Posted by msblucow on June 12, 2001 at 23:33:11:
In Reply to: Of accountants and numbers posted by e-shark on June 12, 2001 at 17:26:28:
The sad fact is most people aren't looking for rigorous training, they're just looking for the cheapest or the fastest. And since the recreational training agencies (with the exception of GUE and probably YMCA)all claim to provide the same quality of training wether you take a 4 week course or a weekend training course with open water referals, there's no incentive for the general public to do anything else. Most folk don't know enough going in to be able make a truly informed decision. I should know because I was one of those folks. Two years ago, I took a quickie weekend course here and did my open water dives in the Cayman Islands. Of course I loved every minute of it, so as soon as I got back, I went for my AOW with another weekend outing. Needless to say I was in for a rude shock when I first dove Casino Point. Nothing - not the training I received or any of my limited experience in warm water prepared me for how difficult diving was going to be here. I almost quit that weekend, but thankfully with the help and encouragement of a lot of experienced divers, I kept going, and by the end of the summer I felt like I had some clue as to what I was doing. Now about a hundred dives later, I've come to enjoy diving SoCal over any other destination.
I guess this is just a long way of saying that getting a C-card is only the start of your diving education. The training won't teach you how to be a good diver, only personal experience and a willingness to learn from the experience of others can do that.