VINKEVEEN, Netherlands (21 June 2005) -- Searchers have found the body of a missing Dutch scuba diver in the Vinkeveense Plassen at Vinkeveen. Rescue divers found the body of the missing 25-year-old male from Apeldorn at a depth of about 40 meters near the area where he was last seen. The victim disappeared while scuba diving with a professional scuba instructor last Saturday. The accident which involved a diver under supervision by an instructor again raises concerns about the dive industry trend to certify divers who have not been adequately trained. PADI, a California-based company that sells certification cards, sports apparel and so-called "interactive diving" (aka shark feeding) tours, has rolled out a diver certification product called "Scuba Diver", which effectively cuts entry-level training by approximately 50 percent and requires "certified" divers to dive with PADI professionals. "Due to the inherent risks of scuba diving including decompression illness, lung embolisms and drowning, the notion that supervision can be a substitute for adequate training is grossly irresponsible," said Evan T. Allard, President of Cyber Diver Society (CDS). | | "In our view, people who are certified to dive without adequate training are accidents and lawsuits waiting to happen. That's good for the legal profession but bad for public safety," Allard added. CDNN Related Story: 'Unsafe at Any Depth: PADI Scuba Diver' © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
