Couldn't complete OWD, distraught & lost all confidence

[Dogbowl]

@bee123 , sorry you had a terrible experience. From what you wrote, there appear to be some red flags. Generally, “a good price” usually means poor quality or too many students. It looks like you experienced both. Also, too little time in the pool. Anyway, that’s all water under the bridge now...

If you want to continue, I would suggest finding another shop, preferably private or semi-private lessons. That will probably mean more money but it will be worth it if you are successfully certified. Make sure you will spend more time doing pool skills before they dump you in the open ocean from a boat. I had at least 8-10 hrs in a pool, just for comparison, and we had 6 people in our class with 1 instructor and 1 assistant instructor.

From what you have written, it seems you are easily stressed by several things...too many people on the boat and the rush and chaos of all that. I understand. I am also easily stressed by those things and it affects my performance, in particular, my breathing and buoyancy. I suspect your inability to breathe is a sign of your stress/minor panic, not that your regulator had any problems. I also wouldn’t go back to the same shop. Why would you? It’s obviously not working for you and they were expelled by PADI! That says so much!

Many people who had such an experience would probably quit. I hope you will continue because diving is truly amazing! Remember, everyone learns differently and at a different rate. You just have to figure out what works for you and go get that kind of training! Don’t be disillusioned!

 

[bee123]

@Ministryofgiraffes Thanks for your response. Since I am very new to all this, so I don't know how much or how little it takes to be expelled from PADI. I am researching other shops now.

 

[bee123]

@Dogbowl Thanks so much for your response and encouragement. I definitely want to continue. I loved scuba diving the first time I did it, so I cannot just give it up now, even if that means paying more for a private instructor. After everyone's responses, I definitely will not be going back to this shop, and hopefully more pool time and a patient instructor will restore my confidence.

 

[TMHeimer]

Based on all I've read from yourself and replies, it seems like a terrible experience and obviously a change in instructor/shop is the way to go. One hour in the pool is nuts and most likely a violation of at least some Standards somewhere along the line. Well, the "float" was completely skipped. I'm not familiar with SSI, but I believe it is similar to PADI--with PADI, the skipping of the float should be reported to the Agency. It is difficult to be precise in how to reply when the person replying wasn't present to observe. I'm not at all defending the instructor(s) here, but they may tell a different story (though if it was only one hour in the pool I don't know what could be said to defend that). One poster mentioned that even with this lack of time and the chaos on the boats, you did seem to have several problems. Not sure what I can say regarding that. Have you done some snorkeling/free diving, other water sports? Good luck with your progress.

 

[aquacat8]

Don’t let this ruin your scuba, persevere, you are so close. For many the first open water dives are some of the worst, most stressful, unfun dives you will ever do. Get through this, and the fun begins. If you already paid and must finish with this shop insist on pool practice... they should allow it, perhaps with a buddy from class or maybe an instructor or dm, and then go do it in the pool, then do another open water dive to finish, with the instructor you liked if available.

 

[aquacat8]

You may have to pay for extra time with an instructor. Switching shops does sound good if you can transfer what you’ve done.

 

[bee123]

@TMHeimer Thank you for your input. I have been snorkeling for many years, so it's not like I was out of my element, although I understanding that scuba is a completely different experience. I just would have felt more comfortable to be able to go through the skills again in the pool, before we went to the ocean. But we just worked through them very quickly and that was it. The water in the ocean was much colder, so I don't know whether that contributed to my difficulty with no mask breathing. Another lady in my course started trembling underwater and couldn't complete the disconnect inflator hose exercise because her fingers had gone numb. The instructor called it a day after that.

 

[bee123]

@aquacat8 Thank you for your encouragement, I have the desire to finish. I am still waiting for the shop to call me back with available dates, but now am reconsidering whether I should finish with them or not. I am not sure if the skills can be transferred from SSI to PADI? All the other shops in my area are PADI.

 

[Marie13]

@bee123

I’m sorry you had such a bad experience. I had wonderful instructors, and I still struggled to finish. I had a very rocky beginning and a lot of fears to get over. Cried in frustration (and swore a blue streak) plenty of times myself! I just kept plugging away.

Find another, better instructor. One on one or a very smal class. Lots of pool time. That shop sounds like a hot mess. Run far away from them!

Just keep at it. Doesn’t matter how much practice you need. I still need plenty, but I completed dive 172 on a Lake Michigan shipwreck Saturday (I’m a freak - I only dive shipwrecks in cold water). . I got certified 2 years ago tomorrow.

 

[Marie13]

@aquacat8 Thank you for your encouragement, I have the desire to finish. I am still waiting for the shop to call me back with available dates, but now am reconsidering whether I should finish with them or not. I am not sure if the skills can be transferred from SSI to PADI? All the other shops in my area are PADI.

Do NOT reschedule with them. Shell out whatever you have to and stay far away from them. Talk to another shop and explain the situation. Do not go back to the original one. They seem to have not listened to your concerns originally, why would they now?