Compiled and
edited by Jeffrey Bozanic
One of NAUI's
main competitive advantages in the recreational diving community is
that it is the only major national certifying agency which is nonprofit
and democratic in nature. Because the membership controls the direction
of the organization by electing the Directors, those who are allowed
to vote would great responsibility. Currently the right to vote is held
by Active and Sustaining Instructor members. This month's question examines
whether that privilege should be extended.
The question
begins with a review of the status of Skin Diving Leaders. All of those
expressing an opinion on the question stated that the title should probably
be changed to Skin Diving Instructors, as that best reflects the actual
duties and responsibilities of those members. The title "Skin Diving
Leader" has the connotation of a Divemaster, while renaming the
group as Instructors would eliminate what most felt was a poor choice
of wording. Interestingly, no current Skin Diving Leaders responded
to the question. Anyone out there care to express an opinion?
As to extending
the right to vote to leadership levels other than Instructor, the majority
felt that there was no reason not to do so. They felt that by granting
the right to vote, that more individuals would become involved in what
would become an even more democratic organization.
A few dissenting
opinions were expressed, surprisingly by several current Divemasters
and Assistant Instructors. The general theme of the arguments advanced
was that since Instructors have ultimate responsibility for training,
that the Instructors should continue to control the Board and standards.
The implicit assumption seemed to be that the other leadership members
did not have the knowledge to vote intelligently on issues based on
their current level of training and expertise.
Another point
raised was that many of the non-Instructor leadership members are Instructor
members of other certifying agencies. It was feared that extending the
vote might have negative impacts on the further advancement and direction
of NAUI.
Regardless, the
ultimate decision on this issue will be decided by the membership currently
entitled to vote. A change of this sort would require a revision of
the By-Laws, which must be passed by a majority of the voting membership.
It would be interesting to see the results of an informal referendum
on this matter. Any such action should include the comments and feedback
from the Divemasters, Assistant Instructors, and Skin Diving Leaders,
since those are the individuals who will be affected to the greatest
degree.
QUESTION: "SHOULD
THE CERTIFICATION TITLE SKIN DIVING LEADER BE CHANGED TO SKIN DIVING
INSTRUCTOR? SHOULD SKIN DIVING LEADERS, ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS, AND/OR
DIVEMASTERS BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE? WHY/WHY NOT?"
A. I would support
a change in the title of Skin Diving Leader to Skin Diving Instructor.
In my judgment, it would enhance the marketability of skin diving programs
in resort areas and better reflect its' true nature. Minimum scuba certification
of Divemaster should be required with standards best developed by a
committee of educators including resort operators.
I believe the importance of Assistant Instructors (AIs) and Divemasters
to this association's long term health has long been overlooked. I support
finding ways to provide incentives to divers to become Divemasters and
AIs. The business and fairness issues of allowing AIs and Divemasters
an equal vote with Instructors does trouble me. We might want to consider
creating an advisory seat on the Board of Directors, elected from AIs
and Divemasters. I will be interested in the thoughts of the membership
on this issue.
Richard
Fernandez, NAUI 6741L; Miami Shores, FL (Member, NAUI Board of Directors.
Teaches primarily entry level courses and as staff at ITCs. Helped initiate
the recreational dive management program at Barry University.)
A. No. The ultimate
responsibility for training and certifying students rests solely with
the instructor and for that reason, I believe they alone should have
the right to vote on NAUI issues.
--Doug
Leteux, NAUI Z9497; Tallahassee, FL (Active AI with the Academic Diving
Program at Florida State University.)
A. The Skin Diving
Leader is an instructor having the authority to independently teach
and certify students in the skills and techniques of skin diving. Currently
the Skin Diving Leader has the authority, the responsibility, and the
potential liability without the instructor level recognition. If we
(as an organization) are ever to successfully promote skin diving as
an independent activity and not simply as a means to another end (scuba),
we must recognize, as professionals in their own right, those who are
sanctioned to instruct. The Skin Diving Instructors, NAUI, and all the
world's potential skin divers will benefit from this progressive move
in underwater instruction.
--Dan
Orr, NAUI ????; Tallahassee, FL (Assistant Director and Associate Diving
Officer of the Academic Diving Program at Florida State University.
Former NAUI Mid-America Branch Manager. Has authored numerous articles
on diving safety topics, as well as spoken on nitrox use at a variety
of diving symposiums. Recipient of the NAUI Outstanding Service Award.
Chairman of the newly formed NAUI Technical Committee.)
A. Yes, Skin
Diving Leaders are skin diving instructors and should be recognized
as such. A Skin Diving "Leader" has the connotation of being
a skin diving "divemaster."
Yes, all three levels should vote since these are truly leadership roles.
Skin Diving Instructors, Assistant Instructors, and Divemasters must
assume just as much responsibility as any INstructor, and are at just
as much risk (some even more so.) Responsibility without authority is
dangerous. Without the ability to vote we are asking them to go out
on a limb without the ability to choose which limb to go out on or how
to do it safely. In addition to their input to NAUI it would also allow
us to increase our membership without "diluting" it.
--Hank
Tonnemacher, NAUI 4286; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (President of
Seven Seas Limited, a diving instructional and underwater videography
company. As a Professional Educator has taught both privately and managed
a number of resort diving operations. Has taught all levels up to and
including ITCs. Past Dive Officer for Hydrolab, an underwater scientific
habitat which was based at West Indies Laboratory.)
A. NAUI is faced
with an interesting problem when considering whether or not AI's DM's
and SDL's should be granted full voting privileges.
On one hand, a full membership association should allow all it's members
an opportunity to influence the decision making in the organization.
This would allow full allow full participation in the running of the
association to all categories of membership.
A contrary view is one in which recognizes that the largest proportion
of members falls not in the instructor category but in the non-instructor
ratings. It is recognized that many of these individuals have no intention
of ever becoming a NAUI Instructor and a fair percentage of them actually
are instructors of other agencies and represent the other agencies to
the public.
These individuals often do not have the allegiance, background or experience
to make decisions which will affect the success and direction of the
association. Their impact could be that of a relatively
inexperienced and non-informed group of voters determining the direction
and future of the instructor membership.
With this in mind, I feel that it is important to have the association
protect the most important category of NAUI, the Instructor, and allowing
non-instructors to vote would, in my opinion, jeopardize this.
--Jim
Hicks, NAUI ????; Newport Beach, CA (President of Western Seas Inc.
and owner of Jim Hicks' NAUI College. Past NAUI National Training Director.
Has taught all levels up to and including ITCs. Has authored many dive
training articles., and spoken at numerous conferences.)
A. Yes, I believe
that Assistant Instructors and Divemasters should have the right to
vote because by having more voting members our organization stands a
better chance of understanding what its complete membership thinks,
wants, and needs.
--Brian
Attis, NAUI Z9495; Tallahassee, FL (Active AI with the Academic Diving
Program at Florida State University.)
A. Absolutely!
I feel that a Skin Diving Leader is more of an instructor than a leader--if
anything he is more akin to the Divemaster than Instructor currently.
Maybe NAUI should start a new classification of Assistant Skin Diving
Instructor as well.
As far as voting--we should include all leadership members as voting
members. Strength comes from numbers.
--John
N. Sayer, NAUI #11122; Fullerton, CA (Staff at North Orange County Regional
Occupational Program. Teaches Openwater I to ITCs.)
A. I would love
to have the right to vote, but I do not feel that would be conducive
to the position of AIs or Divemasters. We have responsibilities, but
the Instructor has the ultimate responsibility. As much as I would like
to vote, I feel we must leave the decision making to the Instructors.
In fact, the decision making process should be restricted just the active
Instructors. Perhaps only those Instructors who certify some minimum
number of students every year should be allowed to vote.
--Steve
Wright, NAUI Z????, DM????; Santa Ana, CA (Active Divemaster an Assistant
Instructor working with the Santa Ana College Dive Club. Has been actively
involved in diving instruction for over a decade.)
A. Yes. Skin
Diving Leaders face the same student problems as Instructors; watermanship,
apprehension, etc. They are instructors in every sense of the word--and,
if they wish, should be called Skin Diving Instructors. Before we make
any changes, we should ask the current Skin Diving Leaders if they want
a name change.
As to Assistant Instructors, Divemasters, and Skin Diving Leaders being
able to vote... this same question was raised in the mid-70s and was
defeated by the members. I supported giving these members the right
to vote then and I support it even more today. Over the years, Assistant
Instructors, Divemasters, and Skin Diving Leaders have assumed increased
responsibility. They are vital members of our Association and, as such,
should have a voice in our future.
--Ken
Heist, NAUI 1036L; Crownsville, MD (Current Chairman of NAUI's Board
of Directors. Past Branch Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Branch. Have taught
all levels of diving to ITCs. Recipient of the NAUI Outstanding Service
Award.)
A. The title
change to Skin Diving Instructor would better reflect what the rating
allows individuals to do: certify skin divers. The title of Skin Diving
Leader calls to mind a leader of skin dives, like a Divemaster, not
someone who also has the responsibilities of instruction. The name change
would clarify this obscure leadership position.
I do not think there is any valid reason not to allow all of the leadership
certified members an opportunity to vote. The idea that only Instructors
and above have enough experience or knowledge to vote on issues only
fosters elitism. I know there are many people at the leadership level
with less than an instructor certification who are more knowledgeable
about diving than some instructors. Let them vote and use their knowledge
and experience in a constructive manner.
Shawn
David Powell, NAUI 8725; Thermopolis, Wyoming (Employed by the Special
Services Offices of the Hot Springs County School District. Held an
Adjunct Faculty position at the University of Oklahoma, where he taught
various levels of diving certification. Presented papers at the past
three ICUEs, and has published many journals on topics of scuba diving,
human learning, and animal facilitated therapy.)
A. The Skin Diving
Leader has already, I believe, the prerogative to issue Skin Diving
certifications -- and that would indicate that s/he is presently doing
all the training/evaluation required of an instructor. I think the title
of "Leader" may be a bit confusing to some; while classification
as "Instructor" leaves no doubt in anyone's mind as to what
this person is qualified to do. If the Skin Diving Leaders wish to be
known as Instructors, I most certainly think NAUI should accommodate
them in that request; that new materials are ordered to reflect the
change(s) as the old stock at headquarters is depleted.
Skin Diving Leaders,
Assistant Instructors, and/or Divemasters are most certainly an integral
part of NAUI; and, too, are recognized as NAUI leadership dues-paying
members. Why, then, would members in a member organization not be allowed
to vote? My concern might be for those who are not currently active.
There are Instructors who are not currently active, yet do we not allow
them to vote? Most AIs and Divemasters are involved with diving in an
ongoing programme, and as such are well aware of the issues affecting
divers.
--Struther MacFarlane,
NAUI 6676; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
A. Why are we
wasting time to discuss changing the title of Skin Diving Leader to
that of Skin Diving Instructor? Instead we should be discussing the
addition of the SDL's qualifications to those of Assistant Instructor's
and Divemaster's, discontinuing the SDL rating altogether. Having the
authority to conduct Skin Diving certification courses would increase
the already valuable assistance that AIs and Divemasters provide to
Instructors, reinforce their professional standing, and create a stronger
base from which to progress to instructor level.
With respect to the right to vote, the Divemaster's role in diving is
primarily to organize and conduct diving activities. As such, s/he is
in an excellent position to provide information on the quality of divers
produced by training agencies. When you consider that s/he also assists
Instructors during certification courses, only one conclusion can be
drawn, Divemasters should be given the right to vote!!
--Derek Chung,
NAUI 10077; Speyside, Tobago, West Indies(Co-owner and Manager of Tobago
Dive Experience, a NAUI Dream Resort.)
A. Yes, SDL should
be changed to Skin Diving Instructor, so long as it is not simply a
name change. With the change in name I would also expect the person
being certified under the name of Skin Diving Instructor to meet the
current standards set down by NAUI for SDI.
Presently in Australia we do not have any SDLs being certified, all
of ours are SDIs. Basically, we have combined the SDL certification
with the AI certification to produce the SDI.
With regard to continuing education, the SDI course is also much easier
to get people involved as it covers material that is more relevant to
their needs, and it is much more enjoyable to instruct.
Being a truly democratic association of equals, we have no other option
than to give AIs, DMs, and SDIs the right to vote. If the Instructor
membership agrees to this we must follow up by asking the SDIs, AIs,
and DMs if they want the right to vote. We cannot assume that they want
it.
By giving this group the right to vote, we must also look at the advantage
of having a more balanced input to agenda items or discussion points.
In Australia we quite often find that the SDIs, AIs, and more often
the DMs are concerned with certain issues where an Instructor may not
be employed or available. It would be nice to think therefore that this
group also has the right to select their representative on the Board
of Directors.
--Gary
Kroehnert, NAUI 8467L; Sydney, Australia(Vice-President, NAUI Australia.
A private diving instructor, has taught at all levels from OW I through
ITC Director.)
A. I strongly
oppose giving SDLs, AIs, or DMs any voting rights. The Instructor is
the only professional responsible for training and certifying students.
To become an instructor, one must acquire a great deal of training,
knowledge, and instinct for teaching students. The SDLs, AIs, and DMs
do not possess such qualifications and are not directly affected by
the challenges facing the Instructor in training students. If those
potential leaders truly care about NAUI and education, they should proceed
to join the ranks of Instructors. Furthermore, having voting rights
also entitles them the right to hold office on the Board. It would be
ludicrous to have non-instructors setting policy and standards for instructors
to follow.
I recommend instead that representatives of these potential leaders
serve on an advisory board to recommend policy that directly concerns
AIs, SDLs, and DMs. No one should institute policy or standards for
Instructors except fellow Instructors.
--Burhaneddin
Z. Muntasser, NAUI 9650; Peekskill, NY(Taught all levels, OW I through
ITCs. Teaches primarily at colleges. Recipient of the NAUI Outstanding
Service Award.)
A. As a Divemaster
and a Skin Diving Leader, I feel the Skin Diving Leader is an instructor,
and should be designated as such.
A Divemaster leads a certified person or group of certified persons
on a dive. The divemaster is not certified to offer instruction and
is not allowed to take a non-certified diver on any excursions. A Divemaster
is not allowed to take a non-certified skin diver on a skin diving excursion.
This privilege is only allowed to persons with instructor status.
A Skin Diving Leader is certified to instruct as well as take non-certified
skin diving persons on an excursion. The insurance policy for Skin Diving
Leaders covers these activities. By definition, a Skin Diving Leader
is an instructor. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and looks
like a duck, call it a duck.
--Jim
Trilling, NAUI L1167
A. I strongly
feel that anyone involved in diving leadership is a professional, no
matter if he/she is a SDL, DM, AI, or Instructor and should have the
right to vote on any NAUI issue because it has a direct effect on an
diving leadership position. NAUI is supposed to be a democratic organization,
but how can this be with only one of four leadership personnel categories
voting?
My impression is that some instructors feel that SDLs, AIs, and DMs
do not have the knowledge to make competent decisions. I disagree. Many
AIs and DMs who have no desire to become an instructor have a knowledge
of diving that is far greater than that of some instructors. Another
point to consider is after students complete the course, they may never
see their instructor again, and when they go diving receive advice from
a divemaster. As an active NAUI Divemaster who sees approximately 300
divers per year, I feel that any active divemaster could make some good
suggestions to the NAUI organization, ie. what is taught in the teaching
curriculum, safety, environmental issues, and some new ideas to promote
the growth of NAUI.
--Michael
E. Brennan, Jr, NAUI D4200; West Collingswood, NJ(Works for the Dive
Shop of New Jersey. Has been an active Divemaster for three years.)
A. For the last
few years I have watched the position of Assistant Instructor dwindle,
both in responsibility and scope to the point that he/she is rendered
virtually useless. The real problem is that, unfortunately, there is
no money to be made by the AI to compensate for costs incurred to retain
certification, ie. cost of membership; and I see insurance becoming
mandatory in the not too distant future. Also, in most cases they are
not compensated for the costs associated with the open water check out
dive. For myself who, at least in the past, performed valuable services
for the Instructor, it is hard to comprehend the fate of the AI. You
ask if the Skin Diving Leader title should be changed to Skin Diving
Instructor? I am of the opinion that the position of SDL should never
have been created. At the time this position was created the AI's duties
were being lessened and insurance was becoming an issue with no way
for the AI to pay the inherent cost. Here were perfectly capable persons,
already in leadership postures, needing a way to recoup the insurance
premium so they could retain REAL RESPONSIBILITY in the jobs they were
already doing within our organization. I believe that it is now time
to rectify a mistake. Let's get rid of the SDL position, and put the
responsibilities where they belong in the AI's hands. Now the AI has
some source of income in that he/she can give classes by teaching skin
diving a much needed area of instruction. The AI then changes from being
alone and helpless, to becoming a real team member in promoting safety
and diving education.
--L.C. Campbell,
NAUI Z 7091; Klamath Falls, OR (Assistant Instructor helping certify
over 150 persons per year through Aqua Toys. Has been diving for over
30 years.)
