wow - tons of great response on this thread. I really appreciate all the different opinions, especially those of instructors. Thank you, guys.
As for my title, I thought it was pretty clear and very fair. I would not recommend this course based on my recent experience.... at least not to anyone who is not pursuing a professional license. Now that is very different from how I felt before taking the open water portion of my course. Before that I felt it was every diver's responsibility to take this course if they wish to continue diving and that's specifically why I took it.
As I stated in my original post, I am quite sure every instructor and shop teaches it differently, and that has been clearly evidenced by the many great replied from instructors here. My point was that if the course was that overdone and so much of the hazing element present, then I see no reason for the average recreational diver to put themselves through that experience. I believe learning should be both challenging AND fun. I guarantee you there was nothing fun about the open water portion of my course.
As for me exaggerating, I am not. You don't know me, but what I can remember of the course 2.5 weeks ago that 3rd dive included:
1. lost a fin
2. emergency ascent
3. went the wrong way from the group FAST in low viz
4. emergency descent
5. out of air/pulled out my reg
6. emergency ascent again
7. went the wrong way from the group again fast
8. fast hyperventilating /calm down diver
9. went wrong way from the group again
10. out of air and trying to claw at my face
11. swimming by me smiling and then suddenly pulled my reg out
I can't remember everything else but I know he did more... these are just what I logged... So my estimate of about 15 things is not an exaggeration. plus I had 2 other divers also doing things... and this was all in one 50min dive. I don't feel it was a realistic rescue scenario. I think I rather would have had all those things thrown at me over 3 different dives throughout the day to space them out so that I could experience more the suddenness of an emergency and needing to react in a calm/thoughtful but decisive manner quickly. To me that would be more realistic than having a constant barrage of everything in one dive.
As for my title, I thought it was pretty clear and very fair. I would not recommend this course based on my recent experience.... at least not to anyone who is not pursuing a professional license. Now that is very different from how I felt before taking the open water portion of my course. Before that I felt it was every diver's responsibility to take this course if they wish to continue diving and that's specifically why I took it.
As I stated in my original post, I am quite sure every instructor and shop teaches it differently, and that has been clearly evidenced by the many great replied from instructors here. My point was that if the course was that overdone and so much of the hazing element present, then I see no reason for the average recreational diver to put themselves through that experience. I believe learning should be both challenging AND fun. I guarantee you there was nothing fun about the open water portion of my course.
As for me exaggerating, I am not. You don't know me, but what I can remember of the course 2.5 weeks ago that 3rd dive included:
1. lost a fin
2. emergency ascent
3. went the wrong way from the group FAST in low viz
4. emergency descent
5. out of air/pulled out my reg
6. emergency ascent again
7. went the wrong way from the group again fast
8. fast hyperventilating /calm down diver
9. went wrong way from the group again
10. out of air and trying to claw at my face
11. swimming by me smiling and then suddenly pulled my reg out
I can't remember everything else but I know he did more... these are just what I logged... So my estimate of about 15 things is not an exaggeration. plus I had 2 other divers also doing things... and this was all in one 50min dive. I don't feel it was a realistic rescue scenario. I think I rather would have had all those things thrown at me over 3 different dives throughout the day to space them out so that I could experience more the suddenness of an emergency and needing to react in a calm/thoughtful but decisive manner quickly. To me that would be more realistic than having a constant barrage of everything in one dive.