Posted by George Austin on December 14, 2001 at 17:40:54:
In Reply to: Reality Check, Check-Check, Check Check posted by Kevin on December 14, 2001 at 08:40:13:
This is the thing I can never understand about these "my agency is better than your agency" debates. Its a thread thats usually started by a foot stamping "DIR" guy who always sounds like he's throwing a temper tantrum because market share projections never approached reality. I think thats the way most casual observers see it. At least I know thats how I look at it.
I've seen the "DIR" classes at Casino and the "DIR" divers on the Lois Ann. I've seen the broken carts at the GE, broken by people with doubles, scooters and all sorts of tech gadgetry. Thats fine, I've never said anything about it and I doubt if many othes have.
A reasonable person just has to ask, however, why does it concern you so much about what agency a diver was schooled in that it makes you sick? Thats a pretty visceral reaction, isn't it? And riddle me this, If C-cards don't mean jack in the first place, why are some people so upset when little Suzy Scubadiver gets her Tec/Rec scuba card? I mean, they don't mean anything anyway, right? Certainly not a threat to me.
And this is a fairly recent phenomenon. I was certed by Carter Brousing at Laguna Sea Sports in 1972 and since then I've never given a second thought about other training agencies. I couldn't care less what agency or instructor a guys had in the past. All I need to know about a diver I can learn by watching him gear up. (mostly)
Only with the GUE / Do it this way or Get out of the Water crowd has it become an issue. Thats why no one likes the "DIR" on the net boards. Sure I've met MHK, great guy in person. Same with some others. But some of the more vocal "DIR" acolytes are what happens when boorish snobs collide with a recreational sport. Like when I was a kid I belonged to a model building club and the better builders thought they were Gods gift to glue and plastic. Its funny/ridiculous now after all these years.
Just remember this. (or not)
Its not the agency. Its not the instructor.
Its the diver.
Good Diving.
GC Austin NAUI #37355