| Having done a surgical residency (which is the medical equivalent of technical scuba training, I think), I'm a great believer in the utility of stress as a way of both identifying weak points and consolidating learning. But stress is only useful if it is properly dosed. Beyond a point, a stressed person stops learning and may even stop thinking. When the end result is demoralization, nothing constructive has been accomplished.
I've worked with two GUE instructors (one of whom is now an ex-GUE instructor) and they've been quite similar in approach. Stress the diver to but not over (if avoidable) the breaking point. Then dispassionately debrief what happened and talk about how matters could have gone better. What is striking is how carefully both of them criticized the performance, and not the performer. One was definitely left with the feeling that the instructor expected that one COULD reach the standard, given enough time and practice. I think that's critical, if you are going to do that sort of "break and rebuild" training. |