Instructors - Do You use a Wing for Training OW Students?

[ianwheeldon]

Do any PADI instructors use a wing when training OW students these days or do you have to use a BC?

[Hoppy]

(trainee DM)

Had this conversation just a cpl of days ago with 2 OWSI's.

Pool work they use Stab jackets , open water dives usually wings (diving twins)

Reasoning given was , when demoing skills to OW students it doesn't confuse them when your gear looks like theirs. In OW they both use twins so wings were the obvious (only) route.

Can I ask why the question ?

[ianwheeldon]

just for future reference really. planning on getting the DM next year and am getting a new BC soon. I'd like a wing but thought it would be best to get a BCD for the future. Maybe not tho.

[Noel Johnson]

Hi Ian,

A friend of mine has a Custon Divers TBK sport wing for teaching as it looks very similar to a BCD for that very reason. When not teaching he drives a Draeger Dolphin.

HTH

Noel.

[Chardy]

I teach in a wing, DIR style - doing so tonight, PADI have no problems with it

[tiewrapdiver]

I'm a BSAC instructor and i teach in a wing, its not a problem as long as they know how to operate it, and your octo is still clipped off somewhere visible.

Tim

[ianwheeldon]

thanks for the tips. guess i'll start looking into a wing then.

[Paul Oliver]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

(In OW they both use twins so wings were the obvious (only) route.

Why the (only) route? many twinset divers use BCD's as many are designed for that, i use an AP Valves Military BCD which is great.

There are far more than one way of doing most (all) things.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Chardy

I teach in a wing, DIR style - doing so tonight, PADI have no problems with it

Hi Chardy
How do you teach OOA training in a DIR config?

I understand the PADI way is to teach the donor to "reveal" the Alternate Air Source, for the OOA diver to take.

I can't see how this gets done in a DIR config.

Regards
Mal

[tonhil]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I understand the PADI way is to teach the donor to "reveal" the Alternate Air Source, for the OOA diver to take.

This is not the case AFAIK. PADI does not specify in the "performance requirements" anything much beyond that in an out of air drill the diver must signal, obtain an alternate air source supplied by a buddy and then breathe from it. There are a few extra details but nothing relevant to this discussion as I understand it.
It is perhaps ironic given general perceptions but the PADI open water is DIR compliant (or can be). (I bet that gets a reaction!) I have taught open water courses in a hog set up - students were in the same set up I might add. It works well of course.