possible on the breather with the solution to get out of the crap. If these could be put on a training slate to a print out to laminate they would be invaluable for team training purposes.

Cheers
Chris

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Megalodon
Sorb and Sensors whilst in Australia www.divetub.com.au
Diving & Photography @ www.uwphotog.com

decoweenie

I agree wholeheartedly!

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"...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..."

- Rebreather World PM

dave t

Hmmm! what I actually said was "there are some divers that can and there are some divers that cant" work it out for themselves is what I meant. Anybody who learns through the internet is still being taught, the instructor is just not standing in front of him ready to catch the mistakes!

jradomski

I don't agree..

I believe "mastering Rebreathers" is only useful to those that know nothing about rebreathers.. Its a reasonable general book on RBs but lacks real meat.. I thought it was a waste of my money...

The IANTD book I cant comment on since I have never read it and don't plan to.. I always though the IANTD manuals in general were quite "thin" on details the one exception being the Tech diving encyclopedia which is worth the money..

just my 2 cents..

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Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.