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Hmmm?
Jun 28, 2006 0:01:59 GMT -5
Post by LSDeep on Jun 28, 2006 0:01:59 GMT -5
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Divetiger
Octopus
Fish are Friends- No Food
Posts: 56
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Hmmm?
Jun 28, 2006 2:29:02 GMT -5
Post by Divetiger on Jun 28, 2006 2:29:02 GMT -5
Ok, Ive got something 2 say- hope the Worldcup is soon finish, so hopefully we receive more guests from Europe, at the moment its very quiet here around Krabi, Ao Nang. I mean, its not to bad to rest 4 a while..., but now its starts to suck..., its get boring, and I miss diving... not the best theme..., I know, but I guess some more Pros here in South Thailand wish and feel the same... sunnys
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Jun 28, 2006 3:09:40 GMT -5
Post by sharkaware on Jun 28, 2006 3:09:40 GMT -5
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Jun 28, 2006 5:49:52 GMT -5
Post by manta on Jun 28, 2006 5:49:52 GMT -5
Ha...yer funny. If I sat around all day surfing the internet I could find all the good information as well to post it. As it is, I DO check the board every day....and on occasion have a word or three to interject.
Have a fun dive trip!
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Hmmm?
Jun 28, 2006 8:37:23 GMT -5
Post by LSDeep on Jun 28, 2006 8:37:23 GMT -5
Ha...yer funny. If I sat around all day surfing the internet I could find all the good information as well to post it. As it is, I DO check the board every day....and on occasion have a word or three to interject. Have a fun dive trip! not you - youre our alibi female admin - so we dont get into trouble. ;D
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Jun 28, 2006 14:13:48 GMT -5
Post by manta on Jun 28, 2006 14:13:48 GMT -5
So I guess I'm Den Mother? Sheesh - I got enough trouble keeping other ppl stragiht. Be glad you've never seen me in beeyoootch mode
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Hmmm?
Jun 29, 2006 23:35:33 GMT -5
Post by cantinadiver on Jun 29, 2006 23:35:33 GMT -5
hey there,
i've just started to check in on this board again. As a long time member of the dive industry I'd have to say that this place definitely has potential and I've particularly enjoyed your discourses on instructor burnout- it's something i've experienced first hand and still makes me question the driving force of the whole dive industry-where the lowest common denominator seems to rule paramount. It seems to me that this industry is ultra obsessed with recruitment rather than retention of divers whether it be instructors or open water divers. For me, it took a sabbatacal where i could take awhile to focus on my own diving skills through GUE training tech before I could find a fresh outlook for training open water divers. just in the sense that you really are held accountable-it's a commitment to excellence. When you as an instructor feel jaded by the industry as a whole-it's refreshing to know there are other directions to take. thought i'd open up discussion of other paradigms. seems to me anyplace which places the power back in the hands of those that help to create the industry in a positive light rather than the overwhelming emphasis on bleeding money from those that which to further the education of people into the aquatic realm is doing a worthwile job. When i hear of people justifying the status quo with talk of instructor burnout after one year it makes my mind boggle-what ever industry in the world could comnsider that as a norm- the loss of educational leaders after a single year. get real.
Nick
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Hmmm?
Jun 30, 2006 2:54:01 GMT -5
Post by LSDeep on Jun 30, 2006 2:54:01 GMT -5
agreed. unfortunately we have a high burnout rate in diving for pro's and a high dropout rate on newly certified ppl. its very simple in my eyes - you cant keep pro's (dm and up) in the biz due to all kind of adverse conditions (from working hours to compensation and benefits and everything in between and around) you will not be able to keep new divers staying in the sport. while "fresh blood" as mentioned before can be good for a shop and the biz - it still needs some experienced people around to make things work as a whole thing. there are a good amount of jobs that pay / compensate you on a package deal on a decent level (you poss will never get rich) and some shops that are actually interested in longterm employees and a stable biz situation - its not the normal and due to an industry that churns out "pro's" on a high rate and low quality level it is a problem to keep divers active. when my niece with her 12yrs of age has a better knowledge and experience level than some instructors - well that takes her faith out of that biz! a good part of it falls back to cert agencies and their sub-standards. while the majority of them is on the same level (thanx rstc!) - the lowest common level shouldnt be the common denominator. training in my eyes (i had many discussions about it with many pro's of diff agencies) still depends to a good part on your instructor - especially when we go beyond beginners courses. unfortunately this instr. drop out mostly (incl. me). maybe there is something to be said about the club system like bsac, vsdt etc. while it takes forever it has instr. that do it for the sport and not the 3day open water course. i was fortunate enough to learn diving from (family) hardcore divers / military instr. not that i would agree with the teaching philosophies - but i am still alive, selfsufficient (as far as i can evaluate it), diving (for fun and courses i choose). lots of little things coming together to finally get an instr that is worth the title - nobody is around to teach them and guide them (after the instr. course - what are the basics) you have an industry that will kill itself. i am not a huge fan of gue (and the dir based ideas) but respect them as one of the agencies that push serious knowledge at this point - the man in black (civilized dir version ROFL). wish we had more of them -with a bit wider horizon.
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Jun 30, 2006 14:41:05 GMT -5
Post by cantinadiver on Jun 30, 2006 14:41:05 GMT -5
I agree with your reasoning behind what has created the status quo right now. The blame can be laid with the agencies who perpetuate the prevalent business model. While I understand that corporations such as PADI are motivated by profit, when you are dealing with aquatic safety there should be a balance between financial concerns and educational responsabilities. While I've no wish to be a mouthpiece for GUE, I think it must be recognised for it's efforts to connect the average diver with the cutting edge developments of decompression theory and exploratory diving. In contrast i think the knowledge of the average instructor that I've come across of deco theory is shaky at best. To be honest, i'm no authority but I'm motivated to continue learning about the subject. In a lot of cases your average instructor doesn't know what he doesn't know. who can blame him-throughout his diving education he's been led to believe that he's doing it just right and implied that everything you need to know is in the PADI encyclopedia . Anway, i've got a feeling that i'm preaching to the converted and have come to realise that PADI bashing is essentially futile- people eventually see through the BS although are often so financially invested in the process that they are unable to extricate themselves and must tow the party line. it's just a shame that people are turned off diving because these attitudes are so pervasive. OK rant over.
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