On Monday, June 21, 2004 9:17 PM, Kuty wrote:

> >G'Day, Mate!  I tend to agree.  I seem to recall Kuty once saying that
the
> >Israeli Standard insisted on 1:1 - a ratio that should be applied
> >everywhere.  Regrettably, the world's two major areas for intro dives -
> >Thailand and the GBR - follow an altogether different path.
> >(snip)

> Your memory serves you right :-)

G'Day, Mate.  It's great to hear from you - and many thanks for confirming
that at least one vital part of my body is still functioning! :-)  (My
apologies for the delayed response, but I actually got tied up with
productive work!!!!)  :-)))

> Well, Eilat used to be one of the major areas for intro dives before the
> riots started.  Then the tourism decreased very significantly.  The
Israeli
> LAW specifies a mandatory 1:1 ratio.  It should be done by (at least) an
> assistant instructor that did an "introductory dive" specialty.  The
> specialty is according to The Israeli Diving Federation standards and.

A 'Specialty' course for people conducting intro dives is something that I
hadn't even considered - but now that you mention it, it seems to me to make
a lot of sense based on the fact that it's NOT a diving course per se.  :-)

> The maximum depth is 6 meters.
> The "teaching" part takes between 20-40 minutes on dry land.  The
following
> subjects are being covered:
> 1. The client signs a waiver and a medical form.
> 2. The instructor asks about previous experience (free diving, snorkeling
etc.)
> 3. The instructor emphasizes that it is not a diving course, only an intro
> dive.

That's pretty much the lines followed here - with the exception of the
maximum depth of , supposedly, 12-metres.  (That last may be incorrect as I
haven't been in teaching status for a couple of years, but I'll check it
again tomorrow.  In fact - and while on the subject of 'teaching status' - I
recently ran into a few problems just prior to the recent liveaboard trip
where a 'C' card is mandatory.  I'd forgotten to take my 'regular' ones with
me and the only card that I had was one issued by PADI quite some years ago
that proclaimed that I was an 'Emeritus Instructor'.   I was asked what the
'Emeritus' specialty entailed!!!) :-))))

> The next can be performed on dry land or in shallow water (the wet
> exercises in the water):
> 4. Equalizing - explanation and an exercise.
> 5. Breathing from a regulator (and emphasizing the fact that under any
> circumstances they should not hold their breath).
> 6. Clearing a mask - explanation and an exercise.
> 7. Swimming (no hands, fins only).
> 8. Hand signals.

I suspect that your programme covers these points in more detail than is
sometimes the case elsewhere!  :-)

> Then the client is submerged in shallow water and if breathing mask
> clearing and general behavior seems reasonable, they continue into deeper
> water.  The instructor is holding the client (hands, tank, inflator
> whatever) during the whole time and monitors the client's buoyancy.

The usual practice here - where the ratio of instructors to students can be
as many as 1:4 - is to have two students on each side of the Instructor with
the 'outer' students holding hands with those holding the hands of the
Instructor!!!  Not a good situation to be in if assistance is required - and
not good in terms of the Instructor being able to 'feel' any apprehension or
concern on the part of the outer students, and then being in a position
where they can take the necessary steps to prevent a full-blown problem
before it occurs! :-)

> I don't recall an accident in an intro dive, even when they conducted tens
> of thousands of them every year in Eilat.  I conducted my fair share of
> intro dives and I hated it :-)  It is usually a towing drill.

I suspect that the laws that you have in place make for a far more enjoyable
and productive experience, (in terms of the intro divers feeling more
comfortable and therefore more inclined to want to take a full diving
course) than is the case, say, here in Oz!  :-)

It might sound an arbitrary distinction, but I also have no problems with a
self-assesment medical given the parameters of your intro courses.  But I do
find it hard to come to terms with the fact that, certainly in Queensland,
the intro dives are usually conducted from a boat or pontoon far out to sea;
a place that people electing to do a full diving course cannot get to
without a proper and full medical to the approved Australian Standard!  :-)

Mate!  It's so good to 'hear' your voice again.  :-)

You take care

Strike