Some instructors always want to break traditions

I really don’t understand. Why should we change the good old methods and go on a new path? There are thousands of divers trained with jacket style BCDs and primary second stage plus octopus configuration and they are doing just fine, aren’t they?

We see well trained divers everywhere we go with good trim and buoyancy. Nothing wrong with the system, therefore I don’t see any reason to change the methods we use.

Here is a list of reasons showing why using backplate and wing configuration for poor Open water students is crazy! Plus some instructors are introducing even the long hose just to make life so much harder for their poor pupils.

Would make Open Water students look way too good.

Trim. Wing configuration will give the students an easy way to get immediately into horizontal trim, giving way less chance to the instructors to show off their skills while the students look in awe thinking it is really hard and will take them hundreds of dives to achieve something even similar. How could the instructor feel superior then? Did you even consider that?

Who does not like to chase after students?

We all love superheroes. Catching the student just before being run over by a propeller because the cheap jacket-style BCD, usually used for rental kit, traps the air making them fly uncontrolled to the surface. They would be so grateful for the help and maybe would even pay for the instructor’s beers in the evening. We should not take away this satisfactory feeling from the poor professionals by using kit easy to handle. Also, we should make sure to add those 3-4 kg extra lead so they can comfortably kneel on the bottom while doing skills.

Dive centres could provide properly fitting equipment for all

Boo. It would be so much harder to convince people to buy their equipment if they would receive a properly fitting kit as a rental. Plus where would be the fun of watching small or a bit more curvy people almost slipping out of the jacket on the surface, or teaching them how to control the rolling about of an ill-fitting BCD? They would stop flopping around underwater. So boring.

Furthermore, manufacturers would not be happy either because their sales would go down massively since dive centres would not stock up extra BCDs in all sizes. They would simply adjust the harness for the student to fit well. We should not be risking that.

That pesky long hose…

It is for tech divers only. Why should recreational divers have nothing dangling on them? No massive loops, hanging consoles and alternate air sources? What would technical instructors teach then? They would be out of a job! We have to think of those poor people. Plus if you regularly use and check both second stages, there is less risk of donating a non-working or wet-breathing regulator to a distressed diver. How silly would that be?

We could teach buoyancy in diving position

We could stop making up weird methods to meet certain agencies’ standards (eg. “the student must hover without kicking and sculling”) by putting them in silly or awkward positions. They could simply hover horizontally as they actually dive. Why would we do that when we can just flip them upside down? It is also the best way for them to check whether there is something above them, isn’t it? Also the easiest way to experience that your regulator might give water if you breathe it upside down. 3 skills in one go!

Lets be honest…

There is absolutely no reason to revise the teaching methods or use different equipment. All is good as it is now.

Maybe they can use this equipment when they get some more experience.

Because first they should suffer a bit. 

Or maybe, just maybe we shouldn’t?

DISCLAIMER

Above text might contain slight sarcasm.

Please do not attempt to simply switch equipment unless you are familiar with its use.

Would you like to know how? Keep reading!

FHE – Frequently Heard Excuses:

Some from Instructors who use BP+W themselves but still teach Open Water course with jacket style BCD

1. Myth: It is hard or impossible to do the OW skills with BP+W.

Answer: If it was true, the equipment would not be suitable for diving at all, since OW skills are the basis for diving. Is the way of doing them different? Yes, sure. But harder? Not really. Most of them are actually easier.

2. Myth: BP and W, especially the long hose is very confusing for beginners.

Answer: Everything is confusing for beginners. It is all new. But switching is more confusing then starting diving with it straight away. And if they have learned with this configuration, they will find the traditional kit confusing. 

3. Excuse Maybe they can use a backplate and wing when they do their Advanced Open water course. 

My very personal opinion, that after 3-4 days of doing the Open Water course in jacket BCD,  giving them totally different equipment too, when they should be focusing on learning more about the environment, navigation and deep diving maybe not the best idea.

4. Myth Wing+BP and long hose is only for technical divers. 

Since thousands of recreational divers have already switched to it and on most dive forums this is the recommended configuration when someone asks which BCD should they buy, this myth is already busted. 

Do you prefer the jacket style BCDs?

Then definitely no need to join this workshop

But if by any chance you would like to get tips and tricks on how to teach recreational courses in BP+W+LH, we will hold a fun event in January in Malta where you are more than welcome to join! The event is free, just get your pool entrance fee.

If all goes well, we have a surprise celebrity joining (no promises)