On Wednesday, February 05, 2003 3:14 AM, Reef Fish wrote:
(snip)
> >For a variety of reasons, however, most also seem to
> >forget their training when the stuff hits the fan.

> >Lee

> While that is true, it doesn't apply in the present case of discussion
> because Strike was GIVING his opinion as his interpretation of the
> "party line" on TRAINING.  :-))   So, he did not have time to FORGET
> what he teaches, yet.  <BWG>

Mate!  You haven't convinced me that your views are superior to mine - or
that the ability to swim 200-metres without fins is a "useless" test.  I
also take exception to your suggestion that I am following a "party line",
(which "party line" would that be?<BG>) given that my views on the
practicality of water confidence and swim tests happen to coincide with
those of all of the training agencies that I hold/held training
qualifications with, and were arrived at through bitter firsthand
experience! :-))

To my way of thinking, required training skills are only "useless" when they
offer no practical benefit.  Water confidence skills and swimming tests do
offer such benefits.  Especially to those who have responsibility for people
under training. :-)

If I were to make a criticism of ALL of the various training agency courses
then it would be that none of them, (that I am familiar with), drum the
taught skills into a person until they become second-nature, (and that's a
fault that rests more with the individual who, having been taught a basic
skill, seldom spends time enhancing and practicing it to the point where it
does become second nature.) :-)

Even in that regard, as Lee has pointed out, people - regardless of how well
trained - do sometimes forget that training.  This holds particularly true
where rescues are concerned.  In part, because there are so many variables
to quickly consider and assess, and  no amount of training can prepare a
person for every conceivable rescue scenario.  A cry for help, for example,
from somebody that one knows or loves, will trigger a different response
than if that cry came from a stranger.  (And often trigger a re-action
rather than the more suitable action!) :-)

Taken by and large, you've still not managed to convince me that ...

> the single MOST USELESS requirement of being able to
> swim 200 meters/yards, and treading water for X minutes, WITHOUT fins.

... is irrelevant in SCUBA diver training!  :-)))

Strike