View Full Version : PADI Open Water Question...
A question for the PADI people, some friends were on an Open Water course last week and on their return they told me that during the practice AAS ascents their instructors had turned their cylinders off "so they could experience the feel of running out of gas" and then once the diver had given the out of air signal their cylinders were turned back on and they carried out the rest of the drill.
Personally I was horrified, I can't imagine choosing to turn off a novices gas supply, however shallow... but I don't know what the PADI stance is on this and the instructor in question is pretty highly qualified.
Thoughts from the experts? :confused:
Had this done when I did my OW course, not a big deal.
Yes thats standard to do that on confined water dive 2. the reason for this is for the student to recognise the feeling of running out of air and to react calmly and efficently
Hmmm, got to admit I was surprised, if I want to know what it feels like to run out of air I'll do it in standing depth or on the surface.. and tbh not having gas to breathe is pretty obvious imho, I'd rather emphasise avoiding the situation that teaching to recognise it :eek:
However if that's the syllabus then that's it, more than one way to skin a cat etc etc.
Thanks for the answers chaps :)
NorthernTechnical
07-03-09, 20:02
A question for the PADI people, some friends were on an Open Water course last week and on their return they told me that during the practice AAS ascents their instructors had turned their cylinders off "so they could experience the feel of running out of gas" and then once the diver had given the out of air signal their cylinders were turned back on and they carried out the rest of the drill.
Personally I was horrified, I can't imagine choosing to turn off a novices gas supply, however shallow... but I don't know what the PADI stance is on this and the instructor in question is pretty highly qualified.
Thoughts from the experts? :confused:
It is only in a swimming pool and it is done on one student at a time, it is standard practice. This skill is done in water deep enough that when they stand up there head is completey out of the water.....so no drowning....causes a lot of paperwork and dearer Insurance:)
Hope this helps
Ian:)
It is only in a swimming pool and it is done on one student at a time, it is standard practice. This skill is done in water deep enough that when they stand up there head is completey out of the water.....so no drowning....causes a lot of paperwork and dearer Insurance:)
Hope this helps
Ian:)
Hmmm, they were talking about doing it as the precursor to an AAS ascent so hardly what I'd call standing depth :eek: the chances of it becoming a major problem are few (instructor behind, aas in front), I just don't like setting the precedent of choosing to switch off a working air supply (their *only* working air supply!) when I can see no significant advantage... but as I implied, I have no bone to pick with one system over another, merely wondered if it was a "normal" drill or the invention of a particular instructor...;)
I did this on my OW,and have supervised it when DM-ing.Often the emergency ascent is practised swimming horizontally in a swimming pool or other confined water rather than vertically from say 9m.
Yup, makes sense, I'm told (by a reliable person!) that this was an AAS from 6m or so.
As I say, there are different ways to do things and in controlled circumstances I can see how it could be done safely. I merely feel *personally* that it is not an exercise I would choose to do with a student. Just my own opinion, not an attack! ;)
It is only in a swimming pool and it is done on one student at a time, it is standard practice. This skill is done in water deep enough that when they stand up there head is completey out of the water.....so no drowning....causes a lot of paperwork and dearer Insurance:)
Hope this helps
Ian:)
Ian is totally correct, it is done in a swimming pool, there is absolutely no requirement to do this in open water dives. Students have enough to cope with in this country without adding more stress, it would be better to emphasis looking at their gauges enough so that they doin't run out of air in the first place. Hmm, would hate all the extra paperwork. :D:D
I believe training should be as realistic as possible, therefore turning off a trainees' air gives them the real sensation of an out of air situation. I have been using this method for over 30 years without any complaints. In fact the trainees' actually enjoyed it. Do this in a pool first til they get used to acting calmly. If they still panic after many weeks of training I would question whether diving is for them. ;)
NorthernTechnical
08-03-09, 18:31
Hmmm, they were talking about doing it as the precursor to an AAS ascent so hardly what I'd call standing depth :eek: the chances of it becoming a major problem are few (instructor behind, aas in front), I just don't like setting the precedent of choosing to switch off a working air supply (their *only* working air supply!) when I can see no significant advantage... but as I implied, I have no bone to pick with one system over another, merely wondered if it was a "normal" drill or the invention of a particular instructor...;)
It is in the Manual, if an Instructor decides to invent skillīs on a course......ticking bomb....:eek:
Glasgowbuddha
30-04-09, 10:53
When I did my OW we had our cylinders switched off whilst in swimming pool at a depth of appox 1.5m
Standard PADI practice I believe during first OW dives.
hi, iv just done my open water course and my instructor alson turned off my air. this is so u know the signs of your air running low or if there is a problem. this is only done for a split second and as soon as you give the instructor the sign he turns it back on. standard practice and i think this should be done in confined water although all my confined water dives were done in the sea at pdc oban.
Dive Monkeh
04-05-09, 05:57
A question for the PADI people, some friends were on an Open Water course last week and on their return they told me that during the practice AAS ascents their instructors had turned their cylinders off "so they could experience the feel of running out of gas" and then once the diver had given the out of air signal their cylinders were turned back on and they carried out the rest of the drill.
Personally I was horrified, I can't imagine choosing to turn off a novices gas supply, however shallow... but I don't know what the PADI stance is on this and the instructor in question is pretty highly qualified.
Thoughts from the experts? :confused:
Having just completed my open water course myself,
i have to say i know why its done, and there is no reason to worry about it as the instructer would have been beside them and had they given the out of air signal they would have buddie breathed, it is to simulate how to handle the situation if you have ran out of air on a dive so that if it happens you do not automaticly panic you signal to your buddie that you are out of air and buddie breath and ascend, the instructor would have had control of the situation
Having just completed my open water course myself,
i have to say i know why its done, and there is no reason to worry about it as the instructer would have been beside them and had they given the out of air signal they would have buddie breathed, it is to simulate how to handle the situation if you have ran out of air on a dive so that if it happens you do not automaticly panic you signal to your buddie that you are out of air and buddie breath and ascend, the instructor would have had control of the situation
Yup, understand the situation thanks guys, the drill in question was done at a greater depth than I suspect most of you are thinking of and as intimated above I *personally* feel it's a drill which should be uneccessary. But if PADI do it, in controlled circumstances, then fine. I understand.
(Incidentally my qual level is Instr with another agency if it matters!)
Bottom line is don't get into a situation where you run out of gas, it's the worst sort of poor planning ;)
This thread has probably run it's course now btw. Any further answers would probably be best sent to me by pm to save boring everyone else ;):)