Allowing Certified Diver to join in Scuba Class with SO / Buddy

[Diver0001]

I am curious how some of you feel about that and especially if you are a dive shop owner have you had this brought to you by customer.

I've taught partners who were both getting certified at the same time and that generally hasn't created any big issues. Sometimes you need to split them up because one partner is much better than the other and/or dominating, which can inhibit the other one's learning ... but other than that it's not a big deal. I've seen one case (when I was a DM) of someone who nearly literally dragged his girlfriend into diving classes but she didn't want it. She lasted one lesson. These things do happen but they're not overly common.

I've also had a few cases of certified partners going with their SO's and particularly parents with their children. With this I've had mixed results. Most of the time it's completely ok but you have to be careful to make sure everyone is clear beforehand who is in charge, especially if things go wrong. On the whole I like this if it fits logistically becuase these people will be diving together after the course so it's a good opportunity to get them on the same page.... especially parents with children that they will need to "supervise".

There was only one time that I really had a problem. A guy brought his wife in for a refresher course because they were going on vacation. He was an active local diver but she only dove on vacations. During the pool session something happend (I don't recall what) and he literally pushed me out of the way and took it into his own hands.

I .... ejected .... him from the pool.

Things like this are rare, though, in my experience, so generally I'm quite open to partners or parents who want to be involved.

R..

 

[Scubamike16]

Wow thanks for the responses so far! Fortunally my SO is already certified so glad I don't have to worry about this, but it was a question that someone brought up in the class, and I know some parents who are certified would want to take the class with their child who is getting certified.

Thank you again and I really appreciate this board

 

[*dave*]

I am curious how some of you feel about that and especially if you are a dive shop owner have you had this brought to you by customer.


Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
M

I'm not an owner, but I wouldn't permit it in one of my classes. Aside from the potential for interference, I don't want any witnesses.

 

[*dave*]

Wow thanks for the responses so far! Fortunally my SO is already certified so glad I don't have to worry about this, but it was a question that someone brought up in the class, and I know some parents who are certified would want to take the class with their child who is getting certified.

Of course, any parent or SO could do an extended update with the class. It usually works out okay with parents/kids, but I've seen some real train wrecks with couples. Couples are a big red flag for me.

 

[Scubamike16]

Of course, any parent or SO could do an extended update with the class. It usually works out okay with parents/kids, but I've seen some real train wrecks with couples. Couples are a big red flag for me.

Yeah I can only imagine the stories Instructors have had regarding this situation, but I am hopeful that there are some positive stories also where the couples work together and learn from their mistakes and just plain learn the sport.

 

[Scubamike16]

I .... ejected .... him from the pool...

I hope he apologized for pushing you, totally uncalled for if you ask me. And if he diddnt apologize, I hope you ejected him far far away.

 

[BioLogic]

My OW instructor wouldn't even let SOs (couples or parent/child) buddy up during the class if both were enrolled. It's his position (and I agree or I wouldn't bother passing it along) that such pairs often end up with the less confident, competent, or dominant person having things done for them by the partner and so not learning everything as well. He insisted every diver he certify be individually competent.

I certified just before Sabbath, so I sat through his classes (as reinforcement and because I didn't want to spend the weekend home alone). While they did pool stuff I practiced skills at the other end of the pool. When they did their open water dives I buddied up with another SO in a similar position and we did our thing while the class did theirs. That was the best way to do it I think; we both came into the buddy pair able to care for ourselves and look after our buddy -- as well as brand new divers can.

 

[knotical]

I encourage it. When my wife got certified, I re-took the class and am glad I did.
It helped us bond and get used to each other as divers. And I realized how much I had forgotten since my original certification.

Our instructor also did a good thing. He threatened to separate us if I started teaching or dominating. So we went through the class as equal buddies.

Since I became an instructor, I present it to potential SO or parent/child buddy teams as my wife's instructor did: You must be co-equal/equivalent buddies, or I will find you new buddies.

Issues have been rare, and they were almost always when one partner was pressuring the other into getting certified. This happens whether the pressuring partner is certified or not.

I'm glad you said you are willing to pay. In at least some certifying agencies, certified dive-alongs must be counted in the student-to-instructor ratio for safety reasons; so you could be taking the place of a paying customer.

If a more experienced / less experienced buddy team is going to develop a dominant/dependent relationship in the water, it can happen just as easily if the new diver went through class without the experienced diver. It is just delayed until after certification. I'd rather they develop their dynamic while an instructor is around to nip problems in the bud.

 

[Scubamike16]

Its nice to get many points of view on this subject. When my Daughter gets of age to dive I guess I will be wondering should I ask if I can partner up or hope her partner in the class will work out. Question, how have you, Instructors, handle having a 10-12 year old person take the OW class where there is a large age gap in the class?

 

[Thalassamania]

In a regular class I think it's a bad idea.

If the BF is open minded and prepared to learn, a private class for the two of them may be the best thing that ever happened to both thier diving careers.