h2ogypsy
Registered
Hi everyone. For years I have followed the mantra that Instructors should not wear drysuits if their students aren't (Instructors should feel what their students feel). I have had a change of heart and would like others' opinions:
I teach in 45 degree water at this time. We all know the effects of Hypothermia (slow reactions mentally and physically, decreased ability to recognize problems before and/or when they are happening, etc.). Also, I am a thin female and I used to wear a 5 ml working in Puerto Rico all year long! I get cold easily and quickly.
As an Instructor, gear aside, I am not feeling what my students are feeling anyway (i.e. stress of skill performance, stress of the unknown, lack of experience, etc.). Also, I am responsible for their well-being and putting myself at risk of not being able to assist them if needed because I am in stages of hypothermia is irresponsible at the least.
Also, other Instructors and Trainers I have run this by that do not agree with me are themselves wearing things that their students aren't such as, Full-face masks, accelerated wet suits (above 6 mil when their students are in 5 mil or maybe a farmer Jane/John), they have heavy-duty gloves, hoods, booties, and so on.
As an Instructor I should be able to recognize how my students are feeling by not only the conditions I allow them to dive in, but by their actions and reactions and simply just looking at them. Also, I am often in the water longer than they are. I will often send some students for a surface interval while bringing my next group in to maybe finish off a dive or do an Advanced dive, so I am going to be colder than my students anyway.
And finally, off the subject of safety, students will often buy what their instructors are wearing. Are we not supposed to push higher learning (ex., dry suit classes) and support our dive shops by guiding students in gear-buying?
Anyway, I have a lot more I could say but I really want some opinions because as soon as I get my neck seal fixed I am seriously considering diving dry. I certify a lot of Marines and they don't seem to mind diving all winter long!
Thank you kindly for your opinions/advice
I teach in 45 degree water at this time. We all know the effects of Hypothermia (slow reactions mentally and physically, decreased ability to recognize problems before and/or when they are happening, etc.). Also, I am a thin female and I used to wear a 5 ml working in Puerto Rico all year long! I get cold easily and quickly.
As an Instructor, gear aside, I am not feeling what my students are feeling anyway (i.e. stress of skill performance, stress of the unknown, lack of experience, etc.). Also, I am responsible for their well-being and putting myself at risk of not being able to assist them if needed because I am in stages of hypothermia is irresponsible at the least.
Also, other Instructors and Trainers I have run this by that do not agree with me are themselves wearing things that their students aren't such as, Full-face masks, accelerated wet suits (above 6 mil when their students are in 5 mil or maybe a farmer Jane/John), they have heavy-duty gloves, hoods, booties, and so on.
As an Instructor I should be able to recognize how my students are feeling by not only the conditions I allow them to dive in, but by their actions and reactions and simply just looking at them. Also, I am often in the water longer than they are. I will often send some students for a surface interval while bringing my next group in to maybe finish off a dive or do an Advanced dive, so I am going to be colder than my students anyway.
And finally, off the subject of safety, students will often buy what their instructors are wearing. Are we not supposed to push higher learning (ex., dry suit classes) and support our dive shops by guiding students in gear-buying?
Anyway, I have a lot more I could say but I really want some opinions because as soon as I get my neck seal fixed I am seriously considering diving dry. I certify a lot of Marines and they don't seem to mind diving all winter long!
Thank you kindly for your opinions/advice
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