Posted by Jim Hoffmann on July 10, 2002 at 12:33:27:
I have always felt that you need to train your students to the environmental condition that they will encounter in there surrounding area.
In 1985 I quit using PADI as a certifying agency because I was told that, it was alright with them, to do all So Cal OW work in Lake Paris (no beach, rocks, or boat, just lake). At that point I discovered that they only cared about one thing (there showing at Chamber Day this year, I think proves this again).
I have always felt that Casino Point was a poor OW I (Scuba Diver) training site. On the surface it’s expensive, crowded, hard to get to, and has almost no transportation. UW, it’s deep, has current, slits up quick and it’s easy to cross classes.
Casino Point is a beautiful location but, gives very little real practical experience to the new diver (there is only one Casino Point).
We have the best dive boat fleet in the world here in So Cal. And our Islands give us some of the best diving in the world. Boat diving should be a part of every new divers experience, (but should not be all they experience).
In So Cal we have miles of beaches that can be dove. For most divers the Beach is only a few minutes always. The cost is very low (gas, and parking) and it doesn’t take all day.
Beach diving is the most assessable diving we have in So Cal.
Beach diving should be part of every new diver experience . It doesn’t matter if the experience is good or bad. It matters that they had the experience.
Beach diving should be part of every So Cal divers entry level program.
Jim Hoffmann
Scuba Toys
NAUI #5888
PADI # 6301