How would you set up an open water course.

[Teamcasa]

The basic nuts and bolts of most existing courses are fine but I'd change the 4 OW dive to 8 with more focus on buoyancy control, trim and navigation skills. There are plenty of training avenues available for those who want to move up on the skills ladder.

 

[TSandM]

I really think the biggest thing I'd like to be able to change, from the way we teach now, is to have a good pool (big, with a good-sized deep end) that was readily available and inexpensive. I think the cost of pool time has a huge impact on OW classes, and if students had enough time in the pool to get solid with basic skills, before taking them into open water, the open water work would be far more productive. But, at least around here, pools are in short supply (getting shorter all the time) and pool rental is one of the highest costs of teaching a class.

 

[DoItRite]

Each student would have to stalk and kill his own shark - wearing split fins of course.

 

[DennisW]

I would go take the one from SEI. Although I am sure some of their instructors may say that they would add to the curriculum. I am not an instructor and I am not SEI certified (I am a YMCA diver, you may say it is the same thing, I am not sure).

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I wouldn't change a single thing about the OW class I teach. My classroom sessions have No video. We active learn and participate. We learn tables And computer use.
My pool sessions require the repetition of mastered skills, (for example, my students have cleared their masks over 80 times before they are done). My skills include equipment bailouts, basic rescue skills, and skin diving skills already. They practice until they can affect self-rescue, and problem solve. No skill is done on their knees.
In the sea, they never touch bottom. They know how to descend and find neutral well. They perform all skills at horizontal in mid-swim. They have to completely navigate on dives 3 and 4. I am their instructor, not their leader. I am there to supervise, not baby them.
So, I don't think I would change anything at all. Oh, and I won't have more than 4 at a time, and 5 is our max, unless I have my husband-and fellow instructor- team teaching. We actually are both in there all the class anyway. We make a damn good team.

 

[BigDawgDiver]

I wouldn't change a single thing about the OW class I teach. My classroom sessions have No video. We active learn and participate. We learn tables And computer use.
My pool sessions require the repetition of mastered skills, (for example, my students have cleared their masks over 80 times before they are done). My skills include equipment bailouts, basic rescue skills, and skin diving skills already. They practice until they can affect self-rescue, and problem solve. No skill is done on their knees.
In the sea, they never touch bottom. They know how to descend and find neutral well. They perform all skills at horizontal in mid-swim. They have to completely navigate on dives 3 and 4. I am their instructor, not their leader. I am there to supervise, not baby them.
So, I don't think I would change anything at all. Oh, and I won't have more than 4 at a time, and 5 is our max, unless I have my husband-and fellow instructor- team teaching. We actually are both in there all the class anyway. We make a damn good team.

What she said. I'm just here for the heavy lifting.....

 

[tracydr]

I'd include the option for as much pool time as the student wants. Thinking back on my training the best part for me was simply swimming around the pool getting used to scuba and all the gear.

Yes. My class included as much pool time as we needed. It was taught on a military base and nobody was in a hurry to get us in and out of the water. I also remember (vaguely, after 15years!), that they brought extra tanks to the lake each day so that we could take an extra dive if we wanted. I did, so logged three each day instead of two.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I would go take the one from SEI. Although I am sure some of their instructors may say that they would add to the curriculum. I am not an instructor and I am not SEI certified (I am a YMCA diver, you may say it is the same thing, I am not sure).

I do add to my curriculum mainly in the areas of increased buddy skillsets, local conditions since I don't train vacation divers, and in water comfort and skill. We are encouraged to add to the standards and allowed to test on those additions. Students need to meet agency standards and my standards before getting their c card.

 

[Dracunos]

Wow, both Pinky AND the Brain. What are the chances.

I wish I was going to this awesome sounding ow cert class, haha.

Each student would have to stalk and kill his own shark - wearing split fins of course.

What kinda shark?

 

[Moonglow]

Been there, done that.

About 100 hrs, including 12 to 16 O/W dives, 13 pool sessions, 26 hours lecture, 13 hours recitation, 26 hours confined water.

This is a type of course that college students get - one semester long; example:

basicf00