in conditions similar or better than was trained in

[Andy C]

Just been reading Kates questions thread & a post from Michael reminded me of something I've never really found the answer to.

Agency standards always say "in conditions similar or better than was trained in" (at least PADI & TDI do)

Lots of people do their training in warm water conditions & then start diving in UK conditions.

What should be done to prove an "upgrade" to UK conditions ?

[gansell]

In terms of PADI if a diver trained in the Red Sea then wanted to dive in this country they 'should' do:

1) An environmental orientation dive (with an Instructor/or DM(I think)) to get used to the UK conditions, e.g. vis, temperature, etc.

2) (ideally) A Drysuit Speciality course, or at least training in Drysuit diving.

[dlegros]

Dive with a suitably experienced buddy, or go on a course in the UK (we get a few people who did OW somewhere warm and then do AOW with us).

Get out there are gain experience and log the dives.

Dom

[MATTBIN]

I trained OW in Lanzarotte, did AOW in France, then did an orientation course (and a d/s course) in Stoney. Followed by loads of shallow Stoney dives, shallow sea dives and zero viz experience in both Stoney and Wraysbury by going somewhere quiet and kicking up the silt. Winter training in Stoney to get used to the cold etc. Then built up UK sea conditions. At the same time moving from single to single and pony, twins and wing. Slow and steady progress in my view. Loads of dives none too adventurous but all enjoyable, even inland stuff. Enjoyed the dives as they became a little more difficult but still worth doing in their own right.

Worked for me (so far)

Matt

[Phoenix]

I did 340+ dives in warm water, came to the UK & went diving, I had done a DS course alongside my AOW in Stoney a couple of years ago but that was my only UK experience (6 dives) prior to my return.

Ian

[John N]

Originally Posted by Andy C

Just been reading Kates questions thread & a post from Michael reminded me of something I've never really found the answer to.

Agency standards always say "in conditions similar or better than was trained in" (at least PADI & TDI do)

Lots of people do their training in warm water conditions & then start diving in UK conditions.

What should be done to prove an "upgrade" to UK conditions ?

We have a club type system based around a PADI shop. Besides the options for drysuit courses etc. we do hardboat trips to easy sites in relatively good conditions to give them experience outside of formal training.
Instructors give their time to mentor and buddy less experienced divers.

[Andy C]

I was really thinking of an official PADI/HSE answer, eg if some-one asks to see your cert cards & says "Oh you've done all your training abroad, you're not qualified to dive in UK conditions", is there any sort of official thing you can wave at them and say "Yes I am, I've done this"

I suppose if you've got a few UK dives signed off by a DM or instructor that would probably satisfy most people ?

[John N]

It would probably be 'Discover Local Diving' although IMO it wouldn't be enough experience to let them out on their own.

If you have UK dives in your book then you have experience in the conditions so it would be OK.

At the end of the day though it's about divers taking responsibility for themselves. Building up experience and depth gradually and not diving beyond their limits.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Andy C

I was really thinking of an official PADI/HSE answer, eg if some-one asks to see your cert cards & says "Oh you've done all your training abroad, you're not qualified to dive in UK conditions", is there any sort of official thing you can wave at them and say "Yes I am, I've done this"

I suppose if you've got a few UK dives signed off by a DM or instructor that would probably satisfy most people ?

Obviously this requires that people keep a log book, not everyone does and in any case it's hardly tamper proof. I log my dives on a spreadsheet but I don't carry a copy of it and in any case it doesn't have signatures anyway.

As I see it this issue is all around knowing your limitations and extending your experience in a sensible manner, otherwise we see Darwin at work.

Ian

[louigi]

never seen that stuff doo I have to do a speciality course to dive it.