Should fin technique be required in OW/AOW?

[littleleemur]

I agree that OW has enough material to cover, but what about AOW? Shouldn't this be one of the core modules like Deep & Nav? Unfortunately not everyone is as observant as Lottie or as intuitive. There is a swimming requirement for OW to make sure that all OW divers are at a minimum standard in the water. I've had people tell me that they were "very good" swimmers & they were! Very good "doggie-style swimmers"

As for putting it in another optional class, is there anyone who would really sign up for, pay for and actually admit that they needed "remedial" classes? Wouldn't it be better to make it an official part of the curriculum so that is has to be done?!

Well why don't you just go in before them? Then you won't have to worry about their finnig technique.

It's not so much about going in first, as it is about getting back out. Just going in is the easy part no skills necessary there! But going in in such a way that you can easily get back out - that would be the wreck/cave course. It's about safety not about who's got the prettier fin kick.

[hbh2oguard]

well ya but I thought your rant was about improper finning techniques which reduced viz/ stirred up the silt/bottom comp. so going in first would help with that.

[littleleemur]

Just wanted to add that there are a few situations an OW or AOW diver could find themselves in, where bad technique could possibly lead to an accident:

A tropical vacation swim-thru (like those coral ones in Belize at 50ft). One of the group silting out the other divers behind them could lead to disorientation, snagging of gear ... possibly panic & all in a partial overhead environment.

A hollowed-out wreck swim-thru (essentially a novice dive) - same scenario.

well ya but I thought your rant was about improper finning techniques which reduced viz/ stirred up the silt/bottom comp. so going in first would help with that.

At this point, I'm not even sure what I'm ranting about! :P Except that it has to do with people who should know how to fin but don't or don't care to! & all the subsequent problems it causes for anyone else. & then all that crankiness about when they should've learnt it and wondering if there's a nice way to hammer it into their heads at this late point in time....

Geez, I am cranky!

I think I will go attack the crunchy snacks now.

[seasnake]

There has to be some amount of time spent on finning technique because without it new divers could experience injury, fatigue quicker and just be frustrated. And then mentioning the "why" factor, like impacting the environment and visibility, is stuff you should know from the beginning. You could probably dive without the knowledge, but it's going to be that much easier and more enjoyable of an experience for them if that time is taken right from the start. Just like how to put the fins on and take them off! I'm sure most people could accomplish it in some fashion on their own, but a few minutes of the instructor explaining how and why will just add so much more to the ease and enjoyment of their diving.

[littleleemur]

This must be why:

From another thread,

This brings us to Man-Law #31: If we don't talk about it, it will go way and become fine.

& I agree with you. If only we all had good instructors.