TRAINING
Beyond the Minimum: The Meaning of a "Reasonably Prudent Instructor" by Richard Thomas, Owner of International Scuba, Dallas & Frisco, TX
R ECENTLY, OUR INDUSTRY has engaged in endless debates on how to make diving safer: changing agency standards, reducing ratios, and
hurdles. Too often, they are searching for workarounds to force bad logistics to fit the rules. That is where a reliance on
the bare minimum breaks down. Our primary consideration must always be: What provides the best learning experience? Sometimes that means educating students that their desire for con- venience does not align with a course
If our goal is to develop safer, more competent divers who remain active for a lifetime, we do not need to rewrite the rulebooks. We need to stop rushing the process.
shifting all accountability onto training organizations. While this makes for great social media fodder – fueling tribalism and claims of who is “better, safer, and superior” – it misses the core issue. We need to rethink what a standard actually represents.
taught by a Reasonably Prudent Scuba Instructor. Every In- structor Development Course emphasizes this standard of care when teaching candidates how to interpret agency guide- lines. Yet, when real-world pressures arise, our commitment to holding that line is tested. Let’s look at a prime example of where we can do better – and why it matters. The Absolute Minimum vs. Real-World Learning: Under RSTC/WRSTC and aligned ISO standards (ISO 24801-2), the absolute minimum timeline for an entry-level Open Water course is two calendar days. This is constrained by basic in-water rules: A minimum of 4 open water training dives are required ▪ for certification. A daily maximum of 3 training dives can occur in a single ▪ calendar day. Therefore, the open water training must span at least two days, preceded by knowledge development and confined water training. There are rare instances where a compressed two-day schedule can function. For example, at a dedicated dive resort where a student stays for a week post-certification, their initial training is immediately supplemented by consecutive days of guided, professional diving that builds fluency. However, in non-destination markets – like here in Dallas, Texas – this model falls apart. Inland divers rarely follow a compressed weekend certification with days of immediate "fun diving." When a class is rushed over 48 hours without immediate follow-up, the foundation simply isn't there. Mastery vs. ‘One and Done:’ In scuba training, we often cite mastery as the benchmark for signing off on a skill. But true mastery is not performing a skill correctly once or twice
Just because an instructor follows standards to the letter does not mean they are conducting a quality, or even safe, course. As a Course Director for multiple agencies, I regularly receive calls from instructors looking for solutions to logistical
Featured in this issue SeaCa l m Scuba & Y oga Retreat
L ast rooms avai l ab l e for Roat á n , September 2 0 2 6 J oin the 2 0 2 7 w ait l ist : Roat á n & F rench Po l ynesia
meriyoga.com / seaca l m - retreat
36 | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker