This makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Astrophysicist and cosmologist Neil Tyson has described what many people do in response; instead of searching further, they build a wall around what they know so they do not have to see the darkness beyond. He refers to this wall as "the perimeter of ignorance."

How is this relevant in the world of scuba diving? Let me begin with a story.

If our definition of learning assumes that learning involves a permanent change in behaviour, then how long is permanent? If a change occurs, but it disappears as soon as the student leaves the class, then did they learn? I think most people would say no. If they retain that change for four hours, would we say that was “permanent” and they have learnt? What about four days, or four weeks, or four months?

One of the most popular battles for armchair divers and Internet warriors is that of training versus experience. You hear it all the time: “I don't need a certification card for that dive. I've been doing dives like that for years.”

The other popular assertion is that all those pioneers in diving got it all through experience: “No one was doing certification cards back then, and if it was good enough for them, well, then it is surely good enough for me!”

Finally, you hear the counter argument: “Yes, they may have all the badges, but I wouldn't dive with them.”

Why are students not learning this stuff in their scuba classes? The reality is that instructors do teach it, but the students are not learning it, or at least they are not putting what is taught into practice. There is a fundamental problem, and when there is a fundamental problem, we usually need to go back to basics. Let me ask you a question: Do you know what learning is? I assume most of you just mentally answered “yes” without a second thought. Of course, you know what learning is.

Something I try to do in my series of scuba books is identify and discuss disconnects between expectations and reality in scuba diving today. In other words, I address gaps between what non-divers, new divers and even experienced divers expect from dive professionals and what the professionals actually deliver.

A good example of a diving disconnect is the issue of basic watermanship.

Here’s just a small story to put things into perspective:

— This is the second piece in a two-part article, adapted from a chapter in my book, Scuba Professional – Insights into Sport Diver Training and Operations. Part one was featured in the previous issue  (#80)

In the last Scuba Confidential column, I took a long, hard look at the buddy system and solo diving. Whatever you may feel about the issues, there are definite benefits—both tangible and intangible—to diving with someone else. We are human beings, after all. We like to share our experiences and we also derive a great deal of emotional security from the company of others. There are also occasions when having a buddy around can be of enormous practical assistance.

The chapter “Choose Wisely” is a guide to making probably the most important decision of all: selecting the right instructor. I thought the topic might be interesting for current divers too and not only so you can advise friends who are thinking of learning to dive. Much of the advice could also be applied to the search for the right person to take you further in the sport, into technical diving, for example, or into the professional ranks.