PH, I believe that I fairly sound position to comment on this issue, from experience certifying around 80 OWC divers, and a number of technical divers in Deep Cavern and Cave.
In my time as an OW instructor, having performed three rescues, the biggest problem a lot of people face is lack of buoyancy control. The previous facility where i used to teach, I believe, was a disservice to students, as they couldn't play around and experiment with their buoyancy control. Yes, they could do a hover or fin pivot, though couldn't really fine tune their BCD control. Teaching in a large pool, it's very easy to say to students, go play for 10 minutes in the deep end of the pool, if you hit the bottom, add a little air, if you start to rise up, dump a little. 10 minutes of this while on day one of an OWC is invaluable training. I dont accept the excuse that newly certified divers are 'allowed' to have poor buoyancy control. I'm not expecting perfect, just that the person can control themselves underwater. Do you know how many students finish an OWC thinking that their BCD inflator is an 'up' button, and deflate, takes you down ? They get this impresson from being on the surface, and dont realise that it changes under the water.
I don't believe you understand the skills and knowledge needed to become a newly certified OW diver. Yes, some skills are required to be left basic, though specific knowledge is mandated by PADI for other skills ( eg: the CESA must be taught, demonstrated, and conducted by the student EXACTLY ), yet through good training and diving practises, a student should NEVER have to perform a CESA in a real diving situation. The problem ( as GUE are trying to address ) is that the newly certified OW diver has a level of skills and ability lower than that required (or expected). I personally believe GUE have gone too far the other way though, making diving seem very elusive and difficult. That is the argument and problem. Other training agencies want it to be accessible, and so people can sign up to a program, knowing they can complete it. They dont want to sign up to some huge trainiing program with a risk of failure and not passing. The problem in trying to make diving more accessible is that quality of diver skills can diminish. I think buoyancy control is an important one, that more instructors should spend more time on in a course. It actually saves time on a course, as the diver then picks up other skills a lot better, and less risk in the OW sessions. Simple things can improve a divers skill level with no increase in course time. For example, once basic hovering has been taught, and they can do it, for the next skills, I dont let them sit on the pool bottom. "Now you're divers, you can hover, so no more touching the bottom ok". They hover, learning the skill more, developing airway control, all while watching and learning another skill. Simple stuff, though really effective.
Agree about Auskick. Kicking a football and handballing it is a basic skill for football. So is buoyancy control for diving. So thats why its important to spend more time on it. You can't play corridor football if you can't kick straight into the corridor. Likewise you can't do other things in diving without some level of buoyancy control. Improved buoyancy control makes a diver more relaxed, decreasing air consumption, increasing dive time and pleasure. (Maybe you should try it sometime
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Well, the PADI OWC does include a brief awareness of technical diving, nitrox, rebreathers, scooters as well. It's hardly brain washing. PADI doesn't have a 'style' per se, just a teaching methodology, that is taught and reproduced by other instructors. It can be tailored to individual needs and desires. Would you do a motorbike course, wanting to ride superbikes, and then the instructor starts talking about his experience on his Honda Gullwing ? Would be a bit out of place wouldn't it.
