Posted by Karl S. on September 25, 2002 at 16:00:38:
In Reply to: Re: Three comments posted by Jim Hoffmann on September 24, 2002 at 20:23:06:
Jim's viewpoint classically demonstrates the modern views of many instructors on ESAs.
First we lost EBAs.
Then we lost buddy breathing.
Soon we may lose ESAs too.
We are losing a lot of tools and drills and conditioning that used to be taught to basic open water divers back when open water training was several months long, not merely one or two weekends.
I would argue in favour of the ESAs, and EBAs, and buddy breathing, and stipulate longer training periods, like 4 weekends in the ocean, rather than just the 4 dive wonder thing.