Strike wrote:

> > Of course, if all if's could be counted on, there would be no inept
divers
> > and a darned sight fewer deaths each year.
>
> That's putting a heavy onus of responsibility on the instructor!  To
> paraphrase an old adage, "You can take a diver to water, but you can't
make
> them think!"  :-)

I guess it is at that.  I withdraw part of my comment.  Make that "there
would be fewer inept divers and a darned sight fewer deaths each year."

Acutally, I have to withdraw more than that.  Bjorn pointed out that there's
more that the coverage involved in agency affiliation.  Not only do I
suspect he's right, I readily admit he has better information than I do.
So, I withdraw everything except, of course, my desire to see fewer inept
divers and fewer deaths.

> In this instance - and bearing in mind that all agencies have different
> standards relating to  the selection and training of Instructors; the
> teaching methods employed; the materials used; as well as their own agency
> standards and philosophies with which Instructors are supposed to be
> conversant - it's the first time that I can recall, offhand, any agency
> offering to cross-over Instructors from other agencies sight-unseen; free;
> and by post!

Point conceded.  Still, I think I've seen quite a bit of discussion on the
ease of transition from one agency to another.  I don't think SDI/TDI is
alone in this, but they may be in the minority.

Lee