. On Thu, 14 Mar 2002 08:43:02 EST Mark Goldsmith wrote:

> In a message dated 3/13/02 6:46:07 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> > I may be out of date, but "tired diver tows" were required in my "Rescue
> > Diver" cert, but certainly not in my Open Water I cert.
> >
>
> My now 13 year old son was certified in June of 2000 and my wife completed
> her certification in August of 2001.  They both took the basic PADI O/W
> Course and both were required to demonstrate and perform surface tired diving
> tow techniques for two 25 yard laps of the pool.   They had different
> instructors, but both attended the course sponsored by ELITE Divers in
> Denville, NJ.  Neither of their instructors required demonstrating the
> technique during the open water portion of the course.

Both Instructors violated standards.... it is a required skill in open
water, both divers to be wearing full scuba gear for the local
environment.
The shop should be informed, in fact PADI should be informed.. it is
what the system relies on to maintain it's standards.
Considering the fact that 2 different Instructors were involved and the
time span of both incidents I would be concerned about that dive shop....
maybe even the Course Director who trained the Instructors.

Consider this:
Were they being taught to be responsible divers?
Were they being taught to follow procedures?

Why then have they allowed something noted in their study materials as a
skill to be done during open dives not to be completed? (PADI manual pg
176, and in Blue PADI logbook dive #2).

My concerns are for more than just a missed skill... I'm not sure the
correct diver attitude has been created here.


Michael
--
Divers know the true meaning of peace of mind.