Posted by Chris on November 19, 2001 at 14:41:10:
In Reply to: That is the problem with the dive industry.. posted by MHK on November 19, 2001 at 10:57:48:
I agree that the basic certification course should be more comprehensive than your typical one.
However certification level has almost nothing to do with diving ability.
There are people certified as instructors that can barely dive, I have rescued some of them.
Some of the best divers have never gone beyond their basic certification.
Knowing this, what will renewing certifications do besides making PADI richer?
If they were true marketing geniuses they would support this money grabbing idea.
Who will be the dive police that will determine if you do or don't dive?
You do things I consider unsafe, and I do things you consider unsafe.
However I fully support your right as a person and a diver to dive how you see fit.
It is part of personal responsibility, a concept that is lost with the rhetoric about more regulation.