BM-> As a NASDS instructor that never saw action in any other program
 BM-> other than NASDS, i'm glad to see a response like that. I generally
 BM-> spend 12 hours of classroom instruction, and another 12 hours of pool
 BM-> instruction before a student goes to open water and I believe they
 BM-> are mentally and physically ready for the adventure. On my last day
 BM-> of certification dives, I feel comfortable having any of my students
 BM-> as a dive buddy.
 BM-> My only regret is that no matter how much you teach the tables,
 BM-> too many people will forget how to use them 3 to 6 months down the
 BM-> road.  I continually emphasize dive computers as a "backup" to
 BM-> prevent any kind of mental mistakes.
It's a shame about the tables as I've noticed not many use them.  They all 
seem
to rely on their computers and I don't know that I blame them.  I myself have
stopped double-checking my dives and rely on the computer for information.  I
do however have 2 computers so if one fails me I have a backup.  Whenever I
dive with students I still double-check my dives using the tables as I don't
like to encourage bad habits.
It's nice to hear from a NASDS instructor as I have a great respect for the
organization.  Had the owner of the shop where I started not been so slow I
would probably be a NASDS Divemaster now.  I don't know that I will ever be 
n
instructor as I enjoy the teaching but owning a boat up north I don't want to
give up my weekends to do the open waters in summer. 
--- Ted's Castle 
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