Newsgroups: rec.scuba

fssmith@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Greg Smith) writes:
> In article <BsMKrq.8Hs@scd.hp.com>, dave@hpdstma.ptp.hp.com (Dave Waller) writes...
> >In article <11430@cis.rand.org>, Karl_Schutz@rand.ORG (Karl Schutz) writes:
> >|> 
> >|> Final note: when someone suggests the limitation of personal freedoms, I get spun
> >|> up.  I mean no offense; but, I do mean what I say. 
> > 
> > 
> >However, my original point was not to suggest some sort of force be employed
> >(through law, for instance) to prohibit people from diving if they don't
> >recert.
> 
> Just exactly what was your original point now that we know what it isn't?
> I believe that you feel that is is beneficial for others to take recertification
> courses.  Do you know that such courses exist already?  Since they already
> exist what exactly are you proposing?

Presently, except in extremely rare cases, certification cards issued by
just about every certifying agency have no expiration. In other words,
once certified, always certified.

This presents a dilemna for the diving community, and one that,
unfortunately, frequently takes place: A person gets certified for a
specific event (trip to the Great Barrier Reef, for instance), dives a
few times, then doesn't don SCUBA gear again for many (sometimes many,
many) years. Later on, an opportunity presents itself to engage in some
SCUBA activity, and this person says, "Hey! I'm certified, this sounds
like fun, count me in!".

These unfortunate people make up the BULK of the SCUBA fatalities; if
you won't take my word for it, give DAN a call.

So, what am I proposing? Simply that C-cards expire after some
reasonable period (2 years?), and the they be renewed through some as
yet to be defined process. Several other contributors here have made
some suggestions.

As for my view, I feel that presentation of documented experience (a log
book), or, if such experience has not been maintained participation in
some degree of instruction to refresh that individual is necessary to
renew the certification.

I do not propose that this be governed, controlled, regulated, or
enforced by any government agency whatsoever. I propose that the private
certifying agencies implement such a policy.

By the way, Greg, why are you such a hostile individual?

> >In my view, the reasons that we, as responsible individuals, feel that it
> >is beneficial to participate in a certification course in the first place
> >prior to participating in diving activities apply to the certified diver
> >who has not puta regulator in their mouth for long enough to forget the
> >skills and knowlege necessary to make them safe.
> 
> > 
> >I have a few questions for you: Given that you state that you feel that
> >issuing expiring certifications, requiring some sort of minimal periodic 
> >proficiency testing to be performed for renewal, to be an offense against
> >one's freedom, how do you feel about initial certifications?
> 
> Please get off your high horse.

Huh? You lost me there. No matter how I read that sentence, it looks
like another hostile, ad hominem attack upon me, and I can't recall what
I could have possibly said to elicit this kind of response from you; I
do remember, however, that you tend to respond this way to me
specifically. What is this chip you seem to have on your shoulder for my
posts?

Dave Waller
YMCA Instructor
Newsgroups: rec.scuba