Diver education safety organization

[speleodiver]

Several of us are working towards an organization or committee to head off all the negatives surrounding training and safety. It's focus would be on creating quality control in training and providing the necessary tools for safety and dealing with those who break standards. The instructors who participate would get an endorsement from the organization/committee. Plus free advertising on the website as an endorsed instructor having meet higher quality of standards. Participation is strictly voluntary for instructors and all training agencies who wish to get behind the movement of quality control and responsibility. There will be a mandatory annual review of all participating instructors. The goal is to promote better safety and highe standards. We expect a certain amount of negativity towards the movement by the very people who have made the formation a necessity. For too long, many in this community have pled with instructors and agency for more responsibility. Instead of striving for better quality, the time and money is spent developing ways to thwart liability should it happen instead of preventative measure to insure there are minimum liabilities an higher safety. We simply have to stand together as a community and bring forth the efforts ourselves. While it is sad, it I necessary to maintain our freedom to dive.

So without heated arguments, lets calmly discuss how we wish to proceed.
First, how many will support this type of movement to bring about higher quality and continued self regulation the community is starting to lose?

[Tegg]

Shouldn't we work to have the existing organizations make this a priority rather then trying to create a new ad-hoc organization?

[speleodiver]

Joe,

I have been hard at it for the past few months to do just that. The common answer is "it's not our responsibity to supervise instructors. To do so would open us to a certain amount of liability we don't want."

How do you overcome this?

Look at it like government. If they don't do what you want than prepare yourself to get involved.

IMO, we have no choice at this point. We must regulate ourselves for higher quality and let the one who fail to do it fade away.

[Tegg]

What is the strategic plan if you create a new organization that none of the other certifying agencies give two flips about?

These types of culture changes take time and must come from within... as a member, Board of Director, or volunteer. I have learned a LOT about the dive industry since becoming an instructor a few years ago and the biggest thing that I learned is that the dive industry is quick to add / change things that increase revenue but slow/resistant to changes which cost revenue. (dropping course directors, instructors, and divers from their 'books' because of actions)

[tflaris]

Several of us are working towards an organization or committee to head off all the negatives surrounding training and safety. It's focus would be on creating quality control in training and providing the necessary tools for safety and dealing with those who break standards. The instructors who participate would get an endorsement from the organization/committee. Plus free advertising on the website as an endorsed instructor having meet higher quality of standards. Participation is strictly voluntary for instructors and all training agencies who wish to get behind the movement of quality control and responsibility. There will be a mandatory annual review of all participating instructors. The goal is to promote better safety and highe standards. We expect a certain amount of negativity towards the movement by the very people who have made the formation a necessity. For too long, many in this community have pled with instructors and agency for more responsibility. Instead of striving for better quality, the time and money is spent developing ways to thwart liability should it happen instead of preventative measure to insure there are minimum liabilities an higher safety. We simply have to stand together as a community and bring forth the efforts ourselves. While it is sad, it I necessary to maintain our freedom to dive.



So without heated arguments, lets calmly discuss how we wish to proceed.

First, how many will support this type of movement to bring about higher quality and continued self regulation the community is starting to lose?

I'm on board. Let me know how I can be of assistance.

TF


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[speleodiver]

What is the strategic plan if you create a new organization that none of the other certifying agencies give two flips about?

These types of culture changes take time and must come from within... as a member, Board of Director, or volunteer. I have learned a LOT about the dive industry since becoming an instructor a few years ago and the biggest thing that I learned is that the dive industry is quick to add / change things that increase revenue but slow/resistant to changes which cost revenue. (dropping course directors, instructors, and divers from their 'books' because of actions)

Their slow resistance to change is why this is coming. They never want to cut anything that may costs them money but in the end exactly how much is a human life worth and who all will be paying for it. In the end, if a suit occurs and the agency pays then everyone can expect an increase in certification costs. As an instructor I refuse to absorb any costs because an agency refuses to act upon regulations to protect the very people who are feeding their revenue. Instructors and students. Agencies do not get money from anything else. Bottom line is we need to protect ourselves and our way of life. It seems when it hits the fan, these agencies who claim to be the best and do everything to protect the dive industry are the first to point the finger elsewhere and run from the courthouse.

Where is the responsibility on their part they expect and demand of us???

[Tegg]

So what is the plan to have them adopt the new organizations efforts?

[speleodiver]

We believe enough people are fed up with the current situation that many will support an effort to fix it. All we have to lose is to be back exactly where we are now. Very careful wording of the consequences for not supporting it will be made public soon. In reality what agency wouldn't support a group or ad hoc as you say improving the current situation and possibly reducing liability for themselves? I guess the downside is any agency not supporting it would also not support better quality in training. Or worse, they support the current situation. Do you believe there is a current issue? Would you not rather do something to fix it? I'm telling you with complete certainty the agencies are not going to fix a problem they deny exists.

[Sly-vester]

Their slow resistance to change is why this is coming. They never want to cut anything that may costs them money but in the end exactly how much is a human life worth and who all will be paying for it. In the end, if a suit occurs and the agency pays then everyone can expect an increase in certification costs. As an instructor I refuse to absorb any costs because an agency refuses to act upon regulations to protect the very people who are feeding their revenue. Instructors and students. Agencies do not get money from anything else. Bottom line is we need to protect ourselves and our way of life. It seems when it hits the fan, these agencies who claim to be the best and do everything to protect the dive industry are the first to point the finger elsewhere and run from the courthouse.

Where is the responsibility on their part they expect and demand of us???

Since most the fatalities are untrained dives wouldn't it be more prudent to make training more accessible?

[MacLeod]

Steve,
I applaud your efforts to start something like this. I thought this was an excellent recommendation when discussed at the NSS-CDS workshop in May, and think it's a shame that organization didn't step up to the plate. Please let me know what assistance I can provide.