Nope, they just show you how high the bar is.
Nope, and I hope you have carefully thought this through. The reason that the equipment is standardized is so that if you show up out here to dive with me, your gear is the same as my gear and if I had to reach for your knife, I would know where it is without looking at you.
You primary on your 7 foot hose is not for you, it is for me, your team mate. If I have a catastrophic loss of air, you are carrying my pony bottle on your back. It would be nice if I could back kick 7 feet away from you to maintain my buoyancy as we ascend, instead of being up in your grill.
Nope you are not alone, everybody that passes thru fundies feels the same way. The power is that you had the balls to try. You got your moneys worth. It rocked your world, and you are better for it.
Stings dont it!
What you got, an appreciation of the BASICS, what any/every PADI/SSI instructor SHOULD have taught you in OW class. Actually I am a PADI DiveMaster and what you learned in fundies is in the first three pages of the PADI OW manual.
What your divebuddies get: A competent team mate who when fit hits the shan, you will bring them home safely to their loved ones.
Yup, you got your money's worth. Look at how many times a week you will practice number 3 of 5 (OOA/S drill). How many recreational divers with 200 dives practice number three.
Again, congrats. The koolaid is bitter at first tho you develop a taste for it, and it is SCHWEET!
Tevis