Why Bother Teaching With
Modern Dive Equipment?

• How long has it been since you sold a significant number of recreational diving BCs that did not have an integrated weight system? Five years? Longer than this?
• How long has it been since you were on a dive boat where the majority of recreational divers on board were using anything but dive computers?

The fact is, unless they simply don’t know any better, recreational divers don’t buy anything but weight-integrated BCs and haven’t for some time. And just about nobody dives tables any more — even if they don’t have a dive computer (although, fortunately, many do).

You would think that, in so far as these two items have become as much a standard part of diving equipment as alternate air sources and BC power inflators did during the 1980s, learning how to use them would be an integral part of today’s diver training. Guess again.

In an August, 2004, survey, fewer than 15 percent of the stores responding said they gave their students the opportunity to learn the proper use of integrated weight systems during entry-level training. A similarly small number said they included training in dive computers as part of their courses.

This goes beyond being pig headed. In many respects, it’s downright irresponsible.

Among the chief reasons for getting certified in the first place is to learn to safely operate the equipment you are most likely to purchase and use as a diver. If you can’t count on your local dive store to teach you how to use the type of BC and instruments you are most likely to buy, just when exactly are you supposed to do so? On your own?

Let’s teach the good ol’ fashioned way… »

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