Do what we teach and teach what we do

In scuba diving, it’s essential to ‘do what you teach’ and ‘teach what you do’. When instructors teach procedures that they do not follow themselves, it confuses students and undermines their trust. A common example is buddy checks, which are crucial but often ignored by divers after training. Instructors should demonstrate realistic practices rather than rigid procedures, encouraging students to actively spot mistakes. If instructors teach that solo diving is unsafe but do it themselves, they create confusion; they should instead educate divers about the risks if they choose to solo dive.