Ssi scuba instructor cross over- is it a joke???

[monkeyhatfork]

no doubt mike is a legit freediver--one of my favorite videos below--that said 2:30 static 50m dyn 25no fins seem quite low for an intructor standard, would gladely take a course from mike himself but other than that there are just too many better options out there


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbI1v5HJ-M]YouTube - Mike Wells - in a world first freedives Australias longest Ocean Cave[/ame]

 

[osusim]

Compulsory equipment
• Long bladed fins (Freediving Fins).
• 2 piece Freediving wetsuit (preferably open cell and appropriate thickness for conditions)
• Low volume Freediving mask & a suitable snorkel.

Applicants cannot participate in the SSI FITC using Scuba Diving fins / Scuba diving Wetsuits.

Let's say SSI freediving instructors didn't read that (yet). I was a bit scared by their equipment at available photos

 

[deanspahic]

[FONT=&quot]Mike I’m sure there are things that everyone can learn from your program, including me. I have a lot of fun here in dahab though and I’m quite a relaxed guy for the most part, but thanks for your concern. I wish you all the best with your program by the way.

Linda Read back through your posts and figure out which parts may have upset other AIDA instructors here in dahab. I’m sure you can manage this simple task.

And John thank you, Linda most certainly can have the cheque. She needs it more than I do.

As for the performance requirements for this

Freediving Instructor Training Course

they are a bit low. Most of them fit into the AIDA 3 and 4 star schemes, but there are some like the 2:30 static, 20m depth and 50m DYN that fit more closely into the AIDA 2 star scheme. This is not an instructor standard. If you would just set a proper standard for all instructor candidates as you have for the normal SSI instructor program there would be nothing for anyone to criticise. Build a solid program and don’t take shortcuts. At the end of the day you will find yourself in a much better position and provide good quality training that will keep the customers coming back. The current setup won’t accomplish this.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]One more thing Mike, it’s not a joke, you are right. That was a bad choice of titles on my part.[/FONT]

 

[Kars]

Thank you Linda for the - long awaited - information.

It sounds like it's getting hot in Dahab. The economic trees don't seem to grow, or are even suffering from the crises, that only benefit the usual types, and families, robbing us of our meagre possessions, and in to many cases of our humanity.

Isn't it odd that we're taught - from a very young age - that we have to dominate others in order to win security?
Research has shown that groups with a lot of competitive people are by fare less productive, inventive, secure, happy.
In the Netherlands we have a saying, when two dogs fight over a bone, the third takes it home. Exposing the divide and conquer technique that has been and is very successful.

 

[tcrusson]

Performance, performance, performance... That's all you hear about in this thread!

Now I really don't see why you would need to master really deep dives to teach a beginner freediving course. Especially when the goal is for students to be able to freedive with their buddies in the 10 to 20m range, spending all day looking at fish... Anyone can have fun freediving, but it doesn't mean that they will all get noseclips and fluid goggles, and follow a rope to the depth! Mike's right, look at the "fun" side of freediving too, which this beginner course targets. (not that performance freediving is not fun, but it's definitely not mainstream...)

If you can demonstrate an instructor level kicking style, equalisation, handling of safety, and all the components we use when freediving, are a good teacher/coach, are able to manage a group and manage all risks, and teach responsible diving including environmental messages, then to me you are a better instructor to initiate a complete beginner than someone diving deeper, but too focused on performance to be able to transmit his passion...

Just look at the difference between the organisations to understand that their goals, so their means, are not comparable: AIDA promotes competitions and records, SSI promotes recreational diving! You know, diving with fish, sharks, turtles, going in and out of caves, etc.

 

[Kars]

Performance, performance, performance... That's all you hear about in this thread!

Now I really don't see why you would need to master really deep dives to teach a beginner freediving course. Especially when the goal is for students to be able to freedive with their buddies in the 10 to 20m range, spending all day looking at fish... Anyone can have fun freediving, but it doesn't mean that they will all get noseclips and fluid goggles, and follow a rope to the depth! Mike's right, look at the "fun" side of freediving too, which this beginner course targets. (not that performance freediving is not fun, but it's definitely not mainstream...)

If you can demonstrate an instructor level kicking style, equalisation, handling of safety, and all the components we use when freediving, are a good teacher/coach, are able to manage a group and manage all risks, and teach responsible diving including environmental messages, then to me you are a better instructor to initiate a complete beginner than someone diving deeper, but too focused on performance to be able to transmit his passion...

Just look at the difference between the organisations to understand that their goals, so their means, are not comparable: AIDA promotes competitions and records, SSI promotes recreational diving! You know, diving with fish, sharks, turtles, going in and out of caves, etc.

Valid and good points.

I understand the wish for performance though, because high performance generally requires good technique.
If SSI chooses to secure a good performing freedive instructor with a different measurement system, such as being able to do long bottom time dives, and repetitive series, that's fine with me.
What I would like to secure if I was an education system director is also a very good style. It's the one thing that shows to anyone that you know freediving. It's also the reason why we perform such incredible dives.

To summarise I want to see:

great style, good teaching, security through thought and performance.


BTW there is another teaching school in Germany, under CMAS, that is totally designed around recreational freediving? Their depth limit is 25m.

 

[fflupo]

and not to forget " the happy client "

i have meet instructors from linda and it was a pleasure to work with them on a very professional way - full points !


wolf

i am teaching extreme sport since more than 12 year on a high level

 

[monkeyhatfork]

yes, but it doesnt look like they are promoting it as low level "just for fun", in the dema interview claims like " the most elite freedivers in the world" and " the first fully comprehensive standard based training" were made. A 2:30 static doesnt exactly scream "most elite freediver in the world"

 

[tcrusson]

yes, but it doesnt look like they are promoting it as low level "just for fun", in the dema interview claims like " the most elite freedivers in the world" and " the first fully comprehensive standard based training" were made. A 2:30 static doesnt exactly scream "most elite freediver in the world"

We are only talking about the beginner course (level 1) in this thread. The SSI program contains additional levels (2 and 3) and specialties (monofin, etc) for those who want to push further. The performance requirements for instructors teaching these levels are on par with AIDA: easy 40m depth in bi-fins, 4min static, 100DYN, repeted dives to 20, etc. However most instructors exceed them by far (take Akim for example, he dives 100+).
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[trullalla]

Also there is the fact that you are listed on the CDWS black list at the moment - here's the web site for anyone interested (Black List dive companies)

oh well, seems like santa claus arrived also in egypt...here's the new cdws black list... and we have disappeared
Black List dive companies

cheers,
linda

 

[deanspahic]

[FONT=&quot]Linda I'm happy for you, but that is not what this tread is about. If your post is not related to the topic then maybe it’s better to start a new tread to make your announcement. If anyone has anything else to add in relation to the SSI crossover program this is the place to post it, anything not related to this topic might find a better home on another tread or a new one.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]All the best,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Dean Spahic[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[trullalla]

dear dean, you have been the first one to go off topic and talk stuff about me and my company so now you are the last one who should tell me not to go off topic
breathe deep and relax, that will help not only your freediving...

linda

 

[fcallagy]

easy up guys. dean there are enough moderators on here if you have a problem with a post please report it. I think Linda had a right of reply but please lets leave it at that and move on to the topic itself. Any further to and fro and we will look at locking the thread which I dont want to see as I think the topic is an important one as freediving grows SSI won't be the only scuba agency offering freediving courses in the future

 

[trullalla]

sure feargus, i agree with you and before getting attacked i was trying to give info about SSI freediving.
in a few hours our new homepage will be online (www.freediveinternational.com).
you can find some info about ssi there. and for more info of course you can email us (or mike).

cheers,
linda

 

[fcallagy]

Ok guys pms are sent so lets see if we can get back to discussing the topic but this will be the last time the thread will be left to its own devices.