DR safety problem & PADI

After promising us they would a few months ago PADI came through today in a big way, they sent out an email to all PADI dive shops & instructors in the DR with a very strong reminder, warning and possible sanctions letter if dive shops and instructors continue to take untrained OW divers way past the cavern zone. The letter actually directly asks LDS to stop this or else...(yes there are also sanctions involved and mentioned).
This is going to be a major help and will surely deter at least some dive shops and is a huge step in the right direction.

From all the DR cave divers we thank PADI big time.

Now if the NACD, IANTD, TDI, SSI, NAUI could do the same that would be awesome.

:clapper:clapper:clapper:clapper:clapper

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

:clapper:clapper:clapper:clapper:clapper

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+100

This is great news
As a PADI MSDT and NSS/CDS Cave Diver, it is good to see cooperation across different agencies.

They did the right thing and I applaud them as well but cant find the symbal for it as Sludge did.

+100 more... Any chance you could post the letter? After all that work you did and as a PADI PRO I'd like to see what they said.

This is what was sent out in english and they also sent the same thing in spanish. Again a big time thank you to PADI for this.



Dear PADI Member,

I am writing to all PADI Members in your area regarding the use of the local underwater cave systems for dive tours with untrained divers and student divers. As you should be well aware, PADI Standards do not allow training dives to be conducted in overhead environments except for courses that include such diving in the performance requirements, such as the PADI Cavern Diver and Wreck Diver Specialty courses. This letter is a reminder to not take student divers into overhead environments.

It has also come to our attention that some dive operations and dive guides have been taking certified divers who are not trained in cave diving into the local cave systems. Although these may not be course training dives, they still violate the intent of the Safe Diving Practices and may place insufficiently trained or inadequately equipped divers in harm’s way. As a PADI Member, you must realize that should an incident occur, your actions while acting in the capacity of a dive professional will be scrutinized and that violating the Safe Diving Practices, especially while supervising divers, increases your liability. Further, depending upon the specific circumstances, this could also jeopardize your PADI membership.

The PADI staff understand that the vast majority of PADI Professionals do follow the Safe Diving Practices and would not intentionally place the divers under their care in such dangerous situations. However, for the few that are taking such risks, we ask that you immediately cease taking divers without the appropriate training and equipment into cave systems.

Sincerely,

Johnny Wetzstein
Director, Training
PADI Americas

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Originally Posted by phillip1

It has also come to our attention that some dive operations and dive guides have been taking certified divers who are not trained in cave diving into the local cave systems. Although these may not be course training dives, they still violate the intent of the Safe Diving Practices and may place insufficiently trained or inadequately equipped divers in harm’s way. As a PADI Member, you must realize that should an incident occur, your actions while acting in the capacity of a dive professional will be scrutinized and that violating the Safe Diving Practices, especially while supervising divers, increases your liability. Further, depending upon the specific circumstances, this could also jeopardize your PADI membership.

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*emphasis is mine

I agree that this is better that anything they have done regarding this matter to date, but this is weak. They are saying "if someone dies, we will take your PADI sticker away". It would suck to lose whatever PADI membership they have, but the results of the death would be considerably worse. If those shops were concerned with the chances of death, they wouldn't be doing this anyways.

Change the embolden text to state "if this practice continues" and this is an awesome letter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phillip1

After promising us they would a few months ago PADI came through today in a big way, they sent out an email to all PADI dive shops & instructors in the DR with a very strong reminder, warning and possible sanctions letter if dive shops and instructors continue to take untrained OW divers way past the cavern zone. The letter actually directly asks LDS to stop this or else...(yes there are also sanctions involved and mentioned).
This is going to be a major help and will surely deter at least some dive shops and is a huge step in the right direction.

From all the DR cave divers we thank PADI big time.

Now if the NACD, IANTD, TDI, SSI, NAUI could do the same that would be awesome.

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NAUI standards are quite clear on this and easily understood. If anyone wants a clarification HQ will be glad to give it to you.

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Originally Posted by rigdiver

NAUI standards are quite clear on this and easily understood. If anyone wants a clarification HQ will be glad to give it to you.

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Every organization, including PADI, has a standard regarding this matter. The intent of the email is to reinforce these standards to the instructors who are not following them. I personally know a NAUI instructor who has taken open water STUDENTS into a cavern on a training dive. Not to call out NAUI, because I know there are instructors from all organizations who break these rules.

Good work Phillip, and thanks Johnny Wetzstein (Director, Training - PADI Americas) : )