Quote:
| Originally Posted by Mark Chase Free flow should have been covered under PADI OW. I certainly was on my course. Ascending whilst breathing off a free flowing reg.
Tank pressure off is an interesting one? I never really considered it but I do think the course was very poor for UK divers.
No SMB work, no DSMB work, nothing on shot etiquette usage etc nothing on boat etiquette usage etc nothing on shore diving. Frankly, nothing to prepair a diver for UK diving.
Since my experience of OW AOW I have always recommended that divers contemplating diving in the UK use BSAC to train. Their training is far more relevent to UK conditions.
Id go so far as to say I wish I had the time to go back and do some of the BSAC courses. If I had done I wouldent be scatching me head over tide tables 
ATB
Mark |
What a lot of people dont understand or even realise is that the PADI OW course is an introduction to diving and not designed to teach you everything in one hit. There is a huge amount of flexibility in the course to consider things like sea conditions temperature visibility etc, each individual instructor can also use their own knowledge and experience to teach the"art " of diving in the prevailing conditions, this can include the use of SMB's and boat and shore diving protocols.The only thing PADI state is that the extra tuition should be relevant and nessessary and not be seen as task loading. As the use of an SMB is pretty much the norm in the UK this would be an accepted skill under the standards.
Iv'e been a PADI pro for 20 years and a CD for 15 and promote this philosophy to all my guys.
If in doubt about the appropriatness of teaching a particular skill then talk to the guys at PADI,Thats their job