Posted by AADIVER on November 15, 2000 at 16:19:47:
I understand the cert agencies no longer require basic students to perform ditch and don skills in a pool, i.e., diving to the bottom, ditching all gear, exhaling to the surface, then diving back down and donning all gear. I'm told the reason is that very few basic students could perform it so it was dropped as a mandatory skill. Another example of agencies dumbing down basic requirements? When I trained in Australia if you couldn't ditch and don you didn't qualify to become a scuba diver (no cert. agencies in '64 down under)
I can't think of a better way to build up confidence. If I was a basic instructor, not only would I require ditch and don, I'd recommend it be done with eyes closed. The donning, I mean. Eyes wide open on ascent, of course. Instructor input, anyone?