A day in the life!

[mjatkins]

well, Christmas came and went, then we had a port closure on the 26th. I tried to move ahead with my new open water students by working on some confined water skills in the pool, but it was cold, so they decided they would rather not. Tried to do some knowledge development but that felt a little too much like school for the two kids, so we didn't get much done. Made a plan for them to really push through and get the book finished and the videos watched and meet up this morning.

Didn't really get much reading done, and apparently didn't get much video watched either. The port opened but there were some waves so it was decided that we should give the pool another try. So far we have managed to get erg clearing, reg recovery, and partial mask flood done. Then it was decided that it was too cold again. Tried the ocean but the waves were too big. Knowledge development? Not going well. : )

On the bright side I finished up my 11 year old today. He did great! I wish all my students took it as seriously as he does. Going to be an interesting few days coming up.

 

[TSandM]

It must be kind of difficult, sometimes, to deal with students who envisioned learning to dive as a bit of a lark in the sunshine . . . when it turns out it's not. At least our students in Puget Sound are prepared for cold weather, rain, and COLD water!

 

[kixy1]

"students in Puget Sound are prepared for cold weather, rain, and COLD water!"

Amen, sister

sigh

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thnx for this thread

 

[mjatkins]

As instructors (hopefully) we do our best each day for our clients. Sometimes you work toward a goal and your experience tells you when it's time to stop. It is a hard thing to tell someone (or their parents) that they are not going to achieve the goal they have spent all this time and money on.

I have been working all day, every day since Christmas with a couple of kids who were signed up for a Junior Open Water course. In the long run, the book work didn't get done, the confined skills didn't get finished, and of course the open water dives were not completed. Without trying to blame, or make excuses for them, they are 10 and 11 years old. This course (if you do it correctly) is a lot to bite off, especially for people of that age.

I managed to get them to the point where we can sign them off as PADI Scuba Divers (limited to 40 ft, and must dive with a professional), and talked to their parents about ending it there. They can celebrate this accomplishment together, go diving together, and they will receive a card. I have to believe that for a 10 or 11 year old (who are limited to 40 ft anyway due to their age), this has to be better than pushing them through their last two days of vacation trying to achieve something that they are just not capable of. A victory or a disappointment! A "scuba diver card" way to go! vs. sorry, you failed to get an open water card.

It was a hard day, but I believe the parents saw the logic in making this be a positive experience rather than a negative one.

Thanks for reading, this blog/thread is as much therapeutic as anything, and it just feels like I need to write this down today.

 

[MMM]

I have to believe that for a 10 or 11 year old (who are limited to 40 ft anyway due to their age), this has to be better than pushing them through their last two days of vacation trying to achieve something that they are just not capable of. A victory or a disappointment! A "scuba diver card" way to go! vs. sorry, you failed to get an open water card.

It was a hard day, but I believe the parents saw the logic in making this be a positive experience rather than a negative one.

Good for you! That is an essential coaching moment. And it was nice to meet you yesterday.

 

[firstdive2005]

Good on ya Mathew!

 

[scubarick314]

Thanks for the reports and thoughts and keep them coming.

 

[CheddarChick]

Love your thread...

 

[mjatkins]

Having a hard time today. I have written and erased this post several times so far. I'm not quite sure how to address my feelings about my day, but I think I might have found an approach that will work, here goes.

To start, let me tell you that there are instructors out here that really do care! We are trying our best each and every day. Sure we make mistakes, we try to learn from them, and we ultimately have your best interest at heart. That having been said......................

Please people, hold your instructors accountable. It is hard, because humans don't know what we don't know. We hire an expert to teach us and have to trust that they are doing right by us. So a little advice. If you are dealing with a PADI instructor, they have slates. Every confined water session, and open water session has a slate that tells them what to do and how to do it. They should be sitting down with you both before and after each session and going over the slate point by point. THERE ARE NO OPTIONAL PIECES!!! If they don't go through the slates with you, or are skipping lines on it, ASK THEM WHY!!!! Keep track of your training, and answer the training survey that PADI sends you as honestly as possible. If they don't send you one, call them at 1800 729-7235 and ask for one. At a minimum, ask for a copy of your training record and make sure you did everything that is on it. Did you do the skin diving portion of the course??? No, why not??? Did you do the controlled emergency swimming ascent up a rope??? No, why not?

ask please!

p.s. my new students are doing great! They are enthusiastic, well prepared, and I believe will be excellent divers.