Scared at Peacock

[stairman]

What a mess! I knew you could take cavern in OW gear [no h-valve] but for the intro divers to be 800 ft back in the system without at least 1st stage redundancy is breaking the rules. Wonder how many handprints were left in the mud?

[skip]

Anyone else also worried/wondering that an instructor was asking a student where he/she went? I would hope the instructor was with the student(s), not sending them off... how can that be instruction?

A call to TDI might be in order - I'm pretty sure there were violations here. They won't need instructor names, just dates, places, approx number of students...when the c-card apps come rolling in they will then know the instructors involved.

-skip

[RN]

Are you sure they were students and this was a class? I'm not trying to defend anyone, but this could have been a shop trip with new and former students along. At least, this is what I'm hoping.

Of course, the penetration limit is the daylight zone (as long as depth + penetration < 130').

It's 200' for most agencies.

[RAL]

Anyone else also worried/wondering that an instructor was asking a student where he/she went? I would hope the instructor was with the student(s), not sending them off... how can that be instruction?

A call to TDI might be in order - I'm pretty sure there were violations here. They won't need instructor names, just dates, places, approx number of students...when the c-card apps come rolling in they will then know the instructors involved.

-skip

My intro instructor asked me all kinds of question about where I had been what it looked like......he was with me every second. He wanted to see how ingaged I was. Didn't you guys just have a post on situational awareness? A good instructor helps instill proper habits from the first class!

Not sure how many instructors, not sure exactly what class, just bits and pieces of conversation overheard. Next time.....ask some questions of those involved. Don't be a jerk about it just strike up a freindly converation with a student or two, then the instuctor if possible.
800' back making jumps, single tank........ya scary but........me thinks you do not have all the data. Many students..... are you sure that those 2 students where not taking cave? Single tanks with no H valves 800' back....did you see every students gear? If I was worried enough to start this thread I would have asked a few questions then.
The short of it, get the facts square before making grief for somebody.


RAL

[Serota]

I was at Peacock yesterday and can confirm that there were a few classes in the basin and cavern zone when we returned to exit around noon. We didn't observe anyone back in the cave on the Peanut side that appeared to be inappropriately geared. There was a lot of silt coming out of the Waterhole passage, but that isn't particularly unusual and I have no idea who was in there. I didn't personally observe or hear anything alarming. I would not consider a conversation that "appeared to be" enough evidence to complain to training agencies, the park of anyone else.

I also found a backup light that I am guessing was dropped by one of the students, so if someone can ID it, I will arrange to get it back to you.

[CaveBuddy95]

Hi all,
well I must admit that the cave part of the story with recreational divers was a bit scary..!!
I'm a dive instructor living in Akumal (Mex) and every now and then I see things that make my hair rise high above my head but, hey... its Mexico, its more relax and there is no such a thing as strict standard procedure. Its the art of adapting to the environement...
But I was thinking that in the US, (Motherland of the Biggest training agencies) the diver education was a bit more seriously considered. What I mean by that is, for exemple, PADI has QAs and so have the other agencies. How come there are instructors, still active, doing things like that?
I don't know where this dive took place, is it on private land or state park but surely the practice of such a bad instructor should be brought to light.
No??


Cheers

[scblade27]

Are you sure they were students and this was a class? I'm not trying to defend anyone, but this could have been a shop trip with new and former students along. At least, this is what I'm hoping.

+1

Sounds like there is more to this story.

[DogDiver]

Ya I was there too. What a cluster. As a NAUI instructor I didn't like what I saw, but I s
personally saw no training violations. If I were teaching I would have done things differently. Wish Orange grove would open soon to get some traffic off PI

[UCFKnightDiver]

isnt p1 closed to open water divers?

I was at Peacock yesterday and can confirm that there were a few classes in the basin

[Serota]

isnt p1 closed to open water divers?

Cavern and Cave diving classes not open water.