Question for instructors!

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

If you're planning on doing addition training with James Mott he's great, can recommend

Yep- I sure am. And it wasn't the grooming tips from the podcast that sold me.

You're pretty far away- how do you know James?

 

[Still Kicking]

OK let me lay all the cards out on the table. Our "Try Scuba" class went great for me, and was a total disaster for my wife. She is done with scuba. Like DONE.

Yes, I am overthinking things but this started with a dream for a fabulous tropical vacation and both of us getting certified and it's not that anymore. I'm hoping to make the most of what I have at this point in spite of the disappointment. And no, she was not the typical "reluctant spouse" going along for the ride to placate me. She was fully engaged and asking questions and very, very eager. We were on our knees on the platform of the pool (of course, right?) and doing mask skills and I cleared a partial flood, and she did as well. Then I cleared the full flood, and she did as well. It was all cake. Then I took my mask off and put it back on and cleared it. She took her mask off, put it back on, and then- I don't know- breathed in through her nose? And bolted to the surface. Three times in a row. And looking back- and talking to other people about the incident- makes me wonder why our instructor just did the exact same thing over and over.

I don't know how all of this ends but maybe it's me diving wrecks in a dry suit in Lake Huron, or maybe it's (eventually??) both of us diving in tropical locations or doing liveaboards. I'm not giving up hope for her but at the same time I am not pushing at all.

I've planned on doing an extreme scuba makeover (UTD) when I return to tighten things up. My instructor in Mexico insists that I will have good trim and buoyancy when we are finished, so we will see. At any rate, I don't think the extreme scuba makeover could be a bad idea. But I'm not expert on scuba education as has been clearly established.

Really sorry it went badly. Mask remove and replace is not part of PADI DSD skills so if it was PADI class, it's a shame the instructor added that skill -- it trips up a lot of people and it's not necessary at that stage.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Really sorry it went badly. Mask remove and replace is not part of PADI DSD skills so if it was PADI class, it's a shame the instructor added that skill -- it trips up a lot of people and it's not necessary at that stage.

Thank you. It was actually SSI. Interesting that PADI doesn't require it. Looking back, and knowing what I know now- if anyone offers to teach you anything in the realm of scuba for $70, you need to run away.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I don't really understand what this means- like, do you think I am making up a story about traveling to Mexico to get my OW, or are you just saying that I will fail? I mean- don't be a coward. Just come out and say what you want to say.

No you will do fine.
What I meant was we'll see how the instructor teaches it. Tursiops, John and I got into a debate about instructors teaching neutral or on the knees.
There was no point in arguing about it anymore because it's not going to have an affect on what your instructor will do. He will do what he does.
Like I said earlier, just go do the class and it will be fine. It doesn't matter how he teaches it, you can always work on that later if he's teaches on the knees. As long as all the material is in there and he doesn't skip anything.
You will do fine, no worries.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

No you will do fine.
What I meant was we'll see how the instructor teaches it. Tursiops, John and I got into a debate about instructors teaching neutral or on the knees.
There was no point in arguing about it anymore because it's not going to have an affect on what your instructor will do. He will do what he does.
Like I said earlier, just go do the class and it will be fine. It doesn't matter how he teaches it, you can always work on that later if he's teaches on the knees. As long as all the material is in there and he doesn't skip anything.
You will do fine, no worries.

Thank you Eric! And again sorry for the misunderstanding and my poor response.

Would you say that it's true that the DIR "movement" is what prompted a lot of agencies to at least attempt to move to skill development in neutral buoyancy? I know DIR is controversial, but good buoyancy control and clean, streamlined form with proper trim did come out of the movement, correct?

I'm extremely new to all of this and I don't know what perceptions of mine are correct and which are just the result of the posts and media that I consume.

 

[tursiops]

Mask remove and replace is not part of PADI DSD skills so if it was PADI class, it's a shame the instructor added that skill -- it trips up a lot of people and it's not necessary at that stage.

I don't think it is part of the SSI Try Scuba class either.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

I don't think it is part of the SSI Try Scuba class either.

That really irritates me if true. I googled around but didn't find a list of skills for Try Scuba.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Thank you Eric! And again sorry for the misunderstanding and my poor response.

Would you say that it's true that the DIR "movement" is what prompted a lot of agencies to at least attempt to move to skill development in neutral buoyancy? I know DIR is controversial, but good buoyancy control and clean, streamlined form with proper trim did come out of the movement, correct?

I'm extremely new to all of this and I don't know what perceptions of mine are correct and which are just the result of the posts and media that I consume.

Hey no problem man, I'm good.
Yes, you are absolutely correct that DIR had a lot to do with spreading the gospel about neutral buoyancy and proper trim.
Prior to that most of it was a disaster.
A lot of it still is. I could show you some current NAUI university training on Instagram that will make you shake your head. And these are supposed to be scientific divers doing all sorts of sea floor scientific and oceanographic work.
Like I say, not all instruction has caught on to teaching NB.

 

[tursiops]

That really irritates me if true. I googled around but didn't find a list of skills for Try Scuba.

I think all the member agencies adhere to this.

https://wrstc.com/downloads/01%20-%20Introductory%20Scuba%20Experience.pdf

 

[rjack321]

Yep- I sure am. And it wasn't the grooming tips from the podcast that sold me.

You're pretty far away- how do you know James?

People travel to dive places - including the Great Lakes, for training, for conferences, and for trade shows. I've known James since UTD was founded in 2006 or 7 ish