What training/experiences make for better scuba divers

[DetectorGuy]

I agree that the instruction does not need to be paid instruction to be effective, and the C-cards will really only help you if you are in 7' deep water and you have a stack of them to stand on about 18" tall ;D. The training can be done during anyone's regular dives or it could be more structured.

When I mentioned never diving outside of your training... I did mean just that, but what I did not say was that it doesn't need to be training you paid for, or got a shiny piece of plastic from. I also did not say that this alone will keep you safe. I think if a person never penetrated a wreck before and decided to do it without training, the chances for a bad day are higher. If you have never been trained to go to 220' and decide to do it anyway... pretty certain you will have a bad day. I fully agree that experience is essential, but prior to the experience part, the training happens. At some point you need to do something "the first time" and after a while of doing that, experience is gained. Its not rocket science to figure out that there are a lot of different things that need to happen to minimize risk during a dive, training, experience, comfort level (mentally and physically), the right dive gear for that particular dive, the right conditions at the dive site, ECT. What I was told was that the C-card was just a learners permit so that once you have the basics for any level of diving through what ever kind of training, the next thing is the real learning from diving at that level, until you are ready to train more and get the next level of learners permit.